DOVER — Mayor Pat Johnson said the sidewalks on Market Street he had the street department close off with barricades in July because they were hazardous will be the first to see improvements when the bidding process is finished.

"That's what I'm getting bids on right now," he told the Dover City Council on Tuesday. "That's the first section I'm going to work on."

Johnson said he expects to have all the bids in by the end of this week.

He told alderman the repairs were important enough to use city funds if needed.

"We may have some grant money left over that we can use on that," he said. "But, anyway, we've got to get that section fixed."

Johnson gave the council an update on a Center Street project. A local bank, after foreclosing on property where nine abandoned trailers sat, has begun clean-up efforts.

"Anybody drove down Center Street lately? They're still working on it," he said. "It's not completely finished, but it's looking real good."

Alderman Ila Anderson said she was impressed with the progress she saw when driving past.