Council suspends rules, adopts resolution to apply for $2M OPWC stormwater funds

Council debated and then approved moving forward quickly with an application to the Ohio Public Works Commission for a phase of the 3rd Ward stormwater project after staff explained the OPWC requires a council resolution as part of the application packet. Councilman Greg Eads said the city had an "opportunity to go after approximately $2,000,000" for the next project phase and that the city would plan to contribute about $600,000 from the stormwater utility fund.

City engineers described the project scope — a new line to relieve a constrained 48‑inch pipe, removal or filling of old tile under certain private properties and placing new infrastructure in public easements — and said a timely council resolution was needed to meet OPWC deadlines. Council voted to suspend the requirement that the item come out of committee, suspend the three‑reading rule and passed the ordinance so the mayor could submit the grant application within the program's timeframe.