LOWELLVILLE Council plans village renovations

Construction is under way on an elevator to make the administration building handicapped-accessible.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LOWELLVILLE -- Renovations will continue at the village administration building, and other areas in the village may be improved too, if village council gets its way.
Council approved the installation of a new roof on the village administration building during a special meeting Tuesday called to address the need for capital improvements in the village.
"We're going to go with a flat roof that will cost $11,283," reported Phillip Alfano, village administrator. The roof will have a 10-year warranty.
Had council opted for a roof with a 25-year warranty, the project would have cost some $15,000, according to Mayor Joseph J. Rossi.
Simon Roofing will begin installation of the new roof in August.
Precast replacement pillars for the front of the administration building will also be installed. Cricket Construction Inc., Lowellville, will handle that job, Alfano said; total cost for the project is $14,600.
Meeting planned
As far as privately owned buildings in need of repair are concerned, Alfano said officials are planning a meeting with the owners of downtown buildings in what he described as "deplorable condition" to discuss how to resolve the situation.
The mayor is writing letters to solicit cooperation from CSX and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to renovate railroad crossings at Third Street and Struthers-Lowellville Road, Alfano said. The condition of the tracks at those crossings has been a concern for quite a while, he continued, "CSX has been prolonging fixing it."
A home at 244 E. Wood St. slated for demolition may be renovated instead. "The village has a bid to complete the demolition, but somebody wants to buy it," Alfano said. A meeting with the potential buyer is pending.
Meanwhile, construction is under way on an elevator that will make the village administration building accessible to the physically impaired.
Installation of the elevator was expected to be completed by the end of May, but the wrong one was ordered.
kubik@vindy.com