NEW CUMBERLAND - Those who attended Tuesday's meeting of the New Cumberland City Council received an update on the state of several dilapidated properties in the city.

With the demolition of the former hardware store on Pearl Street and a property on Ridge Avenue, council is looking to get the demolition of more dilapidated properties underway.

Council member Gary Nardo stated that next on the list for demolition are a property on North Chestnut Street and another on Pearl Street.

However, it may be some time before the property on North Chestnut Street comes down.

Nardo stated that he would like to find a way to force the building owner to pay for the demolition. Normally, the city would first purchase the property and then bid out the demolition project.

New Cumberland City Solicitor Kevin Pearl stated that forcing the owner to pay for demolition is not currently possible.

"Right now, there is no one present to have a forcible judgment in place against," Pearl said.

Pearl also drew attention to some other property issues the city faces, stating some of the properties the city purchased in a tax sale are already owned by the city, while others are "x-parcel" properties.

Pearl stated an "x-parcel" means the sellers are not sure where the property is located or if it even exists. Pearl stated council has the option to not purchase the x-parcels.

"Those ones (x-parcels) will be a fair amount of expense, too, because we don't know who owns them," Pearl said. "It could be something where it's in the river now."

Council agreed to not purchase the x-parcels or those properties the city already owns.

In other business, Mayor Joe Sargent gave an update on the progress of the Main Streetscape project.

Sargent stated he spoke to Joe Juszczak, project engineer, who stated the drawings for the first phase of the project will be sent in for state approval within the next two weeks.

Sargent stated the first phase of the project will focus on sidewalks on state Route 2, with the goal to "make them look newer and put in some plant holders and flags."

Construction for the project will not begin until spring 2010, Sargent said.

Council also accepted a bid for the Third Well project, which has been in the works for nearly four years.

Sargent stated the project will bring more water to New Cumberland, which the city will then sell to New Manchester.

Council accepted a bid from James White Construction for the project.

Council also accepted a bid from Hurley Construction in the amount of $13,750 for the project. The bid was the lowest of five to be offered. The highest bid was from Jones Construction in the amount of $40,000.

City Clerk Tammy Jenkins stated the Parks and Recreation board will repay the city for the money used on the project.

Council also approved invoices for October in the amount of $71,721.93.

(Matsick can be contacted at jmatsick@reviewonline.com)