FAIRPORT HARBOR – The Village of Fairport Harbor was awarded $366,000 for the third and final phase of its streetscape project, according to remarks from a Tuesday, July 21, village council meeting.
Lukas Darling, village administrator, reported to council that Lake County Planning and Development had awarded the funds for work in the 200 block of High Street.
Fairport Harbor’s downtown streetscape project is a three-phase master plan aimed at revitalizing the village’s commercial district. The upgrades are claimed to significantly boost walkability and aesthetics by replacing aging sidewalks with decorative gray concrete, adding ADA-compliant curb ramps and installing upgraded street lighting.
The multi-year revitalization effort is broken down into distinct stages.
The initial phase, completed in late 2021, covered High Street between 3rd and 4th streets. It utilized a $265,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to kickstart the downtown modernization.
The second phase, completed in the summer of 2024, focused on the 200 block of 3rd Street. The $300,000 project was primarily funded by a $245,000 CDBG grant, backed by a $55,000 local match from the village’s streetlight fund.
Village officials have actively applied for CDBG funds to execute the final stretch of the plan, which targets High Street between Second and Third streets.
In other business:
Christine Price, fiscal officer, reported June revenues of $311,545.13 and expenditures of 355,938.78. The June funds balance of $4.97 million was augmented by $15,006.37 in interest income.
In legislation:
• Addressing motorized and electric bicycles.
• Enacting an assessment for electric street lighting.
• Adopting water rates for 2026-2031.
• Enacting an assessment for shade trees.
• Amending noise control to address residential construction.
• Designating and naming municipal parks.
• Prohibiting swimming in certain areas.
• Amending DORA hours and drinking vessel construction.
In administrative reports:
The former DeNora Tech building at 625 East St. has been boarded up by the service department, according to Darling. The Lake County Land Reutilization Corp. has secured a $60,000 grant for an asbestos survey and a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, he added.
Alan Frygier, village engineer, said work on an asset inventory for the village’s stormwater system is underway, which will result in a GIS map of assets and improved grant competitiveness.
Frygier told council he is looking at the next state capital budget and Ohio Public Works Commission funding to replace the 1,400 water meters in the village over a two-year period. He said he is also looking into remote meter readers that will automatically transmit to a master antenna mounted on the village water tower.
The next regular session meeting of Fairport Harbor Village Council is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Senior/Community Center, 1380 East St.
