Sylvania City Council’s Streets Committee held a public meeting on March 3 before the regular council meeting. Sylvania’s Service Director Joe Shaw made a roundabout presentation to Sylvania City Council members and residents in attendance. He detailed the safety features along with the economics of the traffic-slowing devices. In addition, he explained the multi-layered process used to determine viable locations for roundabout placement. Shaw was on hand to answer questions from the audience, as well.
Sylvania Police Chief Dannilynn Miller introduced three new police officers, Tessa Gardella, Arin Hovey, and Brian Smith, to members of Sylvania City Council at the March 3 meeting. Gardella is from Brunswick, Ohio and is a graduate of the University of Akron. She joined SPD as a cadet in August, was sworn in and began field training in January. Hovey, a Toledo native, has an associate degree from the University of Toledo and completed the Owens Police Academy last year. Smith, a Northview graduate, had been an active SPD Volunteers on Patrol member. He has earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and received peace officer certification through the Owens Police Academy.
Council members approved Sylvania Service Director Joe Shaw’s requests to award contracts to Ohio Excavating and Sewer Contractors Corporation for $61,185 for the extension of the Centennial Road sanitary sewer near Doyle Drive and $939,320.75 for the Silvertown Drive waterline improvements and resurfacing project, U.S. Utility Contractor for $502,082.07 for the Monroe/Main/Summit streets traffic signal improvements project, and Bowser Morner for $8,792 for geotechnical engineering services for the Sylvania Avenue pump station replacement project.
Shaw was also given approval to purchase a new, 2025 closed circuit television camera truck from Jack Doheny Company for the Sewer Department at a cost of $375,302.27. According to the service director, this equipment will greatly enhance the department’s sewer inspection capabilities and and will include a new lateral launching feature to allow CCTV work from the mainline and into private services.
Council members authorized Sylvania Economic Development Director Bill Sanford’s request for the city to enter into an agreement with American Fireworks Company for the Independence Day Celebration on July 3 at Centennial Terrace. The $49,500 expense for the fireworks display will be shared equally by the city and Sylvania Township, less any donations from area businesses.
Councilman Brian McCann reported that the Employee and Community Relations Committee, which met before the regular council meeting, interviewed four candidates and selected Jamie Keblesh as the city of Sylvania’s representative on the Sylvania Area Joint Recreation’s Board of Directors. Her term expires Dec. 31, 2027.