Sanitary engineers propose temporary concrete cap for Meadowbrook trench; county wins additional EPA principal forgiveness

Sanitary engineering staff told the commissioners they encountered unforeseen conditions on Meadowbrook Drive that made the temporary granular roadway unacceptable for residents and recommended placing a 4-inch concrete cap over compacted backfill to restore safe travel until permanent asphalt can be placed in the spring. The estimated cost of the cap and associated work is about $50,375; sanitary staff said savings from reduced low-strength mortar requirements offset much of the cost and the net effect includes a small credit to the project.

“That's the only ones I got. The main thing is it's, like, it's a safety issue, really,” one commissioner said while supporting the change. Sanitary staff said detours had been expanded but residents could not be kept on a quarter-mile, one-lane detour for months, prompting the proposed temporary cap.

Separately, sanitary staff reported success in the Ohio EPA Water Pollution Control Loan Fund nominations: two county projects “maxed out statewide,” including the Meadowbrook phase that secured principal forgiveness of about $4 million for the phase reported at the meeting. Staff said the project has one phase remaining and is seeking further principal forgiveness to maximize the total benefit for the full project.

Commissioners supported moving forward with the temporary cap and authorized staff to proceed with necessary contract changes and rebidding where required.