Vienna to discuss transit levy renewal | News, Sports, Jobs

A photo from the Aug. 27 council meeting shows Mayor Randall Rapp holding one of the broken pieces of sewer pipe that make up the water line of 45th Place. (File Photo)

VIENNA — When it meets Thursday evening, Vienna City Council will discuss placing the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority’s levy renewal on the primary election ballot in May, the progress of the 45th Place water line project and the master plan for parks.

Council will be asked to vote on an order authorizing the renewal of an existing levy that provides Parkersburg and Vienna with the Mass Transportation System. The total cost is approximately $3.04 million per year, for a period of two years. Out of the $3.04 million, $870,217.53 would be derived from the City of Vienna each year.

Parkersburg City Council was scheduled to vote on its first reading of an ordinance to renew the levy on Tuesday.

In section three of the order authorizing the renewal of the levy, it says that in the event the additional levy is approved by the voters of the City of Vienna, but disapproved by the voters of the City of Parkersburg, the funds obtained from the levy may be used for the operation of the mass transit system for routes which originate or terminate within the geographical confines of the City of Vienna.

Mayor Randall Rapp said the levy is highly favorable in Vienna and has been supported for several years.

“It provides a great service to the City of Vienna,” said Rapp. “It’s very heavily used.”

Council will also discuss the master plan for parks and an update on the 45th Place Water Line Project.

At the previous council meeting, on Jan. 13, Jim Christie, principal at Civil & Environmental Consultants presented a master plan for parks in the city. During the meeting, he said once the plan is finalized he will give the city the digital flipbook of the master plan to place on its website. Christie said the next step is for council to discuss its list of priorities for the parks.

At the utility board meeting on Jan. 21, the board approved a task order for the replacement of the water line at 45th Place. During the meeting, Public Works Director Craig Metz said the replacement project is in the second stage of a three phase project. He said after the bidding phase is over the construction phase will begin.