Woodlawn manager outlines road, sidewalk and demolition projects; village wins $200,000 Safe Streets planning grant

Municipal Manager Engel updated council on multiple infrastructure projects and grant awards at the Jan. 27 meeting.

Lee Crest Road: work was postponed to avoid immediate utility cuts tied to active subdivision construction in Springfield Township; the village sought OPWC extensions and expects to start improvements this year to avoid redoing work.

Demolition and land bank funds: the village closed on a house on Springfield Pike using a 2023 Hamilton County economic impact grant and plans to demolish the structure. Manager said the Hamilton County Land Bank sent an amendment increasing available demolition funds after other projects came in under budget; the amendment will cover an additional house and a caboose the village purchased.

Sidewalks and paving: sidewalk and bus shelter work on Springfield Pike and Grueniger is complete pending punch‑list items. Bids for Wayne Avenue opened Sept. 11 with Rack and Baller Excavation identified as the low bidder and a preconstruction meeting is being arranged. The Glendale Milford sidewalk project is out to bid with openings on Feb. 12, and the village received an OKI/ODOT paving program award expectant to cover repaving from Springfield Pike to Wayne Avenue.

Facility evaluation and sinkholes: Verdantas (village engineering firm) inspected the 'IVs property' for potential conversion to a fire department facility; an evaluation is expected by March. Manager described several sinkholes (worst at Jones Alley) tied to a bridge culvert and stormwater pipes; because the likely cost is expected to be under $100,000 the village plans to obtain a firm estimate and may pay the repair outright rather than seek a loan.

Safe Streets grant: Manager announced the village was awarded a Safe Streets for All planning grant valued at $200,000 to supplement the master plan and produce data useful for future state and federal grant applications aimed at reducing crashes and related fatalities and injuries.

Council thanked public works for recent snow removal and municipal drain repairs, and staff noted coordination with neighborhood allies and the fire department on code‑enforcement and resident assistance efforts.

Next steps include reviewing the Verdantas evaluation when delivered, obtaining cost estimates for sinkhole repairs and coordinating with Ford Development, and moving forward with bidding and preconstruction tasks on road and sidewalk projects.