NEW PARIS — The Village of New Paris’ East Cherry Street Project Phase II has been approved for funding. Susan Laux with Mote & Associates attended a meeting on Monday, Feb. 5, to share the good news with council.

She brought an agreement for the members to sign and noted they will be putting Phase I and Phase II together.

The project will include new curb, sidewalk, sewage drainage, and a new surface. There is also money included for repairs, as there are areas of the street with “base problems,” according to Laux.

She added, it is possible that this project could begin this summer.

Laux also updated council on the Preble County CDBG program. She said she just received her packet about the program, but she also reached out to Commission Administrative Assistant Kim Keller.

“They are on a pretty quick cycle, I am not sure why. They are having the public hearing on the 12th, which is next Monday. This is the first public hearing and nobody has to go,” Laux said. “This has no bearing on whether you get money or don’t get money.

“They are also having a meeting on the 16th, which is a planning meeting that they are required to have. If you want a project in the 2019-2020 project year, you need to be there to make sure your project is on the list. I’m going to be taking applications on March 2, which is really quick.

“Then they’re scheduled to have a public hearing on March 21. [Keller] anticipates that there will be approximately $200,000 dollars available. They typically try to break that down and spread it around a little bit. They are probably looking at three or four different projects.”

She encouraged council to think of any $50,000-$60,000 project they would be interested in pursuing.

In other news:

•In January, the New Paris Police Department handled 73 calls for service, made 12 reports, two arrests, issued four citations, and eight warrants.

•Council approved preliminary legislation to start the Spring Street Bridge improvement project. Council already approved the project, they simply had to approve the legislation as a formality. They advertised for the engineering on the bridge project and received two offers. There was no bid, but council had to select which company they would like to utilize. Council approved Mote & Associates and the engineering for the project.

New Paris Council will next meet on Monday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in the village building.