Fulton County communities will improve infrastructure

2/16/2002

Most Fulton County communities hope to begin sewer installation or water treatment plant renovations this year. Some county ballots will carry levies to pay for the proposed improvements.

Archbold

ConAgra Grocery Products Co. invested $45 million last year to expand its Archbold plant, village administrator Dennis Howell said, adding 50 jobs that pay an average of almost $15 an hour.

The County Road 22 underpass opened last year. The $6 million project was designed to ease traffic congestion.

The village plans further street and storm sewer upgrades in the Woodland Oaks subdivision.

The village will spend $250,000 to improve parking lots and plans to rebuild portions of Middle, Brussel, and Oak streets by June. The sidewalk replacement initiative will continue for the third year.

Planning will proceed on a recreation area.

Delta

The village will start building a water treatment plant this year at a cost of almost $4 million.

The police department will move into new facilities this summer in the former Pike-Delta-York schools administration building.

Delta officials turned over management of its volunteer fire department to York Township last year. The village used to share control with the township.

The village plans to repave Adrian Street between Oakview Drive and Palmwood Street, but it may tackle less area depending on available funding.

Fayette

Significant steps were taken to clean up the site of the former Fayette Tubular Products plant, where harmful chemicals leaked into the soil and town wells.

Fayette Industrial Properties, a private company, bought and renovated the vacant plant.

The state Environmental Protection Agency has been directing the cleanup. D.H. Holdings of Chicago, former owner of the plant site, is liable for the cost.

In 2002, the village will accelerate efforts to relocate its wells and will develop a long-term road, pedestrian walkway, and infrastructure upgrade plan.

Lyons

A $2.4 million sewer construction project that has been in the works for years may get going in 2002, Mayor Jerry Pifer said. He said he hopes the village will start accepting bids for the project in February. Construction could start in the spring.

The Ohio Department of Transportation completed improvements in 2001 at U.S. 20 and State Rt. 109, the site of 22 accidents 1996 and 1999.

Metamora

The village won a two-year annexation battle with Amboy Township that went to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2001, adding about 300 acres for industrial and residential growth.

Some of the land will be used for the Aquila, Inc., power plant, Metamora Mayor Gary Loar said. County commissioners approved the Aquila project in November.

A water tower was erected at a cost of about $700,000, and the new Evergreen High School opened for the start of the 2001-2002 school year.

The village began installing a 900-foot waterline along Swanton Street, and is waiting for soil analysis results to continue construction. The project could be completed in 2002.

The village will build a waterline on Garnsey Avenue and a sewer line on East Main Street. Work will start on a $1.3 million sewer separation project.

Swanton

Swanton will start remodeling its wastewater treatment plant this year. The village will spend $2.5 million to expand the plant's capacity by 2004.

Work on the Waterwoods subdivision started in spring and construction on the 150-house Ashton Greens development is set to begin this summer.

A 0.5-percent additional income tax levy, which failed in November, will return to the ballot in May. The village hopes to use the revenue to separate the community's storm water and sewer pipes.

The village plans to place new curbs on State Rt. 64 between Airport Highway and St. Clair Street at the end of this year. In March, the village will start rebuilding a section of Garfield Avenue. Plans and funding searches continue for the Main Street Project.

Wauseon

“The main thrust for this year will be the widening of Shoop Avenue,” Mayor Jerry Matheny said.

In the spring, the final touches on the Wauseon-Napoleon waterline will be finished and landscaping work downtown will clear tall trees and add handicapped parking.

City officials are hiring full-time paramedics and emergency medical technicians who will be on duty 24 hours a day.