Mark Roetzer, city public works director, talks with City Council members during a recent work session about reducing the costs of the city’s match for the planned DPW Flood Mitigation project. Ericka Thomas, city comptroller, and Regina Brackman, D-Ward 3 and council president, look on. P-J file photo by Sara Holthouse

Discussion has been held over the last few City Council work sessions regarding a planned project from the Department of Public Works for flood mitigation in the area of Jones and Gifford Avenue.

The funding for this project has been an area of concern for council members, yet the resolution approving the project is up for approval at tonight’s voting session.

The total cost for the project will be $5.5 million, but the city has a grant for $4.4 million, with a $1.1 million required local match. Multiple ways to decrease the cost of this match, including going after other grants and asking the county about decreasing tipping fees at the landfill, are being looked into by the DPW. It has been noted during past work sessions that the project is an important one to do, as flood mitigation has not been done in that area for around 50 years, and Jones and Gifford Avenue provides one of the only accesses to businesses in the area for places like Celoron. The overall cost for the city is a factor though, as the city’s ongoing financial issues have also been cited in past work sessions, with council members expressing concerns about adding $1.1 million to those issues.

Mark Roetzer, city public works director, said while there is no definitive time when the council needs to have the resolution passed to be able to start the project it would be better to do it sooner to keep the project on pace.

“If City Council decides they’re not willing to commit to this project, then that money will be gone,” Roetzer said during a recent work session. “So basically the project is $5.5 million, $4.4 (million) is the grant, $1.1 (million) is the city’s responsibility. That $4.4 (million) would be gone if the city decides not to pursue this project.”

Roetzer said any questions or concerns can be sent on to him and he will put something together for the next work session – scheduled for Monday – to try to clarify some areas of the project as much as possible. There are a few ways the DPW is looking to lower the cost of the project on the city, including using city forces and equipment and going after grants to help the $1.1 million match for the money from the state.

“We’re currently putting an application together right now …” Roetzer said. “If we’re able to get that grant, then a large part of our match will be covered. We don’t have any of those in hand, so I can’t say that we’re going to have those, but it’s something that we’re going to continue to do through the life of this project, is find other ways to either lower the cost of the project itself or help cover the match that the city is responsible for.”

City Development Director Crystal Surdyk noted that this project is a critical infrastructure project. If the flooding in that area is not mitigated, she said Jones and Gifford Avenue is at risk.

“It’s going to be a pay me now or pay me later kind of situation,” Surdyk said. “It’s a really important project. Jones and Gifford is a lifeline from here to Celoron and for our industry, that’s the only way they have access to get to businesses along that corridor.”

Also on the agenda for tonight’s voting session is the approval of the city’s updated comprehensive plan and a public hearing for the comprehensive plan, beginning at 6:45 p.m. in the City Council chambers, on the second floor of city hall. The voting session will follow at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers.