Carey to apply for flood prevention funds

CAREY — With the return of council member Daniel Hark on Monday, Carey Village Council passed a motion to apply for a grant to help its overall goal of flood prevention.
Hark missed the May and June meetings due to sustaining a fall from a ladder, damaging a pair of vertebrae.
“I would like to thank everyone for their support,” Hark said. “That gave me a lot of motivation to get better. It got pretty low there for a while, seeing the ceiling move all the time and seeing ghosts all the time, but all the support and flowers I got from people gave me a reason to get motivated to get better. My wife told me every day who sent cards and flowers.”
Council received an initial response from Van Horn Hoover and Associates of Findlay about future culvert work.
“They agree the Patterson Street culvert, the adjacent ‘three enclosed’ sections and ‘two open’ sections of the run, leading to the culvert depot, should be our next capital storm project,” Administrator Roy Johnson said in a written update to the council. “Barring any concerns from council, I would like to proceed with making this project our next priority and attempt to receive grant funding or a low-interest loan through Issue I.”
The estimated cost of the project is $575,000, but Mayor Steve Smalley said the village already has the majority of the funds thanks to its storm fund.
“We approved that back in November, so we already have $427,000,” Smalley said.
Johnson said he is recommending a 40 percent match for $170,800, leaving a balance around $256,000.
“Once we got the approval (Monday) to fill out the forms, we could go ahead and apply for (the grant),” Smalley said. “If we can’t get it, then we’d have to go for the no-interest or low-interest loans (for the) match.”
The deadline for the next round of proposals is Oct. 5, according to Johnson, with submission by Oct. 12 and final scoring Oct. 30.
In other weather news for the village, Johnson reported the June 29 wind storm downed several trees in the cemetery, which toppled some headstones.
“The initial cost of the work (to reset the headstones) is estimated at around $3,000 to $4,000,” he said. “If more severe damage is identified, individual plot owners will be contacted. Primary insurance is typically through a homeowner’s policy.”
He also said several stumps will need to be ground or dug out. Public Works Director Brian Spencer said 22 headstones were hit or damaged.
“As far as damage in the community, … the electric crew was also performing double-duty, helping contractors clean the oil in voltage regulators and doing required coordinated connection and disconnection work,” Johnson said.
Council passed a motion to choose “Go Green” to grind limbs, stumps and brush, as well as removing the rotten railroad ties and leaf pile for $5,250.
In other news, it was determined by council to contact CSX Corporation about repairing the crossings at North Patterson and East Findlay streets.
Smalley also reminded those in attendance to support the homecoming and business showcase at Water Works Park at 5 p.m. Aug. 2. Carey Fest begins the next day with a 3 p.m. parade and goes through Aug. 4.

By PATRICK MASSARA
Staff writer

Posted by Daily Chief on July 17, 2012. Filed under Local News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry