2020 Road Plan Changes Due to Funding Holds
The City of Painesville has restructured their 2020 Road Plan as a result of the State’s hold on funds during the Covid-19 pandemic. With critical funding from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) on hold state-wide and no clear solution in sight, the paving of Button Avenue and Skinner Avenue will be postponed. It is unlikely these projects will be completed in 2020. Using the resources available, the City will complete Casement Avenue, Watson Street and the replacement of sidewalks damaged by City owned trees in Ward I. The Engineering Department will also oversee the rehabilitation of sanitary and storm sewers throughout the City in need of repair.
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Original 2020 Road Plan
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Modified 2020 Road Plan
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In 2018, Painesville announced a 5-year road plan for 2019-2023. During this period, the City has scheduled approximately $16 million in road project improvements and continues the momentum of the 2014-2018 road plan which saw $8.2 million in road investments. Road improvements remain a high priority for Painesville City Council and the residents of Painesville. Residents approved a five-year road levy in both 2013 and 2017 to help repair the roads.
While the road levy is a critical source of funding and provides much of the local match in order to complete these large multi-million dollar road projects, City Council has also committed funding to the roads from the City’s general fund. Using the road levy and general fund monies as a local match, staff has been very successful in applying for and receiving State and Federal grants, as well as funding from the Lake County Commissioners. Roughly 50% of Painesville’s road budget comes from these outside opportunities. When water lines need replaced or storm sewers improved on streets scheduled in the plan, the City also uses resources from the water capital fund, the sewer capital fund and level 2 storm water fees. Without all the funding sources coming together, these large-scale road improvement projects are not possible on the aggressive timeline Painesville has established.
“Everyone is waiting to see what the financial ramifications will be from Covid-19,” said Doug Lewis, Assistant City Manager. “Not only is the funding sources from the State and Federal government going to be limited, the local income tax we receive will most likely be reduced. There is no precedent for this. As a result, our plans are on hold until we determine when and if these funding sources will be available.”
While all cities and townships will be limited in infrastructure programs, Painesville is still looking into ways to fund the planned road projects. “We might need to get creative, and even then, it might have to be a phased approach instead of the whole road,” said Lewis in regards to the on-hold Skinner Avenue project. “We know this is a top priority for residents and we are trying to work with everything we currently have available.”
For more information on the City of Painesville’s Road Plan, visit www.painesville.com/roads. To reach a Painesville City Council member, visit www.painesville.com/council for contact information.