ROSSFORD – City council had its fill of public works projects – future, impending and in progress – at
its Monday meeting.
In a session that lasted until midnight, council heard complaints from residents of Hillside Drive about
the havoc visited upon their neighborhood by crews installing new water and sewer lines for the
Northwest Water and Sewer District.
They complained of sprinkler heads being damaged, the road being impassable, diesel spilled, debris
everywhere and trash pickup delayed.
Also, once work is finished on the streets, residents are concerned with how the city will repair it.
Resident Don Hamilton said residents do not want the street widened with sidewalks.
They want it to remain 19-feet wide.
Councilman Robert Ruse said the city will work with residents.
Before that’s done, Columbia Gas of Ohio will be installing new gas lines on Hillside and throughout the
city.
Chris Kozak, a gas company spokesman, said the work is part of the company’s drive to replace all its
gaslines in its system.
In Rossford, Columbia will invest $5.4 million to install 50,000 feet of plastic line serving 1,300
customers.
The existing steel lines date back as far as the 1930s, said Mike Schwieterman, project manager.
The pressure in the lines will also be increased to 50 pounds.
Schwieterman said the company will work with homeowners to relocate gas meters outside. While there are
limitations on where they can be placed – they need to be a safe distance from the driveway, for
example- he said usually there are several safe options.
The cost of the project has already been factored into bills, he said.
"Your bill will not go up because of this project," he said. "Your bill will not go up
because of more gas use because of increased pressure."
The project will generate additional revenue for the city because of the increased tax value of the new
system, Schwieterman said.
Later in the meeting, the board reached agreement on its preferred option for a new intersection at Lime
City and Buck roads near the Penta Career Center campus.
City Administrator Ed Ciecka said the council, though not unanimously, backed a roundabout at Lime City
and Buck, with a second one at the entrance of Penta further west on Buck Road.
It’s the same option backed by Perrysburg Township and Penta.