$1 million for paving in New Philadelphia; township fire contract cost to increase

NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ Members of city council heard reports from members of the administration on street paving and New Philadelphia's fire contract with Goshen Township at this week's meeting.

Service Director Ron McAbier reported the city will be doing about $1 million in street paving in 2024.

Areas to be paved include a parking lot between city hall and the police station; Allen Lane SE/SW from Second Street SE to Second Street SW; Ashwood Lane NE from Second Street NW to Second Street NE; First Drive NE/SE from Front Avenue SE to Fair Avenue NW; Third Street NW from Ray Avenue NW to Wabash Avenue NW; Kelly Street NW from Ray Avenue NW to the dead end in the 500 block; Grandview Avenue NW from Second Street NW to Fourth Street NW; Oak Street NW from Grandview Avenue to Carrie Avenue; Kaderly Street NW from Wabash Avenue to the fence at the Veterans of Foreign Wars; an unnamed alley from Kaderly Street to Fourth Street NW; Grant Avenue NW, from Tuscarawas Avenue to 11th Street NW; Second Street SE from Commercial Avenue SE to Colonial Avenue SE; and East High Avenue from 13th Street NE to Beaver Avenue NE.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will be paying for a major part of the East High Avenue paving project, which will include the installation of bicycle lanes.

Mayor Joel Day reported a letter was sent to the Goshen Township trustees to inform them of a cost increase should they decide to renew the township's fire and EMS contract with the city in 2027. There are two remaining years on the current contract, with the township paying the city $180,000 per year. That would increase to $537,691.87 annually, based on a per-call cost of $1,122.53. Last year, the New Philadelphia Fire Department answered 479 calls in Goshen Township.

"New Philadelphia's taxpayers have been subsidizing the fire and EMS services to the township for many years," Day said. "The level of service by our fire department to the township is identical to the level of service received by New Philadelphia residents. Therefore, the cost per call should be the same."

Work will begin next week on a major reconstruction project at Harry Clever Field. It will relocate and reconstruct the taxiway that is parallel to the main runway of the airport. The project will cost $2.8 million, with a $2.6 million grant coming from the Federal Aviation Administration and a $144,606 matching grant from ODOT-Aviation.

The mayor also reported that all vendor spaces are sold out for the May 5 Art on the Alley event. There are only 28 spots available for the Oct. 6 Art on the Alley event.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: New Philadelphia seeks increase in Goshen Township fire contract