Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell collects all his leftover Valentine's Day candy and tries to set a new personal best for “most chocolates stuffed in his cheeks.” Then he mumbles out a tasty city memo.
Seat spruce-up
Benches back soon
The Public Properties Division of the General Services Department has been busy refurbishing the downtown benches, Aspell writes. When spring arrives, the Highway Division will return the newly finished benches to downtown.
Just checking
Water, soil studied
Last week, the city, working with its environmental consultant, completed test pits, soil borings and installation of several groundwater monitoring wells at the property at 5 and 11 Canal St., Aspell writes, as well as at the city's abutting Canal Street municipal parking lot. Soil and groundwater samples were taken and lab results will be available within the next few weeks. These due diligence activities are being funded entirely by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Targeted Brownfields Program. Pending the results of environmental due diligence, the city is scheduled to close on purchase of the property in mid-April. Due diligence within the city's parking lot was undertaken to determine if hazardous materials were used to fill the former canal bed under the parking lot back in the 1940s, Aspell writes. Results of that effort will assist with planning for reconstruction of the parking lot as part of future improvements to support redevelopment of the adjacent Allied Leather Tannery site at 27-35 Canal St.
Rehab report
Culvert work ongoing
Work continues on the North State Street culvert rehabilitation project, which is located just north of the state prison, Aspell writes. This week, the contractor will focus efforts on placing concrete along the ceiling and side walls. No traffic delays are anticipated.
