ROSSFORD – The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Buck and Lime City roads near Penta Career
Center has to go around the grant application process again.
Rossford City Councilman Robert Ruse, who has represented the city during the multiparty discussions
about the controversial project, said at Monday’s city council meeting that because of a change in the
way the pool of grant funds is being handled, the project must apply for grant money again, though he
and others involved are optimistic that it will be approved again.
Ruse explained that the funds from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ)
program are now going to be distributed through a state entity.
They had been given out by a Metropolitan Planning Organization, of which there were eight in the state.
While some, including the one serving the Toledo area, were getting the money distributed in a timely
manner, others were not performing as well prompting the state to assume control, Ruse said.
While the grants for projects slated to begin by 2017 were continued, it was decided that those starting
later would have to apply again for the money.
The Buck and Lime City roads roundabout is scheduled to start construction in 2018.
While Ruse said the entities, including the Wood County Engineer’s Office, Penta, Perrysburg Township,
the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) and the Rossford Transportation Improvement
District, are hopeful the new request for funds will be approved, the official answer will not be known
until the end of the year.
The project was brought up by city resident Wendell Charles, who questioned why a project that had been
deemed dead has come back to life.
Mayor Neil MacKinnon said he understood it wasn’t popular, but he noted the scope of the project has been
reduced based on a new traffic study, and the cost has been cut by more than half.
Ruse said the price tag for the project – which has two roundabouts, one at Buck and Lime City and
another at the entrance to Penta – has gone down from $5.8 million to $2.6 million.
Council also took action on another road project that has stirred controversy. Council voted unanimously
(with Greg Marquette absent) to levy an assessment on the homeowners on Hillside Drive for improvements
to the road.
The resolution first was amended to remove the cost of storm water-system work. MacKinnon said he asked
that the cost be taken out because the city is looking at another way to pay for it.
Residents on the street have complained to council about the disruption of their lives and property
because of ongoing work being done by the Northwestern Water and Sewer District on water and sewer
lines.
But one resident, Dave Destatte, said that given the scope of the work, such disruption was to be
expected. The crews, he added, tried to work with residents to ease the inconveniences.
"Under the circumstances, I think everybody concerned with it has done an excellent job,"
Destatte said.
The cost of the roadwork is $309,500, with residents picking up $174,700 of the tab. The assessment will
be $65.06 per linear foot. Some other details about the assessment are still to be worked out, Ruse
said.
The city has decided to widen the street, improve curbs and add sidewalks.
Paul Nawrocki, who lives on Schreier Road but owns a house on Hillside, questioned whether that much work
was needed.
He questioned how well compacted the layer of stone had been, and said it may be better to wait until
next year to finish the road.
He also questioned the need for sidewalks on "a dead-end street," and the wider width.
Ruse said that the "planning and communication" for the work was "poor," and water
and sewer district and city officials will study better how to coordinate their efforts.