Following the Pledge of Allegiance led by Washington, D.C., Boy Scout Aston Hughes, Mayor Mark Frye introduced Sylvania City Council members to the city’s new finance director, Sullivan Nicholls, who attended his first council meeting Aug. 17.
Council President Mary Westphal presented three ordinances establishing annual assessments on property owners where applicable. Council approved assessments for ditch construction, maintenance, repair, cleaning and enclosing open drainage ditches; tree planting, maintenance, trimming and removal of shade trees along streets and within the public right-of-way; and street lighting.
In other business, council approved Service Director Joe Shaw’s request to file a petition for the appropriation of 0.006 acres at the corner of Old Post Road and Monroe Street for the Erie Street/Monroe Street roundabout project.
According to Shaw, the city offered property owners James and Ann Magers $2,995 for the parcel, but the parties have not reached an agreement. He said good-faith negotiations will continue, but the property is essential because the Ohio Department of Transportation must certify control of the right-of-way to the Federal Highway Administration by Dec. 4.
Council also approved Shaw’s recommendation to accept an $8,700 proposal from DGL Consulting Engineers to oversee coordination of the Harroun Road traffic signal at Flower Hospital with the signal at Monroe Street.
At Shaw’s recommendation, council accepted Fisbeck’s $78,752 proposal for professional engineering services for the Highland View, San Benito and San Reno Drive waterline improvement project.
Contract Modifications
Council also approved a $3,178 change order for The Jennite Co. for the 2026 sidewalk replacement program. Shaw said six additional sidewalk slabs were replaced beyond the original 84 included in the project.
Council authorized a third contract modification of $7,950 for DGL Consulting Engineers for the Downtown Transportation Improvement Project Phase I. The modification provides construction-phase services by landscape architecture subconsultant EDGE. He said the original contract with DGL did not include those services for EDGE.
With council members’ affirmative vote, Shaw will offer various obsolete office furniture and equipment for sale on Gov.Deals.com.
Council confirmed Mayor Frye’s appointments of Bradley Menard and Wayne Kinsel to the Sylvania Tree Commission.
Public Hearings
Councilman Doug Haynam requested two public hearings on proposed zoning changes. The first involves a request from Louisville Title Agency, on behalf of Millstream Development Co., to rezone property on the south side of Brint Road west of King Road from R-1 to R-1 Planned Development. The proposal would allow construction of three single-family homes and one two-family home on four lots.
The second hearing concerns a request from Matt DeWood of Sylvania Marketplace & 851 Alexis LLC to apply for a special use permit for a convenience store and fueling station. Both public hearings are scheduled for 6 pm Oct. 5, immediately before the regular City Council meeting at 6:30 pm.
The next Sylvania City Council meeting will be held at 6:30 pm Tuesday, Sept. 8.