Lock Haven council approves James Alley widening, updates library bylaws and awards $95,034 road-patching contract

The Lock Haven City Council on July 1 approved a second-reading ordinance to widen a short portion of James Alley adjoining a recently widened gas station entrance, adopted revised bylaws for the local library and awarded a $95,034 contract for the 2024 road-patching program.

At the meeting the council moved and seconded Ordinance 2024-02, described by staff as necessary to align the alley with the entrance to a newly widened service station; the measure was read under Title 53 and the Third Class City Code and then approved on a roll-call vote in which Council member Alexander recorded a "No" and other members voted in favor.

Council also completed the second reading of Ordinance 2024-03, which updates the bylaws of the Abbey Common Bank/Library as submitted by the library board. Josh Hudson, the library board president, attended the meeting to answer questions; the ordinance was adopted after a roll-call vote.

For the 2024 patching project (agenda item 5c), staff reported bids opened June 26 and recommended the low qualified bid from Wide Excavation in the amount of $95,034 for roughly 1,214 square yards of patching. Council members raised questions about the low bid relative to others and potential traffic impacts. Staff and the engineer confirmed the bidder verified its price and the work would mostly be limited to short patches, requiring only flagging rather than full road closures. The council approved the contract award on a recorded vote.

Officials said the patching work will address a spread of small repairs across the city, with one of the more disruptive locations likely to be the last block of Church Street where recent sewer work increases lateral lines. Staff said most sites will only require flaggers to manage traffic during work.

The council closed the item and moved on to other business.