Butler Street project underway

FORT RECOVERY — Work on Butler Street has started.

Fort Recovery Village Council discussed its ongoing reconstruction project and related traffic issues Monday.

It also hired Choice One Engineering as the village’s consulting engineer for its Safe Routes to School projects planned for 2027.

The $1.4 million project on Butler Street (Ohio 119) between Fort Site and Main streets was originally slated to begin in June or July. Tom’s Construction workers recently started working on the street and installed a water line last week. Fort Recovery village administrator Randy Diller anticipates the company to finish water main work this week.

Partially funded by an Ohio Public Works Commission grant, the project calls for an “improved aggregate base and asphalt” to handle heavy truck traffic each day, as well as the following: improved curbs and sidewalks, replacing the water main pipe, new service taps at adjoining properties including a tap for fire protection at Fort Recovery Morvilius Opera House, and a new traffic signal, pedestrian crossing equipment and fixtures at the intersection of Butler and Wayne streets.

Diller noted semi drivers have been bypassing the state detour, which directs semi traffic to Ohio 29 while the project is ongoing. Fort Recovery Police Chief Jared Laux pointed out his department has been writing citations for semi drivers ignoring the detour and noted there are several signs set out to indicate the street is closed.

Diller said the project is constantly moving, with portions of the street open to local traffic depending on the day.

“I’ve told all the businesses (along Butler Street), I’ve said, this is going to be a moving project, so there’s going to be times when they can get right to your front door, and there’s going to be times when they can’t get anywhere close to your front door,” said Diller. “You’re just going to have to keep an eye on things …”

The construction company indicated the project will take approximately 60 days to complete. Diller noted the company’s schedule estimates asphalt will be completed around June 1. He said it’s likely the village won’t have new traffic light poles by then, and the village may need to put up a temporary four-way stop at the intersection of Butler and Wayne streets until the poles are delivered.

Also Monday, council selected Choice One Engineering as the village’s consulting engineer for its Safe Routes to Schools construction projects.

The village was awarded $439,589 from the state grant program in July for projects focused on safety for children walking or biking to school. Projects in the works include installing 625 feet of sidewalk on the east side of Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle School and connecting it to Sharpsburg Road, building a crosswalk in front of Fort Recovery High School on Butler Street at its intersection with First Street and improving visibility of markings at the five-point intersection of Butler, Boundary, William and Third streets.

Construction is expected to begin sometime in 2027.

Also, council heard the village received nine applicants for its assistant village administrator role, which is intended to train a new employee to take over Diller’s job when he retires in February 2026.

Diller pointed out the hiring committee met prior to council’s meeting Monday and it requested an executive session with council to discuss applications.

Council met in executive session following its regular meeting and scheduled interviews with potential candidates for next week.

In other business, council members council members Al Post, Cliff Wendel, Scott Pearson, Erik Fiely, Greg Schmitz and Luke Knapke:

•Approved a recommendation from the tax incentive review council to extend a tax abatement with J&M Manufacturing by one year. (Corresponding taxes will be collected in the current year.) 

•Heard plans for environmental consultant WaterSolve to provide a sludge report and tests for the village’s wastewater lagoons.

•OK’d paying the following bills: $5,082 from PMG Consulting for work on water plant improvements designs and $1,526.75 from Eagon and Associates for the site study to determine a location for a third well in the village.

•Approved amendments to the village's zoning map and regulations on a final reading. The amendments serve to rezone Brandon and Amanda Wyerick's property at 105 S. Elm St. to commercial and prohibit first-floor residential use in central commercial district buildings.

•Amended the wage ordinance to hire Abels as village solicitor effective April 1.