Main Street could be resurfaced

Council ponders road projects, limited budget

“I don’t think we should shut our minds to have another project or two if we can afford it.” — Council President Steven Herron

The road to Vermilion’s Main Street Beach could get smoothed out this year.

On Jan. 8, Vermilion City Council’s Streets, Buildings and Ground Committee returned to its deliberations on the 2018 road program.

Two months ago, Council had an informal agreement that the only project this year might be to pave Main Street from Liberty Avenue to the beach, said Chairman Frank Loucka, who also is the Ward 2 councilman.

The street is a visible one and torn up, he said. Last year crews replaced the waterline under that section of road.

Loucka suggested the city request an engineer’s estimate to determine a project cost.

Council President Steven Herron said Loucka was on the right track to think about it, but Council has no definite numbers for the pavement.

“I don’t think we should shut our minds to have another project or two if we can afford it,” Herron said.

In 2017, Mayor Jim Forthofer, then the Ward 3 councilman, suggested a road repair rubric that would allow Council to select projects for the next year. That would allow enough time

for Council and city staff to prepare plans in winter so the projects could be bid out for construction season in spring.

In October, November and December last year, the committee wrangled with available money and what streets would be the priority projects. The city likely will have $125,000 for road projects for this year, according to estimates at the time.

Ward 3 Councilman Steve Holovacs suggested pricing out two or three projects.

“Let’s get some ideas, fill them out, because you’re

right, it’s January right now and before you know it the season will be right here,” Holovacs said.

Forthofer suggested Council also get an estimate for Hollyview Drive between Sanford Street and Forestview Drive. Vermilion may get some grant money that could help with that project, he said.

Council as a committee of the whole voted unanimously to obtain the prices.

Vermilion is in the process of getting new traffic stoplights along Liberty Avenue.

The new stoplight poles and control boxes are located close to the curb, so Holovacs suggested building in protective barriers to prevent cars from hitting the new equipment.

In other business, Loucka asked about the status of Vermilion’s fire hydrants.

The city has about 600 hydrants, with about 25 not working and 10 others needing repairs, said Service Director Tony Valerius.

“This list changes all the time,” he said. When city staff flush hydrants in spring and fall, they find hydrants not working, Valerius said.

New hydrants cost about $3,200 each, so city workers attempt to repair or rebuild them when possible.

Some hydrants will remain out of service because they have inadequately sized waterlines underneath or are in locations not helpful to the fire department or residents, Valerius said.