Kittanning’s Jacob Street to Officially Be Repaved
Borough Council members David Croyle, Betsy Wilt and Gerald Shuster discuss the 300 block of South Jefferson Street - which they argue also needs to be re-paved in the near future.
by Jonathan Weaver
After a formal action was taken requiring Russell Standard contractors to re-pave the wearing surface of Jacob Street, Kittanning Borough officials are also looking ahead to other paving needs.
First Ward Councilwoman Betsy Wilt opined that council members should have considered using more funds to extend paving into the 300 block of South Jefferson Street – past potholes near the Kittanning Hose Company No. 1 fire station.
Project Manager Sally Conklin will see if Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds could be used to pave that area. She explained that the streets were generally listed as work zones for the project so not to narrow work completed.
“They will prioritize based on need to try and maximize what’s being repaired,” Conklin said.
Councilman David Croyle agreed with Wilt and asked for a tentative cost analysis on paving the addition two blocks of South Jefferson to Mulberry Street.
Some of the remainder of the $700,000 loan Kittanning Borough received to pave will go toward the engineering design of the traffic signals and of Phase III.
“That part in front of Hose Company No. 1 and that whole area right there is atrocious,” Croyle said.
He added that motorists will utilize South Jefferson more whenever Water Street is closed or blocked off during events in Kittanning Riverfront Park.
“We should at least have an estimate because we need to think about it. These are still streets in Kittanning that need to be paved,” Croyle said. “We can’t just say ‘We ran out of money – we’re all done.’ We’re not all done!
“We should be making plans for five years from now, eight years from now.”
Senate Engineering’s Bill Braun agreed to provide the estimate.
Councilman Gerald Shuster said that the area near the fire station is “a consistent problem” and has been paved a handful of times.
He said more investigation will probably need to be done before bidding out that section.
According to Street Supervisor James Mechling, there is a storm drain in the area and the roadway “has been sinking for a long time.”
Council members entered into a design contract with Senate Engineering at a cost not to exceed $36,000 for the paving of Grant Avenue, McKean Street and Jefferson Street. Reimbursement will come via Keystone Communities grants.
June’s Council meeting will begin at 6PM to allow for a Community Development Block Grant meeting, as well as other business.
A “productive” meeting regarding Jacob Street between three local officials and County officials was held last month and the Jacob Street action was taken following executive session.
Kittanning Borough | jweaver May 3, 2016
By ktown_kid, May 3, 2016 @ 10:01 AM
So we have $700,000 remaining but money will be spent for designing of traffic signals. Wouldn’t they be the same as the market Street signals? It’s seems that there is an abundance of wasted money going into the hands of some. How much money does Sally Conklin make a year? Is she am employee of the Boro or the county? Is this jen bella’s replacement? I believe council members could do her job and save how many thousands of dollars a year. Spend spend spend!!!! Taxes be going up again! Jefferson Street should be fixed by the fire hall but that may include Jim mechling to get out of his truck. Fix it right the first time and you won’t have to keep doing it.