EAST PALESTINE Building plans focus on lake

Architects and engineers are preparing plans for the residential development of city-owned property.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
EAST PALESTINE -- With city council declaring the development of the city lake area top priority, city Manager Gary Clark is forging ahead with plans.
Clark said Dallis Dawson & amp; Associates, engineers of East Liverpool, and architect Thomas Bode of North Lima are laying plans for sewer and water extensions to the city lake area and a housing development on about 37 acres near the lake.
The city owns about 50 acres in Unity Township, including the lake.
Clark said about 2,000 feet of sewer line and waterline will be necessary to extend services to the area. The connection points are on West Martin Street for sewer service and on West Main for water service.
An offer to help
Joyce Gray of the Great Lakes Rural Community Assistance Program attended last week's council meeting, offering her services to help city officials keep abreast of available funding and the corresponding application deadlines and procedures.
Clark said the details of how the city will proceed with the residential development and the type and size of the lots are still to be worked out.
"We may involve a Realtor at some point," he said. "How far we will take this and where it all will lead, I don't know.
"All of that won't matter until we get the water and sewer in place out there," he said.
Clark has also applied for a $45,000 Clean Ohio Grant through the Ohio Department of Public Works to develop a walking trail around the city lake that will eventually connect to city park.
Clark said state officials have said the city qualifies for the grant, but they won't announce how much the city will receive for about 60 days.
He said about $65,000 is needed to build the trail. The city would contribute about $15,000, he said.