AUBURN — After conversations with state officials, the City Council will make a decision on how it will spend $750,000 to pave one of Auburn's most important roads.
Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino announced Thursday the council will vote on a resolution next week. The city will use a portion of the $2.1 million it receives from the state Touring Route Program to pave part of North Street.
A discussion began at the Aug. 7 meeting about using $750,000 in touring route funding to pave either Lake Avenue, from Osborne Street to the southern city line, or North Street, from Seymour Street to the northern city line.
Auburn City Manager Jenny Haines said a change order for the city's annual road program would be presented at a future meeting. Seth Jensen, director of municipal utilities, told the council that one project could be funded this year and the other would be completed in 2026.
People are also reading…
Both streets are in poor condition. Stretches of Lake Avenue and North Street have failing grades, according to the city's engineering department.
David Mason, the state Department of Transportation's resident engineer in Cayuga and Seneca counties, contacted city officials after the Aug. 7 meeting. Giannettino noted city leaders met with state Sen. Rachel May's office and Mason this week. Mason, he said, "understands both roads do need to be done."
However, the earliest North Street would be reconstructed by the state is 2030.
Other factors make North Street the city's preferred choice. Giannettino said the highest number of claims submitted to the city are from North Street. There was also a sinkhole at the intersection of North and York streets.
When the City Council considers the resolution at its Aug. 14 meeting, Giannettino said "it should be North Street."
By paving North Street this year and Lake Avenue in 2026, the projects would complement others happening in the city.
The city is advancing a project to widen the intersection of North Street and Standart Avenue. Haines said it will start within the next few weeks.
In 2026, the Lake Avenue bridge project is scheduled to begin. Lake Avenue south of the bridge would be paved.
There were two speakers during the public to be heard portion of the meeting. The residents offered differing views of which street should be paved first.
Scott Clinger, who lives on North Park near North Street, said there are ruts on the north and south side of the major thoroughfare. When flatbeds or lightly loaded trucks hit the potholes, he said the sounds "startle you in your own house."
"It degrades our quality of life," Clinger said.
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 664-4631 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on X @RobertHarding.