The Herkimer Village Board on Monday moved ahead with its annual paving project.
During the regular meeting, the board awarded the contract to Ocuto Blacktop and Paving, of Rome. Ocuto submitted a low bid of $146,002.65.
The decision also involved two higher bids; of $148,830.50 by Central Paving of Frankfort, and of $170,548.95 by CFR Paving, of Oneida, with all three received on July 11, according to Tony Carlisto, village engineer.
The project covers four separate sections in the village including:
•Marion Street, from Church Street to Park Avenue.
•North Main Street, from German Street to Dayton Place and Hillside Avenue.
•Church Street, from Main Street to Prospect Street.
•German Street, from Herkimer High Entrance to the Village Line.
The village’s budget originally allotted $127,000 through the state’s Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program for the first three sections.
But after consideration the final stretch of road was added to the project.
At the meeting Trustee Christine Cirelli said several residents have commented on the condition of the road in question.
“It’s in bad shape,” said Carlisto in a phone interview, adding, his recommendation to the board was to get them done because the costs are rising.
Last year it cost $55 per ton for asphalt, according to Carlisto. This year so far it is $75 per ton, and estimates are reaching as high as $98 per ton. “We need to get as much done as we can; we don’t know what the cost will be next year.”  
Before going ahead with the project the fact remained that CHIPS funding, which is paid to municipalities through direct grants or capital reimbursement, only covered the budgeted project. This led to the board seeking out an alternative funding source for the remaining $20,000.
Following discussion on tapping the already stretched unreserved balance, the board along with Carlisto arrived at utilizing the revolving loan fund administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
This solution involves adherence to strict regulations laid out by HUD. In order to use the funds, the municipality is required to either prove the money went to aid a low-income recipient directly or toward funding a project that is beneficial to the entire community. 
Carlisto assured the board he would provide documentation detailing the paving project’s benefit to the community.
Once the bid is awarded the contractor has a 60-day window to begin construction. However, Carlisto said Ocuto Blacktop and Paving is currently working on the village’s Albany Street project, which costs a total of $575,855. Already working on a site in the village allows the company to begin the paving project in roughly two weeks.
Each phase, from milling to adjusting manholes and catch basins, is undertaken in a sequence from street to street, according to Carlisto. There should be minimal delays in traffic as a result of the paving and the project is estimated to be completed by the end of September.