Posted: 8:00 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21, 2015

Middletown to upgrade 19 railroad intersections

By Ed Richter

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — 

Middletown will be entering an agreement with the Ohio Rail Development Commission to upgrade 19 intersections throughout the city to meet railroad preemption requirements.

City Council approved Tuesday an emergency ordinance to proceed with the project to upgrade four signalized intersections along North University Boulevard and added funding for 15 other intersections so work could begin immediately.

Of the three companies to bid on the project, Capital Electric Line Builders was awarded the contract as it submitted the lowest and best bid of $452,636.56 which is 6 percent higher than the engineer’s estimate and less than 1 percent lower than the next bidder.

The upgrade includes installation of new controllers, new signal phasing & timing, LED blank-out signs and interconnect with railroad equipment. In addition, this project will purchase a centralized control system and convert 19 additional intersections to the centralized control system.

The project will be funded with $288,215 from the city’s General Capital Fund which were allocated in the 2015 Capital Improvements budget, and $263,500 from federal funds distributed by the Ohio Rail Development Commission.

Council confirms personnel

City Council Tuesday confirmed several new employees.

They include:

·                       Rachel Combs as a full-time human resources clerk in the city law department. She has been working as a part-time human resources clerk. In her new position, she will receive an annual salary of $29,842.80.

·                       Michael Marksbury and Mark Pitocco as corrections officers in the public safety department. Both were selected from the eligibility list as a result of Civil Service testing. Marksbury will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of John Skinner, while Pitocco will fill the vacancy that was created to cut down on police officers having to work the overtime slots in the jail at a higher rate of pay. Both of the new corrections officers will receive an annual salary of $1,197.76

·                       Larry Gregg as a part-time bus driver in the community revitalization department’s division of transit. He will receive an hourly wage of $13.66 and will work approximately 20 hours per week.

Finance award No. 20

City officials recently recognized Finance Director Michelle Greis for receiving the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. This award reflects the Presentation Award commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

This was the 20th time the city was recognized with the award. Greis also received a Certificate of Recognition for her efforts.

In order to receive the budget award, the city had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communication device. Budget documents must be rated proficient in all four categories, and the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.