Hopedale seeks funding for retaining wall, signs

Mayor Mike Pelegreen told council that the village has applied to Congressman Michael Rulli’s office for funding for the Carson Street retaining wall, following a visit from Rulli and members of his staff to Hopedale in early April.

“The congressman gets 200 applications a year for funding,” Pelegreen said. “He can only select 20 of them.”

Pelegreen said two applications were combined into one request, with $250,000 sought for Carson Street and another $125,000 for one of the West Main Street projects. He read a letter from Rulli’s office stating the village’s request was among the 20 projects selected to be forwarded to the appropriations committee.

Pelegreen said the village should know by May whether additional funding will come through. He also noted the Harrison County commissioners are covering the village’s $123,000 share for culvert work.

“If everything goes right and comes out, we should be in pretty good shape,” Pelegreen said.

The village is currently working on the West Main Street culvert near the railroad tracks and the Carson Street retaining wall. Future projects include the West Main Street retaining wall, the Penn Central road slip and the Main Street storm culvert.

The village also discussed plans for a new salt storage building, which would be built between the storage garage and Third Street. Pelegreen said funding applications also were sent to state representatives in Columbus and that the process is biennial.

Pelegreen also announced that a representative from the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association recently visited the village regarding the Ohio Department of Transportation Township Safety Sign Grant.

“Between the village and the township we get up to $50,000 worth of signs free,” he said.

Pelegreen said the signs could include stop signs, speed limit signs and fire department signs. He estimated the village would need about $15,000 to $18,000 to cover what is needed. Council unanimously approved a motion to seek the funds.

Council also revisited cleanup day and announced it will be held May 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.