Adena Council hears updates on bank building, trailhead project

In Mayor Brenda Roski’s absence, Councilmember RJ Konkoleski served as acting mayor and said work continues on the corner building that once housed the bank.

“Everything is looking good,” Konkoleski said. Brick is being laid, and another area has been sealed and heated to allow work to rebuild the roof.

“So far on schedule, so far on budget,” he said. “None of our cost overruns have been in the building. They’ve all been on the street side.”

Konkoleski said fencing now surrounds the entire building. He said a pump is being installed underground to move water away rather than allowing it to collect on the street, which he said explains the work being done in front of the building. He said lights visible inside at night are a safety precaution because of the elevator shaft, which is fenced off.

Konkoleski also updated council on the trailhead project discussed at the Feb. 10 meeting, saying the village is running up against a “bat window.” Certain outdoor work between April 1 and Oct. 1 prevents tree removal with federal money because bats nest during that period, he said.

“So, essentially, the long story short is the project was supposed to start construction in June, but it will not start until October at this point,” Konkoleski said. “Because there’s no way we’re going to cut the entire rail bed between now and April 1.”

He said even if the village tried to move forward, environmental sampling would be required. He also said soil sampling cannot be done when snow is on the ground.

Konkoleski said the delay may help the village coordinate timing with another grant application — $250,000 for downtown sidewalks.

“We have to have a match of half of that, which is a lot of money that we don’t have,” he said. “But the trail funds can count as the match, but we can’t finish the trail before we start the sidewalks.”

He said overlapping projects could work in the village’s favor. The $250,000 request is through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Area Development Grant program.

“It’s for downtown revitalization and development,” Konkoleski told council.

He said the work would run from the bridge to the funeral home and include a block in each direction from the Square. He said once that section is completed, the village would need an additional $1 million to finish the rest.

Konkoleski said the grant application is due in April, with awards expected to be announced in May. He said the village would not receive the money until November or December. He said the sidewalk section planned in the grant application totals $257,000, meaning the village would need to cover $7,000 if the grant is awarded.