WALBRIDGE — The Main Street paving, which recently wrapped up, cost $329,000. But the village only had to pay $29,000.

Mayor Ed Kolanko said that grant-funded project was three to four years in the making.

“It was much-needed improvement for really the busiest road that people travel in town,” Kolanko said.

It will help with Walbridge’s image, he said.

“When you come into town and you see a nice new road, it just makes the village, the appearance …. it makes people think, this is a nice-looking town,” Kolanko said.

Main Street was paved from Elm to Clinton streets.

“It was probably one of the larger paving jobs in 15-20 years,” he said.

He praised the Shelley Company, which did the work; Poggemeyer Design Group, which helped obtain the funding and completed engineering on the project; and the Ohio Department of Transportation for their cooperation. The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments was also a partner.

“I’m very appreciative to ODOT, because it was an ODOT-driven project. ODOT helped pay for it. The Ohio Public Works Commission helped pay for it, and the village was responsible for some,” Kolanko said.

More street improvements are on the administration’s radar.

In a discussion on the proposed 2023 budget, Kolanko said that a good chunk of the $331,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds that went to the village are going to roads.

“I did put $200,000 of that $331,000 … and indirectly marked it for for infrastructure,” he said.

Kolanko said he also has some suggestions for improvements, including Holly Drive and the curbs going up to Allen Street, Allen Street to Breckman Street, Elm Street and Percy Street.

“I know there’s a lot of streets in town that need to get looked at, worked on,” Kolanko said. “It won’t take long to spend $200,000.”

There’s an additional $125,000 earmarked for capital outlay. This is an annual budget item, he said.

Kolanko added that council should provide input.

Other budget highlights are 7% raises, which were approved earlier this year by council, and health insurance costs increasing by 14%, Kolanko said.

The annual village budget is $1.9 million.

Also at the Nov. 16 meeting, council:

• Heard the first reading on authorizing the village administrator to enter into the annual agreement with the Wood County Committee on Aging to do lunches in the municipal building. The cost is $10,000.

• Heard the second reading on authorizing the village administrator to enter into a contract with Toledo Edison for replacing street lights with LED bulbs.