The Ironton City Council is gearing up to rebid the South Third Street waterline and street reconstruction project after initial bids came in significantly over budget. During the recent council meeting, officials discussed the need to readjust funding strategies to secure additional financial support for the project, which was originally estimated at $2.8 million but received bids around $3.2 million.

City representatives have been in talks with Kiowa and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to explore potential funding options. While Kiowa indicated available funds, federal regulations prevent them from matching these with ODOT's contributions. Ralph Klein, a key figure in the discussions, noted that there is a possibility of increasing the existing ODOT grant for the project.

Additionally, the council is working to reinstate a $250,000 ARC grant that was removed just before the initial bidding process. The Economic Development Administration (EDA) had mandated this change, but city officials are optimistic about reintroducing the funds to help lower the local financial burden.

The council plans to begin advertising for new bids by the end of the month, pending responses from the EDA regarding the grant. The bidding process is expected to take about a month, with hopes that the new bids will be more favorable given the recent insights into contractor pricing.

As the city navigates these funding challenges, officials remain committed to moving forward with the project, aiming to enhance infrastructure while minimizing costs to local taxpayers.