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Lisbon seeking funding for bridge projects

LISBON — The village is continuing to seek grant funding for three separate bridge projects.

During the most recent council meeting council agreed to move forward with IBI Engineering of Canton to submit a cost proposal for engineering on the Grant Street bridge project.

Mayor Peter Wilson said the village has already received $1.6 million in funding for the $1.9 million project.

The village is seeking another $300,000 to cover the cost of environmental studies and engineering, he said.

He added that both Grant Street and Pritchard Avenue bridges are in need of “massive renovations.”

He believes now is the time to seek funding since more could be made available through President Joe Biden’s proposed $1 trillion infrastructure bill before congress.

The bill includes billions of dollars targeted for bridge repairs, rehabilitation and replacement, according to previous media reports.

In fact, in September, CNN reported that the bill would be the “single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system.”

A vote on the bill has been stalled while legislators struggle to come to an agreement on some measures.

Wilson is hopeful that funding will be available.

“I think the funding is available and we need to take advantage of it,” Wilson said.

In September the village applied for $850,000 in funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s municipal bridge program for the Pritchard Avenue bridge replacement project and Wilson said the village should hear back soon on whether it will be awarded or not.

The Pritchard Avenue bridge has not been repaired since 1966 and was featured on ODOT’s list of bridges in need of repair or replacement, he added.

The village is also planning to install a bridge on the Greenway Trail to Willow Grove Park to replace the former cable suspension bridge that washed away about 18 years ago.

Wilson said the village is waiting to hear whether a truss will be made available, which would make that project significantly less costly.

The village should know by the end of November whether state grant funding will be awarded for that project.

In other business during the meeting, council approved hiring Jon Leisure of East Liverpool as new part time dispatcher for the police department and accepting the resignation of patrolman William Grodhaus who served on the force the last two years.

Grodhaus submitted his resignation letter on Oct. 4, stating, “I appreciate the opportunities for growth and development you have provided during my time at this department. I thank you for your guidance and support.”

Council also approved updating police policies regarding bodyworn cameras and the restraint or confinement of a pregnant woman or female juvenile.

The policy changes are to fall in line with those from the state.

The village has also applied for bodycamera grants through the Department of Justice and the state of Ohio and is required to have the policy in place to receive grant funding, Wilson said.

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