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Springfield seeks money for streetscape project

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The city is seeking federal stimulus dollars to improve the North Fountain Avenue streetscape from Veterans Bridge to McCreight Avenue.

Staff photo by Bill Lackey The city is seeking federal stimulus dollars to improve the North Fountain Avenue streetscape from Veterans Bridge to McCreight Avenue.

By Samantha Sommer, Staff Writer Updated 7:01 AM Tuesday, December 1, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — City commissioners are seeking more than $1.3 million in federal stimulus money to expand the downtown streetscape up Fountain Avenue.

Commissions agreed at a special meeting on Monday morning, Nov. 30, to ask the Ohio Department of Transportation to fund the project with stimulus money. No city dollars would be used for the work.

If received, the streetscape improvements would extend on Fountain Avenue from Veterans Bridge to McCreight Avenue. It would include new sidewalks, curbs and ramps, as well as decorative street lights and trees to fill in empty spots or replace ash trees.

The city didn’t receive money from a federal stimulus fund for enhancement projects when it was allocated earlier, so a group met with the governor about a month ago to ask for reconsideration, City Manager Jim Bodenmiller said.

The city had until today, Dec. 1, to submit an application. It also has asked ODOT to pay for repaving that portion of Fountain Avenue.

The streetscape project has been a long-term goal, Bodenmiller said, and should better tie Wittenberg University into downtown.

“We did not have the funds to do this, so we saw this as an opportunity,” he said.

Commissioners also approved a one-year contract extension with the Springfield Police Division command officers union that calls for no across-the-board raises.

The union has 24 members.

The city has approved similar contracts with two other unions, which is a reflection of the economy and the city’s tight budget, Personnel Director Jeff Rodgers said.

Commissioners held the special meeting Monday to approve emergency ordinances held over from their Nov. 24 meeting. Emergency ordinances require four votes to pass and only three commissioners attended last week’s meeting. Commissioner Orphus Taylor was out of town and Commissioner Dan Martin was ill.

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I may need to clarify what I mean exactly when I said the Government appropriates money for specific purposes. The Government in this case may have appropriated money specifically for city beautification or transportation. Any Government spending creates jobs in the sense that the people working on these projects are being paid a wage, in turn these people spend money on other services, creating a demand for such services and the need to hire employees.

stimulus
3:52 PM, 12/1/2009

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A lot of you need to understand the Federal Recovery Act and the principals behind Government spending. The Government appropriates money for specific purposes and may only be spent for that purpose and that purpose alone. If that money is out there for us to take advantage of then we have to do exactly that. Witt brings a lot of money to our city. From a business stand point, it's not a bad move. I would love N. Street to get cleaned up tho. How many porch-couches can this city handle?

Stimulus
3:46 PM, 12/1/2009

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Any stimulus money from the Federal Recovery Act is more than welcome in the Springfield area. But, I have to say there are other parts of Springfield that could use an overhaul, other than Fountain Avenue. I suggest putting some of that money towards tearing down the vacant and dilapidated buildings downtown to welcome new businesses, rather than developing farmland.

Stimulus
3:39 PM, 12/1/2009

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The article mentions new sidewalks. Try to have the city come out and fix your sidewalk. They'll tell you that the responsibility lies with the land owner. So now my question is......why are sidewalks even a consideration for this project. Let the college fix their own sidewalks. I have to agree the money for this project could be spent better in other areas. Get REAL the north fountain area is NOT by an means close to being seen as "run down"

jim
2:37 PM, 12/1/2009

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I thought the stimulus money was supposed to help create jobs for help the poor. Put our money to use for those who need it on the south end of town. Come on liberals you should be up in arms about your money being spent on the Rich and their street project.

JIM
12:46 PM, 12/1/2009

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