The year will bring a new, state-of-the-art police station to the city of Pataskala.

An update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, and a number of paving and infrastructure improvements are also on tap in 2019, according to city officials.

To get a look down the 2019 road, The Standard met on Jan. 4 with City Administrator B.J. King and Public Service Director Alan Haines to discuss things to come in the new year.

Construction of the new police station behind the city offices on West Broad Street is entering its final phases. “We’re getting to the point that we’ll be having final inspections in the not-so-distant future,” King said.

Then will come a few months of transitioning staff, equipment and materials to the new station.

“We’re very excited to have an adequate, safe building for our police,” King said. “They’re busting at the seams in the current building, which is over 100-years old. We’re very proud of this new building.”

Once the police department has fully transitioned to its new facility, King said the present site at 430 S. Main Street – AKA “The Old Town Hall” – will undergo improvements to its electrical service. Then the site will become the home of the Pataskala Area Chamber of Commerce, and City Utilities Department.

Also coming in the new year will be a new Pataskala Comprehensive Plan.

King said each city council member was granted appointment of one steering committee member to guide and shape the process of updating the Comprehensive Plan. That process has been going on for over half-a-year, he said.

He added that there have also been a series of meetings with stakeholders as the process has unfolded.

An open house to discuss the Comprehensive Plan is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 17 in City Council Chambers, in the City Administration Building, 621 W. Broad Street.

The goal, King said, is for the plan to be approved and in effect by late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of this year.

King said the city has also received a grant of $91,000 to make improvements to Liberty Park in the Taylor Glen subdivision. These are likely to include a shelter house, grills and playground equipment, he said.

Also, 2019 will see the negotiating of contracts with all three of the city’s unions, King said.

Infrastructure, paving projects coming

Haines said under the umbrella of the city’s “Safe Travel Plan” – “a multiple phase project to address pedestrian safety at major intersections” – Broad Street will receive significant attention.

Design and installation of sidewalks and pedestrian facilities on the south side of Broad Street at the western intersection of Broad and Main Streets will occur this year.

2019 will also see design and installation of sidewalk and pedestrian facilities at the eastern intersection of Broad Street and Main Street.

Also targeted, are drainage improvements along Oak Meadow Drive and adjacent streets, and then the resurfacing of Oak Meadow Drive.

Haines said Headly’s Mill Road will see culvert replacement, spot repair and chip sealing; Dixon Road will undergo drainage improvements and pavement resurfacing; and Mill Street will be receiving resurfacing, drainage improvements and sidewalk replacements. Park Street will also undergo resurfacing this year.

In a step toward improving key intersections, a study will be undertaken this year to “assess the safety and capacity of major intersections and identify and prioritize improvements to address issues,” Haines noted.

Among other remaining infrastructure improvements planned this year, Haines said the completion of reconstruction of Mink Street between Columbia Road and Haves Corners Road will also wrap up this year.