Reading center move is delayed

Officials said the village will seek bids to repave several streets.
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Moving of the New Middletown Reading Center into a new building on state Route 170 will be delayed because bids to renovate the library's new quarters have come in higher than anticipated.
This delay may push back plans for renovating the New Middletown administration building.
Carlton Sears, director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, told New Middletown Village Council at its meeting Monday that the project will be rethought and rebid because bids were $130,000 to $150,000 more than expected.
The library board bought the former Heaven Sent Hallmark Store at state Route 170 and Woodland Drive last year to allow the reading room, which is now housed at the village building, to move into its own quarters.
Council wants to use the space, which will be freed when the reading room leaves, when it renovates the administration building. However, Mayor Robert Carson said Monday that no word has been received on whether state funds will be awarded for the renovation, so he said the delay in moving the library is not a problem. Council has earmarked $61,500 in county sales tax money for the renovation, and Carson said Monday that delaying the renovation will not jeopardize these funds.
Repaving project
Also Monday, Dave Bakalar of Thomas Fok and Associates, Youngstown, which is the village's engineer, announced that bids will be sought for repaving Foster Drive, Stacey Drive, East and West Circleview Drive and Brungard Road. The village will borrow $50,000 from the state do the work. Construction is expected in July or August.
Other roads may also be added to the list, though they would have to be paved with village funds.
Also Monday, council agreed to pay $1,500 to Matt Morjock of Unity for completion of a sidewalk project on state Route 170 near the planned new library location.
Council also approved paying $625 to Combs Excavating of New Middletown for repairing a sinkhole that opened on state Route 170 in front of Sparkle Market.
Carson reported that the state is behind schedule on installation of a traffic signal at state Route 170 and Calla Road. ODOT was supposed to put the light up in October, but still has not. Carson noted that two accidents have occurred at that intersection since October.
Carson reported that mayors court revenues were $34,728 for 2004, a sum that was about average, he said.
Councilman Bill Douglas was re-elected council president for 2005.