City of Sylvania’s Department of Public Safety Service Director Kevin Aller informed Mayor Craig Stough and members of Sylvania City Council at the June 6 Sylvania City Council meeting, that Maplewood Avenue road construction is nearly finished and that traffic has resumed using the street. There has been some additional pavement repair needed due to poor soil conditions but a reduction of the number of planters provided some cost savings. This resulted in a net increase of $6,576 to the contract. Cost of the total contract is $699,757.30. According to Aller, the contractor, Helms and Sons Excavating, Inc., will add the top coat of asphalt to complete the project when the planters and poles that are on order, are delivered. Aller requested that the change order be approved, which was granted.
In other business, Aller asked council to set a date for a public meeting for the 25 to 30 involved property owners regarding the Richard Park stream restoration project to realign 1,500 feet of the stream channel. He reported that last November, the city was granted $1.5 million of stream mitigation funds from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for this project. In addition, he requested approval to advertise for design-build services for the project. Council agreed to hold a committee meeting about this project before the June 20 council meeting and approved Aller’s request for solicitation of services.
Aller pointed out that this grant is in addition to the grants received for phase two of the Harroun Park River Trail stream restoration project to help protect the creek banks from further erosion. He explained that J hooks, or veins, will be placed in the middle of the stream to direct the force of the water to the middle. Also, downed trees and other materials will be used to line the banks. Aller asked council to approve his request to begin the design/build solicitation process for Phase 2 of this project, which they granted.
Two special assessment ordinances for trees and drainage ditches and one resolution for street lighting were also passed by council after Finance Director Toby Schroyer and Aller explained each in detail. The first relates to the control of blight and disease of shade trees along with planting, maintaining, trimming, and removing shade trees along streets within the public right-of-way of the city of Sylvania; the second provides for the construction, maintenance, repair, cleaning, and enclosing of open drainage ditches within the city limits. Street lighting is the subject of the third project, which was a resolution. Schroyer and Aller said they have simplified the process by creating four categories of properties for assessments for street lighting: those with empty lots will be charged 16¢ per front foot; those with overhead lines will pay 50¢ per front foot; underground lines will be charged 88¢ per front foot, and those in the Whiteway Business District will pay $1.13 per front foot.
The next meeting is scheduled for June 20 at 7:30 pm in city council chambers.