Lima's public works announces curb program

LIMA — Lima engineer Ian Kohli said a project on Catalpa Avenue has been on the public works department’s radar for a long time.

The city sent a letter Aug. 9 informing residents along the avenue from Sugar Street to Simons Avenue and along Holmes Avenue from Sugar to Catalpa that it is proposing work on curbs and gutters, storm sewers and structures, water lines, sidewalks and signage.

“With these projects, we always coordinate with our utilities department, and they are looking to upgrade the water line,” Kohli said. “When we reconstruct a road, it is the perfect time to do that, so we’ve worked with them to include a new water main line into the project. The other piece that we’re constantly looking at is funding, and two of our sources are Better Together and a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission.”

The OWPC awarded $357,157 to go toward the estimated $1.9 million cost of the project.

Funds will also come from the city’s Better Together fund, which comes from money granted by the American Rescue Plan Act, the city’s utilities department and the city’s stormwater utility.

“We’re excited to see the project move forward,” Kohli said. “It has been something that we’ve been looking at for a while, and it should be a good project. It’s kind of a perfect storm because we’ve had several drainage complaints.”

Plans call for the city to close the roadway during construction to thru traffic, but access to residential properties will be maintained when work is not necessary in front of residences.

The project is set to start in March 2025, but the public works department will hold an open house from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 at the Unity Elementary School cafeteria, 925 E. Third St., Lima.

Anyone interested in sharing thoughts on the project can write to project manager Dakota Clay by mail to the city’s engineering department at 50 Town Square, Lima, OH 45801 or by emailing [email protected].

Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.