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Wartman-White takes the spotlight in his hometown

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Although they are opponents in the upcoming race for mayor, Tony George and Frank Sorick agree replacing the Division Street bridge is a priority.</p><p>The issue resurfaced this week when Luzerne County Council listed the span that was in bad shape and demolished last year on its capital projects plan and authorized $1 million toward the construction of a new structure. The funding, however, only goes halfway with city responsible for bridging the gap with a matching $1 million.</p><p>It appears unlikely the city will come up with the money in the final four months of Mayor Tom Leighton&#8217;s administration. City spokesman Liza Prokop said Thursday in an email, &#8220;The project is the county&#8217;s responsibility.&#8221;</p><p>George and Sorick, as well as the county, disputed the city&#8217;s response, and were committed to finding funding and addressing a problem that&#8217;s been festering for years.</p><p>&#8220;I get it,&#8221; said Sorick, the Republican candidate. &#8220;I live just four blocks from the bridge and can&#8217;t even cross to Turkey Hill.&#8221;</p><p>Without the connection, residents in South Wilkes-Barre have a longer trip by foot or vehicle from the east side of Solomon Creek to the convenience store on Carey Avenue or other nearby businesses. The same applies to people who used to cross from the west side.</p><p>&#8220;The city absolutely has to come up with the $1 million,&#8221; said Sorick. </p><p>Grants and the Local Share Account from the gambling revenues of Mohegan Sun Pocono casino in Plains Township are possible sources the city can tap, he said. </p><p>Financing it is another option, but doing nothing is not, Sorick said. He criticized the city for walking away from the project, saying its an indication its finances are in poor shape.</p><p> &#8220;This is no surprise that we need this money,&#8221; Sorick said. Funds should have been set aside for a rainy day, he said, adding,&#8221;Well, it&#8217;s pouring.&#8221;</p><p>Sorick said he was unsure if the bridge tied into a comprehensive flood control project for Solomon Creek. But George stressed it is.</p><p>&#8220;I said that&#8217;s part of my platform,&#8221; said George, who also sits on city council. </p><p>The project ranked highest on his to-do list in the short term and the bridge replacement topped his medium-term plans, both released on May 2, a little more than two weeks before the May 10 primary.</p><p>The flood protection project will cost approximately $120 million with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers responsible for 80 percent of the cost, the state 15 percent and a 5 percent local share split evenly by the city and county, he said.</p><p>The project includes replacing the bridges on Division Street and nearby Oxford Street in Hanover Township and, if necessary, upgrading others that cross the creek to meet the Corps&#8217; specifications, he said. </p><p>The city&#8217;s $1 million contribution for the Division Street could be put toward its local share commitment for the flood control project, he said. </p><p>George said he would eye gambling funds to build the bridge and look to other sources too. &#8220;I&#8217;d like a resolution to go to (Office of Community Development) funds,&#8221; he said. </p><p>The county&#8217;s stepping forward provided some relief to George. &#8220;If they didn&#8217;t do that, I&#8217;d sue them,&#8221; he said. </p><p>George and Tanis Manseau, operational services director for the county, traced the city&#8217;s responsibility for the bridge to an ordinance city council passed in 1932, requiring it to pay for half the cost of maintenance, repair or replacement.</p><p>Manseau said the city maintains that the ordinance was not properly signed.</p><p>County Councilman Steve Urban, a city resident, said once the Solomon Creek project is completed Luzerne County would be responsible for maintaining it.</p><p>The Division Street bridge was closed in 2011 after Tropical Storm Lee and a portion of the structure built in 1920 fell into the creek last year, he said. The county demolished the bridge and removed debris from the creek bed.</p><p>&#8220;The money&#8217;s there&#8221; with council&#8217;s approval of the $1 million, Urban said. &#8220;We&#8217;re ready to proceed with our half.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Opponents in the upcoming Wilkes-Barre mayoral race, Republican Frank Sorick, left, and Democrat Tony George agreed replacing the Division Street bridge is a priority and the city should look for funding to match the $1 million Luzerne County approved for a new structure across Solomon Creek. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090515bridge1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Opponents in the upcoming Wilkes-Barre mayoral race, Republican Frank Sorick, left, and Democrat Tony George agreed replacing the Division Street bridge is a priority and the city should look for funding to match the $1 million Luzerne County approved for a new structure across Solomon Creek. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Division Street bridge replacement a priority for Wilkes-Barre mayoral candidates