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County officials say local projects being added to federal stimulus list

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February 4, 2009

by Jeff Saunders

Reporter

Nordonia Hills -- Area infrastructure projects left off an initial list being compiled by Summit County with the hope of receiving economic stimulus dollars will be included after all.

"We're doubling back and checking with all the county communities again," said Connie Krauss, director of the Summit County Department of Economic Development.

Jason Haas, a research analyst with the department, said Jan. 29 that he was working on a revision of the original list, which included 98 county projects totaling about $180 million. He said the revision includes the addition of two projects in Northfield Village and one in Macedonia.

Krauss said that requests for funding will be handled at the state level. Gov. Ted Strickland's office announced Jan. 16 that Strickland had named Ronald Richard, who also serves as president and chief executive officer of the Cleveland Foundation, as 'infrastructure czar" to coordinate state efforts to seek funding.

Krauss said copies of the county list are also going to several area congressional representatives, including Ohio District 14 Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Bainbridge Township).

Local projects on the original county list include $469,000 to resurface South Bedford Roads in Macedonia, $250,000 for culverts on Valley View Road and a $147,000 stormwater drainage project on Butternut Lane in Northfield Center.

Local officials, however, said they expected several other projects to be on the list. Hill said he believed that the $1.36 million South Freeway Drive renovation project, which is expected to move forward this spring and summer with about $600,000 of the costs to be paid by the approximately 30 property owners, would also be on the list.

Northfield Village Engineer Richard Wasosky said he expected the $2.5 million reconstruction of eight residential streets in the northwest corner of the village to be included.

A second village project, the $420,000 addition of a second stormwater sewer line to increase drainage capacity in the area around Beech Avenue and Houghton Road was also absent from the county list. The village has applied for a $210,000 grant from the state to help fund the project.

Haas said all three projects would be added to the county list.

E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169




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