PAVING AHEAD — On Monday, City Manager Chris Manack-Stover advised Follansbee Council crews involved with sewer projects are slated in the near future to pave streets affected by them. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — On Monday, Follansbee Council learned streets affected by recent sewer projects will be paved.

City Manager Chris Manack-Stover advised council crews have begun sections of Virginia Avenue and will proceed with resurfacing Raymond Street.

The two streets, and the intersection of Main Street and Raymond Street were the site of a $2 million project designed to prevent flooding in that area of the city during heavy rain.

This summer, crews with Alex Paris Contracting of Atlasburg, Pa., created a 15 foot long and 5 foot deep concrete channel to carry rainwater under the streets to the Ohio River.

The work also included the installation of new storm sewer drains.

Manack-Stover said officials with Independent Enterprises of Oakdale, Pa., told her they will be repaving areas where they have installed new sewer lines during the week of Thanksgiving.

The areas include parts of Highland Avenue, Clifton Street and Rose and Oak alleys, but it was unclear how much of them would be included.

Fourth Ward Councilman Rudy Cipriani asked if the paving was included in the project.

Mayor Scott McMahon said it appears that some of the work has been affected by the federal government’s shutdown because it’s being funded partly through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Second Ward Councilman John Casinelli said, “They (the contractor) needs to give us something in writing that tells us what they’re going to do.”

Casinelli also stated he was unsatisfied with the paving that had been done on Virginia Avenue as of Monday, calling it “crap.”

Councilman at large John Schwertfeger had asked about the paving, noting the usual season for such work is nearing an end.

In related business, Cipriani shared a letter of thanks from Jim Mirasola and other residents of Shady Lane for the efforts of city crews in repairing a sewer line and installing a new manhole there.

In other business:

• The city manager advised the garage for the city’s street department is in serious need of repair.

Bill Secrist, the city’s public works director, said he’s getting prices for a new roof, a support beam and other repairs for the building.

• Council heard from resident and business owner Aaron Quattrocchi, who asked whether a new parking lot could be created on the former site of 88’s Barbershop, which was demolished by the city with the cooperation of the building’s owners.

Casinelli, who chairs the building enforcement committee, said the property isn’t owned by the city but its owners could be approached about creating one there.

He confirmed that should the property be sold, the city would be recouped for its part in the cost of razing the building.

Quattrocchi also complained about several dilapidated buildings and was advised to bring his concerns to the building enforcement committee, which meets at 5 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the City Building.

Council’s next regular meeting will be at 6 p.m. next Monday.