Oakmont officials have hired a familiar contractor for this year’s paving project.

Council unanimously voted April 17 to approve a nearly $418,400 contract with Wampum-based Youngblood Paving to repair nine roads.

Borough Manager Scot Fodi said Youngblood was the lowest of three bidders. The borough budgeted about $400,000 in paving this year. Remaining costs are expected to be covered by reserve funds.

Youngblood was the same company approved by Oakmont Council for last year’s paving project.

“We didn’t chase them away with the last bid,” Fodi said. “They have a history doing quality work on municipal projects.”

Roads to be repaired this summer include:

• Dogwood Way, from Virginia Avenue to the end;

• Seventh Street, from California to Washington avenues;

• Seventh Street, from Delaware to Maryland avenues;

• Pinehurst Lane, from Village Drive to Fairway Drive;

• Juniper Alley, from Washington to Delaware avenues;

• West Woodland Avenue, from Third Street to Allegheny Avenue;

• Fourth Street, from Virginia Avenue to Porte Street;

• Tenth Street, from Pennsylvania to Virginia avenue;

• Greer Alley, from College Avenue to A Point;

• Porte Street, from Allegheny River Boulevard to Fourth Street;

• Fourth Street, from College Avenue to the end.

It was unclear when the project would start or its possible completion date.

Fodi said they will have a better timetable after a preconstruction meeting with Youngblood.

Streets were selected as part of a multiyear road study that Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering released in October.

“Only roadways owned and maintained by the borough were evaluated as a part of this study,” Fodi said. “While the study established a listing of roadways to monitor/repair in the next five-year cycle, the study suggests the road program in 20-, 30- and 40-year cycles as well.

“This study is the basis moving forward for Oakmont.”

Moment of silence

Borough officials had a moment of silence for Mary Ann “Dolly” Provenza, a longtime educator at Riverview School District and Oakmont Recreation Board member for 30 years.

Provenza died March 30. She was 82.

“May her memory be eternal,” Mayor Sophia Facaros said. She also called Provenza a role model and “one of our greatest volunteers.”

Provenza graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in special education and early childhood development. She earned a master’s from Pitt in education in 1979 and state psychiatrist certification from Duquesne University in the 1980s.

Provenza worked for Riverview School District for 31 years, starting as a substitute teacher at Verner Elementary in Verona. She would go on to teach first grade, become a district counselor, work as part of the gifted program and retire as special-education director in 2007.

One of Provenza’s early recreation projects involved writing a $6,000 grant in the early 1990s to replace Riverside Park playground equipment, including steel slides, a metal merry-go-round and large concrete tubes children would climb on.

The playground was renovated again in 2011. The borough received contributions from the Lions Club, Rotary, Riverview Athletic Association, Garden Club and Women’s Civic Association for Riverside during Provenza’s tenure.

She also assisted in a geese repellent program involving noise-making devices and a golden retriever in the 1990s.

A member of the Oakmont Historical Society, she often would contribute articles about parks and recreation history to the borough’s monthly newsletter.

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