Butler Redevelopment Authority officials said Thursday that they are pleased with the Lincoln Avenue reconstruction project, which they noted was essentially completed.

Authority board members approved two change orders totaling $6,880 and an $89,652 payment to the contractor, Heeter Enterprises of Emlenton.

“It's essentially done,” said authority engineer Ron Olsen of Olsen Craft Associates.

He said 5 percent of the total amount of the contract with Heeter is being held pending final inspection. Heeter will have to post a 15 percent maintenance bond.

The board approved a $66,045 payment to Heeter last month.

“It's a beautiful job. Everybody down there is so happy and pleased,” Olsen said.

The $156,651 contract included reconstructing the road and replacing sidewalks — including those in front of the Butler Arbors, an apartment building for the elderly and disabled.

“They were Johnny on the spot,” Olsen said about the contractor, “Everything was well planned.”

Board member Brian McCafferty commended Olsen and Heeter for their work on the project.

Another benefit of the project is that it provides access for disabled people to Father Marinaro Park, Olsen said.

One change order for $4,220 was for crushed aggregate for the road base.

Olsen explained that plans indicated the old concrete road was six inches thick, but two inches of gravel from the road base adhered to the concrete when it was removed, so crushed aggregate was needed to replace the gravel.

A $2,660 change order was needed to replace an additional section of sidewalk and a storm sewer manhole, which collapsed.

Authority officials said they will work with a property owner whose shrubs were removed to replace the sidewalks and replace the shrubs. Replacing the shrubs was not included in Heeter's contract, officials said.

In unrelated business, the authority's 2019 Community Development Block Grant will be $298,504, a slight increase over the 2018 grant of $296,249, said Veronica Walker, acting executive director of the authority.

A hearing on the grant application will be held at some point in October to give Butler City Council time to approve it by the Nov. 1 deadline, she said.

The board also approved a resolution to apply for a $200,000 Affordable Housing Program grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh to fund housing rehabilitation projects in the West End.

Submitting the application is contingent on NexTier Bank agreeing to partner with the authority.

Walker said the bank is a member of the Affordable Housing Program and partnership with a member is required for participation.