DuBois Council to Consider Taking Over Maintenance, Repairs of Main Street

DUBOIS – At this week’s meeting, members of DuBois City Council discussed the possibility of taking over responsibility for the maintenance and repairs of Main Street from the state Department of Transportation.

City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio wanted to give council members an opportunity to ask questions and to get answers before its presentation for approval. Council will give consideration of the matter at its next meeting.

“This is something that we’ve been working with the state on for [three years],” said Suplizio. If approved, DuBois City would take over a 1.34-mile section of Main Street. It runs from DuBois Street to Dixon Avenue.

However, it would neither include the bridge nor the PennDOT property near Kohlhepp’s True Value.  It is currently maintained by PennDOT.

It was noted that if approved, the turnover would be complete by July or August at earliest. PennDOT would pay DuBois City in order to compensate for maintenance and repairs to the roadway.

Also, it was noted that DuBois City would have three years to meet upkeep milestones.

Council discussed advantages of the turnover in ownership. These included “less red tape” for community events, such as the Community Days parade.

In this case, DuBois City would close a city roadway versus getting permission to close a state roadway.

During the discussion, it was also stated that DuBois city road crews are already traveling Main Street often, so it wouldn’t be an out-of-the-way addition.

Council members were also presented with the fire department’s year-end report. In December, there were 19 incidents, including six structure fires.

For the year, there was $386,600 in losses due to fires in DuBois City.  With a reported potential loss of $5,811,075, the DuBois Volunteer Fire Department saved the community $5,424,475, according to the report.