Liberty trustees give go-ahead for sidewalk project

By John w. Goodwin jr.

One project will mean sidewalks for walking pupils.

LIBERTY — Township officials will move forward with plans to install sidewalks near the schools complex and public library on Church Hill Road.

Trustees, in a 2-to-1 vote, agreed to go forward with the $200,800 sidewalk project that would create new sidewalks on Shady Road from Murray Hill Drive to the public library on Church Hill Road.

Most of the project would be covered under a grant, but the township will be responsible for $59,760 of the total cost.

Township Administrator Pat Ungaro said the project also will include the installation of LED lights for the schools on Shady Road, making the area even more aesthetically pleasing.

Ungaro said the project will go out for bid in early summer, with construction beginning later in the summer.

Sidewalks and lighting will not be the only upgrades to the area. Ungaro said there also will be a complete overhaul of the bridge along Shady Road leading to the school complex at a cost of about $900,000.

“This will be good because a lot of kids walk on the street and across the bridge. There is also going to be a crosswalk near [Route] 304 going to the library,” he said. “We have wanted to do this project for a long time. This is a quality project involving kids and is an improvement to the community.”

Trustee Gary Litch is not in favor of moving forward with the project, however.

“Right now, we don’t have the matching funds to do this, and I have not been told how we are going to maintain it. I am not in favor of it because I think we need to put the money into the basics of the community,” Litch said. “I have not been opposed to approving the community and its beautification, but sometimes you have to stop and see where the financial issues are in the community.”

The township also will be undertaking a sewer project to alleviate flooding in the Belmont, Crumline and Belgrade avenues area, Ungaro said. The total project cost will be about $162,000. Most of the project will be covered under grants, but the township will be responsible for $63,330 of the total costs.

Ungaro said he is hoping stimulus money from the federal government will cover the township’s share for both projects.

jgoodwin@vindy.com