LOWELLVILLE Pillars of the community

The $11,200 roof replacement project is expected to start Aug. 19.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LOWELLVILLE -- Rats may have an easier time finding their way through a maze than visitors to the village hall.
Ongoing construction has closed the two primary entrances, forcing visitors and employees to enter through the police garage.
The side entrance, which closed in mid-July, remains closed pending completion of a new entryway and installation of an elevator.
Kreidler Construction Co., Poland, is overseeing the $122,000 project.
The elevator is expected to be operational by mid-October.
The front entrance closed Thursday when workers from Waco Scaffolding & amp; Equipment, Youngstown, began shoring up the roof in preparation for the removal of the stately columns that have supported the structure since it was built in 1935, a Work Projects Administration project.
Workers from Cricket Construction, Lowellville, began prep work to remove the pillars Friday.
Each of the four pillars to be replaced is 20 feet tall and 21 inches in diameter. They were installed in the 1930s, are made of wood and are deteriorating, said Bill Slaven, job superintendent for Cricket Construction.
The new pillars, Slaven said, are made of composite material. Each new column will support 20,000 pounds and is guaranteed for 50 years.
The old pillars are expected to be removed Monday, and the new ones should be in place by the middle of next week, he said. The front entrance to the building should open by Friday.
Roof replacement
Simon Roofing, Boardman, is slated to begin work on a new roof later this month, according to Phil Alfano, village administrator.
The $11,200 roof replacement project is expected to start Aug. 19, weather permitting, said Bob Thomas, roofing specialist at Simon Roofing. "It should be completed in three or four days," he said.
Remodeling of the second floor auditorium will begin after that. A leak caused water damage in the auditorium, Alfano said, "and we're waiting for an insurance adjustment." Then, he said, painting and remodeling will begin.
Next year, Alfano said, the village council plans to approve renovation of the first floor. There have been no major improvements to the first floor since 1978, when new windows were installed and wiring and plumbing were updated, Alfano said.
Other improvements in the village this year, Alfano said, are paving projects planned for Liberty and Walnut streets. These are county projects that will be paid for using Community Development Block Grant money, he said. Bids for the projects will be opened Aug. 23.
kubik@vindy.com