Hamtramck scheduled for street repairs

The repairs will involve removal of the bricks from a 170 foot section of the north side of the street. There will be no on-street parking in the area of the repairs while the repairs are going on.

The bricks will not be going back in right away, however. Hinkle said the section of street will be filled with either concrete or asphalt for at least a year, a long-term temporary fix. The street is scheduled for a complete rehab as a brick street, possibly within the next year or two, and the bricks will be replaced at that time.

A waterline that runs beneath the north side of the street will be checked as part of the work, Hinkle said. Hinkle said there is no indication that the line is causing the problem, but wants it checked just the same.

Assistant City Engineer Jason Epley said heavy truck traffic, most notably trash trucks, have contributed to the problem. Epley said brick streets do not handle weight the same way as asphalt; asphalt spreads out the weight over a larger area, while bricks carry the weight loads individually. This summer’s heavy rainfall also probably contributed to the problem, Epley said.

Hinkle further reported that three potholes that developed in the concrete approach to Center Run bridge on Coshocton Avenue will be filled using a material designed for bridges. The potholes were filled previously but the material used does not seem to be holding.

The street department has received complaints from at least two residents of motorists going the wrong way on West Pleasant Street, with the problem being attributed to a lack of ‘one way’ signage. Hinkle noted that there are signs posted, but not on Pleasant Street. The signs are at points of entry to the street.

However, Hinkle said there will be some older one way signs replaced, and another ‘do not enter’ sign where Pleasant can be accessed from Sandusky Street. The do not enter sign will be on the other side of the street from an existing do not enter sign.

Parks, Buildings and Grounds

Surveillance cameras have been installed at Memorial Park that will cover the area of the newly-installed Harmony Playground, Parks and Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Dave Carpenter said. The surveillance system was paid for by a private donor, Carpenter said, with the only cost to the city being installation of power outlets.

A catch basin to assist with drainage of a ball field at Memorial Park has been installed. While the contractor was there, they also removed and replaced the concrete pad in front of the concession stand. The old pad sank and tilted, so that water was flowing into the concession stand.

The Knox County Career Center Building Trades class began upgrades to expand the parking area at Memorial Park this week, supplying the labor and equipment for the project, Carpenter said. They will be removing the gravel and putting in a concrete surface. They will create additional gravel parking as well.

Engineer

Epley reported that the Newark Road/Blackjack Road sidewalk project is scheduled to begin Sept. 9. The project will start on Blackjack, turn the corner, then go up Newark Road toward the south end of town. Epley said the project should be about half-finished by the end of construction season this year, and wrap up in 2020.

Work on the Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge is underway, with one-lane traffic being directed by stop lights.

Utilities

Assistant Utilities Superintendent Ken Griffith reported that a sewer line in the 800 block of Coshocton Avenue clogged up at least in part to a new tap. The tap was cut in and created an edge inside the pipe that collects material that builds up over time until it is a problem. Griffith said the utilities department will monitor the line.

Mayor

Mayor Richard Mavis gave an update on the purchase of Republic Waste Services accounts in the city by Rumpke. Mavis said the change-over was expected to occur Sept. 1, but the two companies are still negotiating the deal. Mavis said the deal should go through by mid-September.