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Trustees look ahead for 2017 road paving
AUSTINTOWN
Township trustees are getting a head start on paving projects for 2017 by beginning the engineering process now.
On Monday evening, trustees agreed to pay $3,000 to Thomas Fok & Associates of Austintown to provide engineering services on prospective roads for resurfacing next year.
“This will get a jump on specification to get this project done early next year,” said township Administrator Mike Dockry.
He said the area the township is looking into paving is four of five sections of South Wickliffe Road.
In July, trustees, in conjunction with Boardman and Canfield townships, awarded a $737,295 contract to R.T. Vernal Paving & Excavating Co. of North Lima for the 2016 road-resurfacing program.
The township is paying up to $400,000 for its portion of the paving, at $142 per cubic yard of asphalt for 4,700 cubic yards and $13,000 per day for milling.
Dockry said, unfortunately, Austintown will be the last out of the three townships to get its roads completed.
“The grinding will start the day after Labor Day and should take about a week,” he said. “The week after that the paving will start on what was initially ground.”
Dockry said the project will probably be completed in mid-October.
In other news, the fire department welcomed two new firefighters, Nick Heitzer and Kelsey Musch, to its ranks. Their annual pay was not available.
Fire Chief Andrew Frost III said the township is in the midst of a transition process with veterans with 25 years of experience and more on their way to retirement and a new generation taking their places.
“We are just so fortunate for these two,” Frost said. “It’s hard to replace 25 years of experience, but these guys are willing to learn and do whatever it takes. They jump right in.”