New project, fund balance concern highlighted
SHELBY -- A downtown Shelby area utilities project is taking shape with a timeframe in place for the work to start.
Shelby Municipal Utilities Director John Ensman, also the city’s deputy public service director, provided the details to City Council’s Utilities and Streets Committee during its monthly meeting May 13.
The East Main Street Sanitary Sewer Project will replace the aging sanitary sewer main between Mohican Street and High School Avenue, Ensman said in remarks to the committee and in a written report.
“The project is tentatively scheduled to start the week of May 31st,” he said. “The project will take approximately two weeks to complete.”
Ensman also noted the impact to motorists.
“Traffic will be detoured during the construction phase,” he said. “Detour signs will be posted. Local traffic will be open to the downtown businesses.”
Ensman also said that the Shelby Municipal Utilities office will remain open, but the drivethru will be closed to traffic during the work.
“This is right in the middle of this project area,” he said of the utilities office.
The replacement of the sewer main was planned to be ahead of the downtown enhancement project, he said.
The sanitary sewer project is costing $89,972. The city of Shelby is paying $26,991.60 and the Ohio Public Works Commission $62,980.40, Ensman told the committee.
BK Layer is the contractor for the project, he also said.
At the meeting, the committee received updates on several other projects and issues.
One topic that Ensman said is “raising alarm bells” is a continuing decline in the sewer fund balance.
The sewer fund balance was $212,711 at the beginning of the year. At the end of April, it stood at $160,468.
“We continue lose revenue,” said.
The decline is prompting consideration of potential Shelby City Council legislation that could lead to a possible surcharge -- hoped to be temporary in nature -- until the fund balance improves. That is envisioned in the fourth-quarter when sewer revenues to he