Breaking News
Local News

Williamstown talks sidewalk project bid, tennis courts

By James Dobbs 3 min read

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Williamstown City Council met to discuss the sidewalk project bid, tennis courts and the asbestos bid for the old Williamstown Elementary School on Tuesday.

Maria Hardy, city engineer, told council they received a bid for the sidewalk project from Burgess and Niple. She said the bid submitted was priced at $30,000 or 30 percent of the project.

The city received $100,000 in grant funding from the state through an application that was submitted in 2020. The grant was an 80-20 grant where the city had to put forward 20 percent of the funds to receive the rest. The funds are allotted to be used to help the city update any sidewalk that isn't up-to-date or compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Hardy said they estimated one-third of the $100,000 budget going to design and two-thirds of the budget going to the construction of the sidewalks.

Hardy said she would go back and try to negotiate a lower price.

"That's $10,000 less sidewalk we can get," said Marty Seufer, finance chair for council. "It's disappointing because it sounds like a tremendous amount of money, a $100,000 grant, but when you take 10 percent of that to add on to engineering fees and that is 10 percent of the sidewalk gone. We lost X amount of feet of sidewalk because the engineering came in higher."

Mayor Paul Jordan suggested the city take care of the drainage part of the project in-house, to help alleviate some of the cost.

Council made no decisions on the bid at this time and will make it an agenda item at the next city council meeting.

Williamstown Boys Tennis Coach Dave Leo gave an update on the Williamstown Tennis Courts.

He said water has been seeping up through courts one, two and three, leaving white stains since the end of June. He was unsure where the water is coming from. Leo said court four is developing a sinkhole. He said he isn't sure what is under the court.

"But the elephant is in the room and it's getting bigger," he said. "So hopefully something will get resolved but the courts probably won't last until next year."

Leo said they will close court four for fear of turning ankles. He said they only use it for practice.

Hardy said she would look into the tennis courts.

Council received one bid proposal for the asbestos abatement of the old Williamstown Elementary School. The city received a bid of $215,140 for the abatement from Justice Business Services LLC. in Marietta. Council unanimously approved to accept the bid for review. No decisions were made at this time.

Council rescinded a bid the city received for the purchase of a gator. The city will put it back out for bid at the next council meeting. The city is bidding for a UTV and will be looking at the difference between purchasing a new or used UTV.

Council will meet next on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Williamstown City Building.

Starting at /week.