DANVILLE — The Danville Village Council has decided to apply for some help in replacing the bridge on Richards Street.
According to Village Clerk/Treasurer Laurie Vess, council decided at its meeting Monday to ask the county commissioners to help the village meet its 20 percent match so it could apply for Ohio Public Works Commission Local Transportation Improvement Program funds. The village is able to come up with $35,000 for the replacement of the bridge and will ask the commissioners for another $35,000 for the project.
The bridge was inspected a year ago and it was determined that the weight limit needed to be lowered. Now the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District trucks are unable to drive over the bridge, which would be the only alternative if there were any issues with traffic on U.S. 62. The village is hoping to get the funds so they can replace the bridge, which was last repaired in 1992. The replacement bridge would cost $350,000.
OPWC announced the availability of $3.9 million in stimulus money available for road and bridge projects in District 17, of which Knox County is a part. The deadline for applying for the funds is June 5.
In other news, council looked at several issues with the village park. The first was discussion about making changes to the lease between the village and the school for the use of the football field. Council also discussed the water usage issue at the park, as the school uses village water for the field.
Also, there are some issues with the moving of the bleachers at the park. The bleachers are used on the visitors’ sideline for football, but have to be moved for baseball and the turkey festival in the spring. There was also some discussion on the PA system used at the park for the Memorial Day events.
Council discussed the idea of a water meter at the old section of the EKCJFD fire station. According to Vess, when the fire department was part of the village, it did not charge for the use of the water. But since the department has become a separate entity and built on to the station, council is looking at how or what to charge the fire department for use of the water in the old section of the building.
Vess reported the concrete was expected to have been poured Tuesday at the water treatment plant and that the building will start being erected as soon as possible.
It was also reported that the Backyard Bunch 4-H Club planted flowers at the bike trail.
