OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — The Oil City Council Thursday gave formal approval for Webco Industries to proceed with taking the necessary steps to request a zoning change for four properties recently purchased by the company.

The properties are at 351 Seneca Street (the former Genova’s restaurant), 327 Seneca Street (the former Drake Theatre), 349 Seneca Street and 355 Seneca Street, all near the company’s current location at 363 Seneca Street.

Webco would like to have the zoning on those properties changed from C-2 Commercial to I-2 Industrial with a heavy manufacturing special exemption.

Rick Cook, the city’s enforcement assistant/zoning person, told the council it is a two-step process with substeps within each step for that to occur.

“It’s a straightforward process,” Cook said. “First, they need to take it to our local planning commission, which will make a non-binding recommendation. Then it goes to county planning commission, and they make a non-binding recommendation. You then would have to advertise the zoning amendment and hold a public hearing at least 30 days after the county meets. Following that hearing, you can then vote on the change.”

If that sounds convoluted, the process to get the heavy manufacturing exemption is only the second part of the process and requires another hearing with the zoning hearing board. If that board agrees to the exemption, then Webco would be required to have certain things in place that would limit the gases, fumes and noise as well as screening to limit the visual impact.

Cook said Webco hasn’t made any decisions on what it will do with the property, saying that they are keeping their options open.

A letter from Webco to the city said that it expects to use the current buildings for a while but eventually tear them down.

“Webco’s initial plan is to repurpose the properties’ existing structures in support of our current industrial activities,” the letter from Michael Howard, Webco’s Senior Vice President Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, said. “Long-term, we would expect to raze structures on the properties and build facilities that would house manufacturing equipment and activities consistent with that of our current operation.”

Councilman Ron Gustafson views the request as great news.

“I appreciate Webco’s faith in Oil City and its willingness to invest here,” Gustafson said.

PAVING PROJECTS DISCUSSED

A number of proposed paving projects for 2018 were discussed.

City manager Mark Schroyer said that while Orange Street was on the original discussion list it was determined that because the water line beneath the street is like “swiss cheese” it doesn’t make sense to pave the street at this time, and instead, the water lines will be fixed, and then the street will be paved next year.

With that being said, 12 streets are on the proposed resurfacing project list for 2018 with a pair of alternative streets also included.

The total cost of the repaving is estimated to be around $400,000 with funds coming from three sources — CDBG funds, Liquid Fuels funds and Water and Sewer Funds.

The streets proposed to be paved under CDBG funds are Wabash Avenue from Colbert Avenue to Glenview Avenue, Glenview Avenue from above Zemke Lane to near Oak Grove Street and Oak Grove Street from Colbert Avenue to lower Glenview Avenue.

Paving with Liquid Fuels money would take place on Fisher Avenue from Oak Road to past Pleasant Street, on Merritt Street from Plummer Street to Manning Street, on Spruce Street from Duncomb Street to Plummer Street, Smedley Street from 1st Street to 3rd Street, Cowell Avenue from 1st Street to 3rd Street, Memorial Drive from Seneca Street to its end and Darr Street from West 1st Street to its end.

Water and Sewer funds would be used to pave Central Avenue (patch by 2nd Street) and Manning Alley from Plummer Street to Wood Street.

The two alternative streets would be Crawford Alley from Cooper Avenue to Gay Street and North Street from Hickory Street to Abbott Street.

Schroyer said he expects the paving to take place in mid-to-late August or early September.

BOOSTER STATION IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT AWARDED

The council voted to award a pair of booster station improvement contracts in conjunctions with the Zemke Lane Booster Stations improvement project.

The first contract, in the amount of $204,140.00, is for electrical work and was awarded to Wagner Electric and Construction, LLC of Portersville, Pa.

The second contract, in the amount of $974,390.00, for general and mechanical work was awarded to Hickes Associates, Inc., of Alexandria, Pa.

It could take up to 24 weeks for the delivery of the new pumps.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business the council:

• Approved a request from the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce’s Future Leaders and Entrepreneurs Exchange (FLEX) to hold its third annual Oil Heritage Festival Bike n’ Brew Saturday, July 21, in downtown Oil City. The festival will include outdoor activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a Brewfest from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Agreed to a request from the Oil City Police Department to hold its annual Blue 5K June 16. The fundraiser raises money for the police department to help with training, equipment, and education and will include community day events and activities for children to include a bounce house, snow cones, balloons and more. Regina DeLoe, who is heading up the day, told the council that the department plans to use a different route for running this year that would take runners through downtown Oil City.
• Heard an update from Schroyer on improvement projects happening in the city. Schroyer said the PennDOT multimodal parking lot project went out for bid, and one bidder responded but that PennDOT was being a “stickler” to some process issues so the project has been delayed some. But, Schroyer is assured that the project will commence this summer, and Gustafson said he has seen materials in place. Schroyer also said bids for the multimodal building should go out this summer. Also, the county’s work on the Cornplanter Square building might be a bit more expensive than originally thought, as it looks like the county will now have to do a total restore floor by floor instead of spot repairs. The first thing the county is looking to do is replace the roof on the building, and the county is currently looking for grants to help defer the cost.
• Was informed by Schroyer that the city received a $5,000 refund on its workman’s compensation insurance.

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