The illustration above depicts the area in which work will be completed on the Uptown streetscape in Plain City. Village Administrator Haley Lupton said the streetscape along West Main Street and North Chillicothe Street will be reconstructed from the pedestrian alley to Pioneer Pizza. Village crews, rather than the contractor, will complete work in front of Lovejoy Plaza.
(Graphic submitted)
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Plain City officials will use a portion of the village’s federal funding for COVID-19 relief to improve streetscapes in the Uptown district, despite opposition from one council member.
During their most recent meeting, council members voted, then reconsidered and voted again, before unanimously approving a contract for work on the streetscape.
A contract for $571,060.90 will be awarded to Danbert Inc. for a “complete reconstruction” of the streetscape along West Main Street and North Chillicothe Street, extending from the pedestrian alley to Pioneer Pizza, Village Administrator Haley Lupton said.
She explained during the Nov. 2 work session that village crews will replace the planters and pavers in front of Lovejoy Plaza, as the existing concrete is in “great condition” and they don’t want contractors to tear it out just to replace it.
Lupton said at that time that the entire project will be covered by funding from the 2022 budget, including just over $296,000 in American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.
“I’m ‘pro’ it,” Council President Michael Terry said during the work session. “If we do it in pieces and parts, it’s going to be exponentially more expensive.”
However, during the council meeting Monday, Council member Frank Reed said he did not want to use ARPA funds for the project.
He said he feels the funding should be used for projects that the community would more directly benefit from, such as the installation of pedestrian walkways or bike trails.
Beyond that, Reed said he believes village officials have not invested enough time or finances in “creating a social safety net,” which could be done with ARPA funding.
As such, Reed voted against a motion to waive the second reading of the legislation and approve it as an emergency.
With Council member John Rucker absent, the initial vote was 4-1 with Reed dissenting. Approving a measure by emergency requires a supermajority, or five members in favor, so the measure failed.
Terry called Reed’s vote “just a delay tactic,” noting that the ordinance is bound to pass in two weeks when a second reading appears before council, given four members already voted in favor.
“All you’re really doing is setting the village back two weeks,” Terry told Reed.
Reed asked Council members Kerri Ferguson and James Sintz if they had any desire to explore other options for the use of ARPA funding.
They said they did not.
Ferguson said she stated her opinion on Nov. 2 in expressing that the village should reciprocate property owners’ work to improve the Uptown.
Sintz said improving the sidewalks and extending water lines in the Uptown area benefits overall safety in Plain City.
“Everyone wins when we make our downtown vibrant and look fantastic,” Ferguson said.
With that, Reed motioned to reconsider the measure.
Afterward, all five members present voted to waive the second reading and approve the ordinance as an emergency.