By Angela Koenig
Enquirer contributor

MOUNT HEALTHY - City officials have appropriated $100,000 for 2003 general street repairs, and work on Martin Street will be completed with a $69,000 state grant.

"If everything goes as planned we're going to get a lot done this year," said Public Works Director Preston Stapleton.

According to Safety Service Director Jim Koshmider, about a dozen city streets are under consideration for general repairs, such as regrinding and resurfacing.

Among the streets identified as possible priorities are Stevens Avenue, Rugg Street, Werner Avenue, Maple Avenue, Kemper Avenue, Madison Avenue and Seward Avenue.

"We have $100,000 set aside for street related repairs," Koshmider said, adding, "We have to go by the severity of the project and the money we have to do it with."

Some city streets are in terrible shape, the public works director said. The reason, he said, is time spent on large projects and years of neglect because of budget constraints.

"We have several streets identified that we want to get to. If we can't get to them this year, then we'll try to pick them up next year," said Koshmider.

A $69,000 Community Development Block Grant was recently confirmed to complete the reconstruction of Martin Street. The project was started last year. The grant allows the city to finish the project: widening the 870-foot-long street to 25 feet, and constructing new curbs, storm sewers and gutters.

"You don't know how much money you're going to get until it gets here," the public works director said of the city's recent application for a SCIP grant for Elizabeth Street, which also needs reconstruction.

"We're on the list for that one," Koshmider said, "and I believe we're going to get confirmed that it's a viable project."