By Kate Seegraves

Staff Writer

The Mad River Township Trustees have proceeded with plans to reconstruct several township roads beginning in August, construction made possible by an Ohio Public Works Commission grant.

During their regular bimonthly meeting, the trustees moved to enter into an agreement with The Shelly Company to begin work on the 2010 Green Meadows OPWC project. The project will entail reconstructing six roads within the township: Arnold Avenue, Schenley Street, Pine Ridge Avenue, Sterling Drive, New Horizon Avenue and Emerald Drive. According trustee Kathy Estep, the total cost of the project totals around $540,000. Of that amount, the OPWC provided $400,000 in grant money.

This is the second year the township has received this grant, Estep said.

The trustees accepted several bids for the project at the June 21 meeting. In July, the trustees informally settled upon Shelly Company, a company with locations statewide. Shelly’s estimate on the project allowed the township to add another street – Emerald Avenue – to the original plan, Estep said.

“We were really pleased to be able to do something extra,” Estep said.

Estep, along with trustees Robert McClure and Joe Catanzaro, said they would have liked to add Ginger Avenue to the project, but would not have had the funds to complete that road entirely.

The project involves completely reconstructing the roads in question, Estep said. This includes new curbs and gutters. Work on the roads will begin Aug. 16, and is expected to last at least 60 days. However, because the township approved a change order for the project to add Emerald Avenue to the list, the work may last until mid-October. Dean Fenton of the Clark County Engineer’s Office, who suggested adding Emerald Avenue to the list, is slated to be the project manager, Estep said.