BARNESVILLE — Village Council learned that funding for a paving project planned for this summer Is now in question.

Village Administrator Roger Deal announced July 20 that the Ohio Public Works Commission paving grant that was to help fund a large paving project in the village this summer is now “in question” due to the status of a state capital funding bill being uncertain due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

Deal said as he understands it, the grant may still be forthcoming but he couldn’t be sure when, and a statement on the Ohio Public Works Commission website confirmed as much, saying 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 hsd 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 about revenue coming into village coffers due to lost sales tax money and other circumstances resulting from the coronovirus, 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 that they could begin as soon as next week if given approval.

Over the past two years the village had bought and demolished two properties along Main Street and had a retaining wall built while working to providing extra parking as part of their Downtown Revitalization Project.

In response to a question from Councilman Jamie Betts concerning getting other estimates, Deal said that he and Mayor Dale Bunting had talked to a number of companies last year about the project and most had indicated that 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, and Deal said he would see about that.

Deal pointed out that Parnell and the village have a history of working together and touted their 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.”

Council approved.