In 2021, when the city was looking for suggestions on how to spend its $39.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act money, residents inundated officials with requests for improvements to control flooding.

Almost all the ARPA money is committed now — $13.1 million for stormwater projects — including 18 such projects outlined this week by Public Works Director Nate Kissell.

The total cost of those outlined projects is $12.2 million —

$10.9 million of it from ARPA.

There are additional stormwater projects likely to be developed, including potential work connected with periodic overflows of Brush Run in Valley View — the problem area that generated the most concerns two years ago, according to Kissell.

There’s not enough ARPA money to do everything the residents asked for in 2021, and there are stormwater projects the city is planning that residents didn’t ask for, according to Kissell.

“We’re trying to prioritize the dollars to get the most return for our resources,” Kissell said.

Some projects have been planned more quickly, because they’re “more manageable,” according to Councilman Bruce Kelley.

Overall, so far, “it’s a great use of the money,” said Councilman Dave Ellis.

Finished projects:

— Drainage improvements, including replacement of inlet tops in the area of North Seventh Avenue and North 13th Street in Juniata, $200,000.

— Relining of a 60-inch, brick storm sewer pipe in the Kettle Street neighborhood with spray-on concrete, $49,000.

Spray-on concrete is less costly and less time-consuming than replacing the pipe, Kissell said.

— Sliplining of 1,750 linear feet of 15- to 36-inch pipe along 17th Street, $273,000. The lining material was pulled through, then inflated. Problems with the pipe had led to formation of sinkholes, according to Kissell.

— Installation of 532 linear feet of perforated 15-inch pipe in stone bedding and installation of eight inlets along West Whittier Avenue, $225,000.

— Installation of a vault and a second, redundant, inlet, next to an existing one on 17th Avenue near 13th Street, where there is a low-lying area that collects water, $54,000.

n Rental of equipment to clean 650 inlets and 450 pipe runs in various areas of the city, $80,000. This will be accompanied by a system survey.

Partly finished projects:

— Installation of 12 curb-slit, Maryland-style inlets, reconstruction of eight manholes and relining of terra cotta pipe on 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd avenues in Fairview, $630,000, 70% complete. It’s an area where there are depressions in the street that can fill up during heavy storms, if the drainage system doesn’t carry water away quickly enough. In June 2021 on 21st Avenue, a morning downpour destroyed several cars and flooded basements, destroying appliances in them.

— Installation of 1,700 linear feet of pipe and 28 inlets and manholes on Oak Avenue near Race Street in Toytown, plus paving to create a crown in the street, $530,000, 90% finished.

Planned projects

— Reconstruction of 55 inlets, replacement of 460 linear feet of pipe in Garden Heights, $450,000. Starts April 1.

— Replacement of 10 inlets, installation of 250 linear feet of pipe on Bellwood Avenue between First and Second streets, an area where backups in the combined sewer system have caused basement flooding.

“I hope it will add capacity,” Kissell said. “Get the water down farther.” The city can’t use the Maryland-style inlets, because PennDOT doesn’t allow those on highways it controls, Kissell said.

— Installation of eight new inlets and 300 linear feet of pipe and improvements to 500 feet of ditches, North Seventh Avenue between North 10th and North 12th streets, Juniata, $200,000, starting soon. The work will be done in conjunction with rebuilding of the gravel streets — the last two such streets in the city, according to Kissell. That work will be funded with $135,000 in liquid fuels money.

— Installation of eight new inlets and 500 linear feet of pipe on 13th Avenue downtown, $700,000. The work will be done in conjunction with accessibility upgrades and replacement of traffic signals, with $900,000 coming from a Green Light Go grant and liquid fuels funds.

— Stormwater improvements between 23rd and 28th avenues, $550,000, design complete.

— Stormwater improvements on North Branch Avenue, $750,000, with bid advertisements mid-April.

— Stormwater improvements on Broad and Beale avenues, $1.5 million, with bid advertisements late June.

— Stormwater improvements on Mansion Boulevard and Fort Roberdeau Avenue, $3 million, with bid advertisements in the fall.

— Improvements along Spring Run, including underpinnings for a wall and a diversion berm, $1 million, with bid advertisements in the fall.

— Work on drainage intakes throughout the city, $400,000, with bid advertisements in the fall.

Kissell also outlined four non-stormwater projects that will be funded by ARPA:

— “Much needed” renovation of the highway yard office, with electrical, HVAC, plumbing and remodeling, $500,000, Kissell said. The office was last renovated in 1984. It’s 35% complete, and should be done in two months.

— Renovation to create a training center for city staff on Margaret Avenue in the former J&J Recycling Center, with electrical, HVAC and plumbing work, $845,000. There will be seating for 80 people. Work is almost done, said City Manager Omar Strohm.

— Conversion of a derelict recreation space at Lowell and Tennyson avenues in Garden Heights to an all-abilities playground, $400,000, with bid advertisements in mid-April. The Central Blair Recreation & Park Commission is cooperating, having already purchased the equipment.

— Construction of a two-story addition to the city police station on a parcel at 1500 11th Avenue that was purchased in November. The project will cost $3.5 million. Design is 20% complete, with bid advertisements in September.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.