SALEM — City council gave final approval for a joint paving project with the Ohio Department of Transportation in its meeting Tuesday.

Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing City Service Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello to enter into an agreement and approve cost sharing amounts as required with the Ohio Director of Transportation for resurfacing improvements to Ellsworth Avenue from Mullins Street to West State Street, and State Street from the Salem Regional Medical Center to Cunningham Road.

Council gave initial approval for the project in its Dec. 16 meeting, with the resolution passed Tuesday providing the final approval for the project.

Cappuzzello said that the city had already paid its estimated $185,184 share of the total project cost and explained that once the project goes out for bid and work begins, the city will have a clearer picture of what the final cost of the project will be. He also stressed that the majority of the project’s funding is being contributed by the state of Ohio instead of the city.

“They give us a probable cost. We have already paid our estimated portion of $185,000. It hasn’t gone out to bid; once it goes out to bid, we’ll have an idea of how close it is, and once we start the job, there’s always change orders that might add some or take away. But normally we’re within 10%, and once again the state is paying [for] over 80% of this project,” Cappuzzello said.

During his report, Cappuzzello told council that preparations were underway for the annual Salem Super Cruise June 11-14 including painting crosswalks downtown. Cappuzzello said that the section of Broadway Avenue between Pershing and State streets will be closed to traffic beginning Tuesday so the electrical poles for the cruise could be installed.

Work is also set to begin Monday to replace the water main on South Ellsworth Avenue from Railroad Street to the south of Aetna Street ahead of the upcoming paving. Utilities Superintendent Butch Donnalley said that the project was initial estimated to take two weeks, but that he expected it the timeline to be closer to three to four weeks. He also said that one lane was planned to remain open while the work was ongoing to reduce interference with traffic from the Super Cruise.

During his report City Auditor Sal Salvino told the council that the city’s annual tax budget “is about 95% complete” and that he expects to finalize it for review by the city council within approximately seven days.

During the report of standing committees City Councilwoman Sara Baer announced that the committee of the whole would meet at 6:30 p.m. June 16 for a presentation by Verdantas on an upcoming project in the city.

The meeting concluded with an executive session for the discussion of personnel matters with no action to follow.

The city council will meet next at 7 p.m. on June 16.