Bids to be opened Feb. 23

Some of Ironton’s brick streets that were filled with concrete after sewer repairs will get re-bricked.

At the Ironton City Council meeting on Thursday night, Mayor Katrina Keith said that the project has been advertised for bids.

“Feb. 23 is our brick bid opening,” she told the council.

In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency mandated the city had to separate the combined storm water and sewer system. Some lines run under the brick streets, which lead to repairs being done with concrete rather than replacing the bricks.

Keith said that people in the south side of town where the phase 3, was just completed from Vine to McGovney streets asked for the bricks back. The contracts for the repairs to be done with concrete were already in place when Keith took office.

“In my opinion, it looks tacky,” she said, so she approached council and told them that the people were in favor of bricks being put back in. A city ordinance requires that roadways be repaired with the materials that were originally in place before repairs. The council approved sending it out to bid.

“So now we are looking for contractors to bid on this and see what price comes in so we can replace those bricks,” Keith said. She added that Ironton is known for its brick streets. “It’s indicative to our heritage, its beautiful and gives Ironton character. And the people want it. So it’s a no-brainer.”

Phase 4 of the sewer separation project is in the middle area of town and the immediate downtown is the final phase of the project. The project must be completed by 2025.

In other road matters, Keith reported that the KYOVA Interstate Planning Commission has agreed to give a grant to cover the city’s cost for paving Route 141.

“It’s about $40,000 and KYOVA said they’d pay for our portion,” she said.

The lone item on the agenda was ordinance 17-04 to buy chemicals, which got first reading. The eleven chemicals are used for water treatment.

The Ironton City Council meets the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 6 p.m. in the council chambers on the third floor of the Ironton City Center.