$3.25 Million Capital Projects Set For Village
by David Pugh Buckeye Staff Writer

Jim Wyse, Archbold mayor, announced a total of $3.25 million in storm sewer, road reconstruction, and other projects during his State of the Village address.

Speaking to the Archbold Area Chamber of Commerce Monday noon luncheon, Wyse corrected some misconceptions about the Archbold Evangelical Church construction.

The largest price tag, estimated at about $1.4 million, belongs to the reconstruction of Union Street. Union Street extends from South Defiance Street east for about five blocks, to a dead end. The reconstruction project will end at South Lincoln Street, for a total of four blocks.

Wyse said in addition to rebuilding Union Street, each of the four connecting streets- Brussel, West, Middle and South Lincoln- will be rebuilt one block south.

Wyse said the project is a continuation of the village effort to rebuild streets in the southeastern quadrant of the village, working north towards the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.

The downside of the project is many of the old, large trees in the area will be lost, "but there's no way to avoid it. The infrastructure must be repaired," he said.

Lafayette Drainage

The village will also construct storm drainage for the future extension of Lafayette Street to Co. Rd. 24.

The estimated price tag is $1 million. It will see the installation of storm sewers that will eventually pipe water south under Short-Buehrer Road to Brush Creek.

Wyse said the project was originally split into two parts, the first to be done in 2007.

That didn't happen, Wyse said, so both portions will be built this year.

Wyse said he is six feet tall, which is 72 inches. The Lafayette Street storm sewer project will involve burying concrete pipes as big as 78 inches to pipe away storm water.

"The cost is so high because of the size of the pipe," he said.

Misconception

Work is underway on the Archbold Evan Church, a $6 million plus construction project.

It is, "the largest church project Archbold has seen since the 1960s," Wyse said.

Wyse said many in the village believe storm sewers and other work in the Lafayette Street area is being done for Evan.

Not so, he said.

Wyse said several months ago, Lynn Aschliman and Andy Brodbeck, representatives of the church, approached him about the project and potential sites. The three of them went for a ride, and looked for a site, including the Lafayette Street site.

He said Aschliman, Brodbeck, and other church offi- cials, "shared our vision" for the area.

"We had been working on a Lafayette Street extension for two years. We had been held up working out an agreement with landowners," he said.

"But government doesn't move quickly, and they (Archbold Evan) got ahead of us," he said.

"We're certainly glad they shared our vision."

He urged chamber members to correct others, who believe the storm sewer work is being done exclusively for the church.

He said people attending games at Archbold High School, or in Memorial Park, may park in Archbold Evan church parking lots.

Nolan Parkway

A 2008 project with an estimated $600,000 cost is installation of storm sewers along right-of-way the village owns west of Nolan Parkway, in the industrial park.

The storm sewers are the first of two phases. In 2009, the road will be extended from the current west end of Lafayette Street west to Co. Rd. 24.

Wyse said during the day, 450 persons work in the industrial park, and village officials "anticipate seeing jumps in employment numbers in the next year to 18 months."

He said nothing more about employment.

Treatment Plant

Wyse said the Wastewater Treatment Plant, a $5.6 million project started last year, is 98% completed.

The remaining 2% revolves around new computer-automated controls for the plant.

"We hope to have the remaining 2% finished in the next couple weeks," he said.

An open house at the plant for the general public is planned for the future.

As a result of the work at the plant, the long, narrow driveway has deteriorated.

Also, village officials want to add two more bio-solid lagoons to the plant.

The improvements are anticipated to cost $250,000.