NILES — City council by a 6-0 vote on Wednesday gave the needed approval to move forward to get the former Waddell Park swimming pool torn down this summer.
The pool for many years was a popular attraction at the park, but officials said the upkeep and needed repairs to restore it are too high. The city plans to demolish the pool and pool building and install a splash pad at the location.
Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz said the city has asked the Trumbull County Council of Governments for assistance with the demolition project, which is estimated at $25,000. COG officials are scheduled to meet on council’s request on April 13. If approved, the city will be responsible for the asbestos abatement and needed Environmental Protection Agency permits.
COG has assisted the city with past projects, including the demolition of the former Garfield School on Third Street and the Niles Times building that had been located across from the city municipal building.
When the project is complete, the city will receive all funds associated with the sale of any scrap steel. Demolishing the pool and pool building is part of the city’s parks capital improvement plan and officials hope to use city money and grants to pay for it.
In other business, resident Jeannette Jackson said she was concerned over the recent number of power outages in the North Road area.
Mientkiewicz said one power outage was caused by a driver hitting a pole and the other recent outage was caused by strong winds that knocked a tree limb onto an overhead power line on Federal Street.
Also, Mientkiewicz reported the city has received $2.2 million in grant funding for the traffic signal upgradeon Main Street. He said Eastgate Regional Council of Governments helped the city secure funding for the project.
Council also:
• Were informed hot-patching work will be done to improve streets where there are potholes caused by the winter weather;
• Scheduled a council roundtable for 5:30 p.m. March 31 in the first-floor conference room to review council rules, and also to discuss term limits for council members after a proposal was made to increase terms from two to four years;
• Approved purchase of equipment and installation to replace the car racks in the mechanic’s garage through state cooperative purchasing. Project cost is $140,193;
• Approved disposal of a Ford 2004 truck no longer needed by the city on govdeals.com.
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