Speed limit lowered
At the Jan. 20 meeting members of Sylvania City Council authorized Deputy Service Director Eric Barnes to modify the speed limit on Centennial Road between Little and Erie/Sylvania Metamora roads from 50 mph to 45 mph following a speed study in accordance with ODOT standards, noting that 85 percent of drivers in that section travel at 46 mph. Barnes pointed out that the east side of Centennial Road between Little and Erie/Sylvania Metamora roads is maintained by the city of Sylvania, while the Lucas County Engineer maintains the road between Little and Brint roads and the entire west side of Centennial Road. The posted 50 mph speed limit will continue between Little and Brint roads.

Heath Ditch improvements
Council members approved the Service Department’s recommendation to accept the proposal for a $40,650 bid from OHM Advisors to provide professional surveying and engineering services for the Heath Ditch Improvement Project. The scope of the project includes improving pedestrian access from Williamsburg Drive to Olander Park by replacing an existing three-and-a-half-foot sidewalk and concrete steps with a new five-foot, ADA-compliant sidewalk, replacing a retaining wall, and repairing the concrete channel along the ditch where needed.

Waterline replacement
Barnes was also authorized to begin a solicitation for bids for design engineering services to replace 2,400 feet of waterline along Alexis Road as well as extend the existing waterline on Carter Road approximately 1,000 feet along Stewart Road to supply Regency Hospital with a redundancy connection. The project will also provide the option to extend a new waterline along Stewart Rd. from Carter Rd. to Alexis Rd., upon successful petition by the residents. Barnes noted the goal is to have the consultant in place to begin work by April. He anticipates this to be a 2027 project.
In other business, council members gave the green light for the Service Department to accept the proposal of the Discovery Management Group to purchase two Skadi gold RTK Global Navigation Satellite Systems/GNSS GPS Receiver Units for $27,070. The department was also given approval to approve the $36,200 proposal to enter into a three-year agreement with Cyvl, Inc., a Boston-based technology company that modernizes infrastructure management.

Economic development consultant contracted
With the retirement of Economic Development and Administrative Services Director Bill Sanford, council members approved entering into a one-year, $18,000 economic development consulting agreement with Michael Beazley of Middlesex Consulting LLC.

Reappointed
In a final vote, council members reappointed Shawn Murphy to serve as the city’s representative to the Sylvania Area Joint Recreation District Board of Trustees.
City Council President Mary Westphal set a Finance Committee Meeting to discuss Community Reinvestment Areas (CRA) extensions and boundaries. That meeting is scheduled for 6 pm on Feb. 2, before the next council meeting, which begins at 6:30 pm.