Sandusky pares down 2020 road repair list

SANDUSKY — Sandusky officials will still make a major commitment to streets in 2020. Though it's just not as massive as originally intended. During Monday's public meeting, city commissioners unveiled a scaled-down version of road repairs, breaking down to either resurfacing or reconstruction jobs, slated to occur this year. With less money coming into the city's budget this year, a direct result of COVID-19 fallout, officials can't commit as many public resources for road repairs as they originally intended. They put the list together back in October. Back then, they earmarked $2.6 million for 2020, a jump from $1.1 million in 2019. The $2.6 million represented Sandusky's largest monetary contribution to roads in years. But, because of ongoing financial challenges, officials plan on reducing this year's amount down to about $1 million. "The good news is we (will be) able to resurface roughly as much this year as we have been in recent years," city manager Eric Wobser said. "But, unfortunately, we are at about 60 percent of where we hoped to be in 2020." Wobser indicated he and his colleagues will "monitor the budget" to determine if the city can proceed with additional road repairs for this year and beyond. They'll also continue searching for grants to offset what local taxpayers contribute for road repairs. "We have done our best to leverage outside funding, with examples including projects like Route (U.S.) 6," Wobser said. Road repairs Among the resurfacing-related work either recently completed earlier this year or slated to end later this year: • U.S. 6 from the east corporation limit to Venice Road; 54 segments in total • Shoreline Drive, which includes one block each on Franklin, Hancock, Wayne and Jackson streets; 10 segments • Wuertz Street, Linden Street, Linwood Avenue, Sagamore Street and Edgewater Avenue; 10 segments* • McCartney Road, which includes Church, Niagara and Ward streets; eight segments • Pierce Street from Campbell Street to Hayes Avenue (Ohio 4), three segments • Buchanan Street from Campbell Street to Hayes Avenue, three segments *Denotes work could occur in 2021 Source: Sandusky public works department