$34M infrastructure project moves forward

PORT CLINTON — Port Clinton has been getting an overhaul of updates with more coming. The city is still moving forward with its estimated $34 million infrastructure project — the largest in its history. The project is broken into two parts: • Project A, an above-ground portion • Project B, a below-ground portion Project B will include updates to water, sewer and storm sewer lines, road resurfacing and a storm and sewer separation. Issues with Lakeshore Drive, relocating the road 4 feet to 5 feet away from the lake and the revetment will be addressed. Lead service lines will also be replaced. Port Clinton Mayor Mike Snider said the city secured funding through the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers for several million dollars for the work on Lakeshore Drive. "It's for the revetment work along Lakeshore Drive to shore that up. It's always been a part of the project, but securing that funding is really going to make sure it can happen and will be done properly," Snider said. "It'll be 3,000 feet along Lakeshore Drive. Last year, we had major issues with the undercut. It'll redo that part that keeps Lake Erie from visiting the road." Project A will pave city streets that were not covered in Project B. Both projects will cover all areas of the city. Snider said there are some streets that haven't been resurfaced in decades. And, in some areas in the city, there are still wooden water lines. Additionally, nearly half of the city's sewer and stormwater lines are combined, which need to be separated. "With the number of projects going on in the state related to infrastructure, construction companies and those that have to review the plans, they're all backed up," Snider said. "Right now, we're looking at going out for bid in October with shovels in the ground in the first quarter of 2023." Snider said the city is also in line for congressional earmark funding for the project, but the bill hasn't passed yet. "We'll have to see where the election takes us in November. But we have the revenue in place to make this happen now," he said. "We're very, very excited about this. I definitely know the citizens of Port Clinton are looking forward to getting this started, too." Snider said the hope with the improvements from Project B will be able to be built off of in the future. "This will set the groundwork to allow for expansion. This will allow for greater capacity as we build upon this system," he said. "There will be a lot of inconvenience to the citizens with road work, but the end result will certainly be beneficial to everybody." Snider said this is just the beginning of the work that needs to be done. Thankfully, he said, the residents have been supportive of these improvements. "There were two funding streams for this project. One was a utility service charge placed on the water-sewer bills starting in January 2021. In November 2021, the voters authorized the 4-mill street levy," he said. "In order to get money for grants, you need to have a plan and your own money," Snider added. "We've never had the means to generate the revenue needed to do a project like this. We were able to put together a comprehensive plan and not only did city council overwhelmingly support it, but the citizens did as well." One of the city's parks is also anticipating new playground equipment. With a grant from the Ottawa County Parks District, the city has been approved to purchase new playground equipment for Portage Park or Taft Hill. "It's going to replace a decades-old playground," Snider said. "It's been ordered but with supply chain issues, I don't have a way of really knowing when it will be delivered, let alone installed, but it's in the works and we're very very excited about improving that park." The city's walkway project is also nearing completion, Snider said. "Folks are using it now. I was there this weekend, and it was packed with people strolling and fishing and sightseeing. It's amazing," he said. "There's still some maintenance items that need to happen but it's a huge improvement to our riverfront district." The walkway connects downtown Port Clinton to the beach area. "You can start at a city park and walk all the way to the downtown and beyond all the way down Lakeshore Drive," Snider said. "It's all connected and it's fresh and is going to be used a great deal." This week, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources also officially unveiled the Portage River Water Trail. "From the mouth of the Portage River here in Port Clinton to all the way to down Waterville, Ohio, there are several access points now that the public can gain access to the river to kayak or canoe," Snider said. "The kayak access has been in the works for a while but it just brings a whole new realm of recreation and sightseeing and activity to support it."

​​$34M infrastructure project moves forward

$34M infrastructure project moves forward