Contractor selected for new parking lot

FORT RECOVERY — A contractor has been selected to construct a new parking lot at Community Park.
Fort Recovery Village Council on Monday selected a bid from PAB Construction, Coldwater, for the lot that will add 50 parking spaces.
Council also learned about preliminary work on a community plan.
PAB’s bid totaled $115,161.40, with others ranging up to $137,300. All of the bids were below the original estimate of $147,747. The expected completion date is June 1.
Village administrator Randy Diller assured council members Rod Thobe, Dave Garman, Al Post, Dave Kaup, Cliff Wendel and Dave Bretz the project will not interfere with current parking at the park.
Diller also explained to council members that a community plan is in the preliminary stages. It will entail a community, commercial, industrial, residential and overall plan for the future growth of Fort Recovery. Also included in the projection is the retention and expansion of current businesses.
First estimates for pricing came in between $16,000 and $18,000 from Paul Sullivan Associates. Diller said the company estimates it can complete a plan for the community in 90 days.

“I think that what we do get out of it is hopefully a consensus building process that we understand if we’re going to grow, this is how it has to happen,” said Diller. “It’s always good to get a fresh set of eyes on things. We get locked into our point of view just looking at our community and sometimes we don’t look at it from a different perspective.”
Diller plans to coordinate with the company to get a firmer price and timeline for the project. When that is done the council will decide on whether to proceed or not.
In other business, Council
•Approved the continuation of an incentive agreement with J&M Manufacturing based upon the company exceeding all its manufacturing agreements.
•Got a reminder from Diller that there will be an annexation public hearing 6:30 p.m. on Monday in the community room at Fort Recovery High School.
•Heard from Police Chief Jared Laux, who will be looking into a police cruiser trade-in program. 
•Heard an update on lagoon improvements. Diller spoke with several contractors, and is meeting with another this week. He does not believe a bid will be required for the project.
•Approved a transfer of $1,150 from the village’s general fund to a cemetery perpetual care fund.