BARNESVILLE — Village Council learned last week that funding for a paving project planned in the village for this summer is now in question, but decided to move forward with a number of other agenda items.

Village Administrator Roger Deal announced that the Ohio Public Works Commission paving grant that was to help fund a large paving project in the village this summer is “in question” due to the status of a capital bill being uncertain due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

Deal said the grant still may be forthcoming, but that council couldn’t be sure with a statement on the OPWC website stating that local governments may proceed with projects at their own risk as there is no guarantee of funding availability until there is a signed capital bill.

Deal said that despite this setback, the village has a number of other projects, including the Slope Creek Waterline, that are “shovel ready” and that he had been busy applying for stimulus money in hopes of getting something started.

Deal acknowledged there is a lot of uncertainty as to future revenue coming into village coffers due to lost sales tax money and other circumstances resulting from the new coronavirus pandemic, but he expressed his desire to keep moving forward with council’s blessing.

“I don’t want to just sit idle here. I’d like to see us continue with whatever you guys are comfortable with and get some projects completed,” he said.

He then informed council that Parnell and Associates had given an estimate of $46,871 to excavate and pave the expanded parking lot adjacent to West Main Street and could begin as soon as this week if given approval and be finished by the end of June.

Over the past two years the village has bought and demolished two properties along Main Street and had a retaining wall built while working toward providing extra parking as part of a downtown revitalization project.

In response to a question from Councilman Jamie Betts concerning getting other estimates, Deal said he and Mayor Dale Bunting had talked to a number of companies last year about the project and most had indicated it would cost in the neighborhood of $100,000 to do the job.

Councilman Tony Johnson suggested that some of the excavation could be done by the village. Deal said he would see about that.

Deal pointed out that Parnell and the village have a history of working together and touted the firm’s ability to begin the work immediately

Councilman Terry McCort made the motion to have Parnell do the work, saying, “I’m ready to move forward with it. There’s no sense starting a project and not finishing it.”

Deal also announced that the Pike Street Culvert Project had finally been completed, noting that the total cost ended up being $181,314 for the work that was completed in four phases over the course of four years.

Deal informed council that he had been looking to purchase a decent used bucket truck for a couple of years to replace the 1997 model that has become increasingly expensive to maintain. He said it had proven difficult to find one.

Deal conceded that a bucket truck is not a piece of equipment that was needed daily, but insisted,“When we need it, we need it.”

Deal went on to explain that he had located one locally that still needed to be evaluated, but suggested that if that should not work out that there was a dealer in Canton that sold 2011 or 2012 models for around $40,000 to $50,000 and that he thought the village would do well to spend a little more and have a truck that would last for 10 or more years. Council ultimately agreed and authorized him to spend up to $50,000 should the one available locally not pan out.

Deal also informed council that the village had received a grant through the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation to purchase a new trench box to keep village workers safe while doing excavation work, noting that the grant had paid 80 percent of the $10,703 price and that employees would have to undergo safety and soil condition training before using it.

Deal reminded council that the village was accepting bids for its 2008 Ford F-350 with plow and spreader and that those bids will be opened at 11 a.m. Friday on the porch of the Water Department Offices. Council also voted to accept the high bid of $2,500 for a 2007 Chevrolet truck.

Police Chief Rocky Sirianni’s request to continue the police department’s K-9 program was approved with council approving the purchase and training of a dog for $15,500.

Sirianni recently decided to retire their previous K-9 officer, Dixie, when her handler was relieved of those duties rather than have her have to adjust to what would have been her third handler.

Council also approved Sirianni’s request to use department trust fund money to purchase upgraded rifles and accessories.

Fire Chief Tim Hall announced that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the annual Youth Fishing Tournament will not be held as usual in early June and they would be looking to schedule it for later in the summer or early fall should circumstances evolve and make it safe to do so.

Barnesville Village Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 26 and will be held at the Albert S. George Youth Center at Memorial Park to provide room for social distancing.