FR plans Williams Street project

A reconstruction project put on hold in 2016 will get completed in 2017, after the village has been approved to receive more than $260,000 in state grant funds.

Fort Recovery has been approved to receive a $268,465 grant from Ohio Public Works Commission to complete the Williams Street reconstruction project, which is estimated to cost $450,000.

Village solicitor and grants administrator Erin Minor told village council on Monday evening the project is scheduled for late summer or early fall of next year.

The village originally intended on completing the project this year, but tabled it because of the price tag. Instead, it completed a reconstruction project on Elm Street that came in at a significantly lower cost. That project ended with a final price tag of $111,771.31.

Village administrator Randy Diller said Fort Recovery won’t get final approval on the project until July 1, which is the beginning of the funding year for the State of Ohio. That means the village won’t be able to award a bid until that date, but Diller said planning will begin much sooner.

Village council approved an agreement Monday with Choice One Engineering to complete engineering on the project at a cost of $27,965.

Meanwhile, Diller told council a pre-construction meeting was held with Shinn Brothers Inc. of Celina regarding a project to extend utilities along Sharpsburg Road. The company, which was awarded a $125,587.60 contract, is expected to begin work shortly after Jan. 1.

“It shouldn’t take them just too terribly long to do it,” Diller said.

The village reached a settlement agreement earlier this year to annex property in Gibson Township, mostly between Sharpsburg Road and Ohio 49.

The village will be working with Fort Recovery Local Schools, he said, regarding traffic control along Sharpsburg Road, which is home to Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle School.

“I’m sure we will get a lot of comments but it’ll only be for a short period,” said Diller, who added the village’s agreement with Shinn Brothers requires crews to leave the road open early in the morning to allow school traffic.

In other business, council members Dave Bretz, Erik Fiely, Dave Garman, Scott Pearson, Cliff Wendel and Al Post:

•Awarded a $131,180 bid to Jutte Excavation to complete a wastewater lagoon improvement project. Diller said the project will most likely be completed in late winter.

•Approved the village’s 2017 appropriations.

•Amended 2016 appropriations for the final time. Diller told council Fort Recovery appropriated a total of $3.9 million for 2016 and spent $3.1 million.

•Passed next year’s wage ordinance and an ordinance reappointing Minor as village solicitor for a two-year term.

•OK’d amending the village’s tax ordinance, allowing it to align with changes in a bill passed this year by the Ohio General Assembly.

•Authorized Mayor Dave Kaup to sign a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resource for the NatureWorks program. The village was awarded approximately $16,000 in grant funds earlier this year to use toward purchasing and installing swings and rubber safety surfacing in Community Park.

•Heard from Minor that Fort Recovery was notified it will be awarded $4,000 from the Cooper Family Foundation to purchase picnic tables for a shelter house at Community Park.

•Approved an ordinance consenting to and setting forth the services Fort Recovery will provide to 5.16 acres in Gibson Township proposed for annexation along Ohio 49.