photo by: Warren Scott

Wintersville Mayor Mike Petrella Thursday recognized those involved in securing additional funding for the Cadiz Road paving project while acknowledging local students who decorated council chambers for the holidays.

WINTERSVILLE — Village officials Thursday recognized those involved in securing additional funding for the Cadiz Road project while noting those involved in Christmas efforts around Wintersville.

Mayor Mike Petrella praised Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi for securing a $125,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Office of Jobs and Commerce division for the estimated $2.3 million project.

Petrella said with that, the village’s local contribution for the paving portion will be reduced from $214,000 to $89,000.

“Jesse worked very hard on this. He did a tremendous job,” he said.

But Kosegi said credit also should go to Katie Saba, grant coordinator for W.E. Quicksall and Associates of New Philadelphia, engineering consultant for the village.

He added Fred Vogel, jobs and commerce regional manager for ODOT, also was very helpful.

“I had great people to help me with that,” said Kosegi.

The Ohio Public Works Commission has awarded a $1.9 million grant for the resurfacing of a mile-long section of Cadiz Road from its intersection with state Route 43 near the Wintersville Kroger to Park Drive.

The project will include the replacement of school zone lights and signs near Indian Creek High School.

Sidewalks along the road also are slated to be replaced through a $400,000 grant secured by the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission and a $40,000 match from the village.

Kosegi said the project is expected to be advertised to potential contractors early next year.

Petrella also took time to recognize the Indian Creek High School softball team for decorating council chambers and the lobby of the Village Building for the holidays and Matt Mazzaferro of Off the Wall Signs for using his bucket truck to apply Christmas lights to the tall tree in front of the building.

He also acknowledged Meemee Wilson and her family for the decorated Christmas tree in the gazebo near Winters Drive, noting it’s something they have done for a number of years.

Petrella reminded area residents the village’s Christmas parade, coordinated by Tammy Straka, will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday on Main Street.

Participants will line up at 3 p.m. near Ferguson’s House of Furniture.

Petrella said council will conduct its Christmas lighting contest on Dec. 14. Those interested in participating should leave their lights on that day.

In other business:

�–� Kosegi said water bills were mailed Wednesday and customers should receive them within a week. He said payment is due on Dec. 20, and those who haven’t received a bill should call 740-266-3175 before that date.

In September, many of the bills didn’t reach customers.

In related business, he said some snags still are being worked out with the new water meters and he will be going door-to-door to make quick corrections to about 80 of the devices.

He said he will be wearing a uniform of the village’s public works department and will leave a neon pink notice on the doors of those who aren’t home so they can contact him for a time to make the changes.

�–� Petrella announced the Village Building will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and garbage routes that normally would be collected on those days will be collected on the following Friday.

�–� It was announced council’s next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 instead of its usual date, the third Thursday of the month.