City of Saint Marys approves paving and culvert contracts, applies for $750,000 airport grant; hears pool study and resident safety concerns

The City of Saint Marys Council on March 17 approved contracts for road and drainage work, authorized an application for $750,000 in multimodal grant funding for the municipal airport runway, and granted a utility right-of-way for a private property owner. Council members also heard results of a community pool feasibility survey and public comments about speeding on a residential hill.

City Manager Joe (last name not specified) told the council that PennDOT has placed the Route 120 connector project for Saint Marys on hold because of budget shortfalls and that the city does not yet know when the project will resume. He also outlined nearly $8 million in roadway and infrastructure projects planned for the coming months, including work on Washington Street and Erie Avenue, replacement of the North Michael Street structure, and a top coat or overlay on 37 roadways the city has worked on during the past four years.

Why it matters: The council’s actions move multiple capital projects forward and commit city staff to follow-up steps on grant applications and design work. The airport grant request and the large slate of paving and culvert projects affect the city’s near-term construction schedule and capital spending plans.

Council approved a resolution to authorize staff to apply for a multimodal grant to support repaving the airport runway and asked for $750,000 from the multimodal fund. City Manager Joe told the council the airport’s total repaving estimate has changed since an earlier $2 million figure; a consultant’s updated estimate is about $1.3 million. He said the airport must start construction by 2027 or risk repaying earlier-design funds that had been allocated for design and construction administration. Shane made the motion to approve the resolution and Steven seconded; a voice vote carried the measure.

On paving, the council received bids for the city’s 2025 top-coat program covering 37 roadways. The project estimate was listed at $1,500,000 and will be paid from capital improvement funds and a revolving PIP loan through PennDOT. Four sealed bids were opened March 13; the low bidder, New Enterprise Inc., submitted $1,319,000 and the city recommended awarding the contract to that firm. Jerry moved to award the contract to New Enterprise Inc.; Ned seconded and the motion passed on a voice vote.

For the North Michael Street culvert replacement the council reviewed three bids and awarded the contract to Bucktail Excavators for $979,342.20. The work includes installing a precast concrete box culvert, relocating some utilities under the existing stone arch, and reconstructing the intersection and adjacent stormwater, curb, pavement and sidewalks. Ned moved to accept the Bucktail Excavators bid; Tony seconded and the motion carried.

Council approved a request from Richard Klein to grant a utility right-of-way across city property at 401 Eagle Lane to run electrical service to his parcel. Jerry moved to approve the right-of-way; Shane seconded and the council approved the request by voice vote.

The council accepted the treasurer’s monthly report; the treasurer reported that February 2025 year-to-date general fund revenue was about 1% of budget and expenditures about 14% of budget. The report noted that real estate tax bills were mailed in March and that earned income collections for January and February reflect late 2024 activity, with the first quarter of 2025 collections expected in May.

On parks and facilities, City Manager Joe summarized an in-progress community pool feasibility study. The manager said the survey drew 556 responses and that 90% of respondents reported they had visited the pool. Respondents praised the pool as a community asset and favored swimming lessons; they also reported concerns about limited hours, maintenance needs and staff shortages. The manager said the study identified structural issues in the pool — including some foundation shifting that has caused uneven water levels and recirculation problems — and that staff will bring a full presentation to council when the study is complete.

During the public-comment period, resident John Dollar described recurrent safety problems at a steep hill near his driveway (he identified his address as 648 Vine) and said he was recently struck while attempting to pull from his driveway. He urged the city to explore traffic calming, enforcement and signage. Council members and the manager discussed enforcement limits and the need to coordinate traffic-safety responses across the city and with state roads; the manager said he would talk with the police chief about options.

The manager also reported the city will host the PML district meeting for the North Northwest Region in May, that FirstEnergy communicated guidance about scheduled outages, and that the city will display teal ribbons downtown in April for sexual assault awareness month. The city is scheduled to receive a Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence on April 16; a press release will follow.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes, Feb. 17, 2025 — Motion to approve minutes with correction; carried by voice vote. - Resolution 25-05, multimodal grant application for airport runway repaving — Motion to authorize submission of application for $750,000; mover Shane; second Steven; approved by voice vote. - Award 2025 paving contract to New Enterprise Inc., $1,319,000 — Motion by Jerry; second Ned; approved by voice vote. Funding: capital improvement funds and revolving PIP loan through PennDOT. - Award North Michael Street culvert replacement to Bucktail Excavators, $979,342.20 — Motion by Ned; second Tony; approved by voice vote. Funding: capital improvement funds. - Approve utility right-of-way at 401 Eagle Lane for Richard Klein — Motion by Jerry; second Shane; approved by voice vote.

Council adjourned at the end of the meeting; the next regular meeting was set for April 12, 2025, at 7 p.m.