Windsor Drive reconstruction plans available in Rossford

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ROSSFORD — The Windsor Drive street reconstruction project is moving forward.

City Administrator Allyson Murray informed council on Monday that letters were mailed to city residents late last month to inform them of a scheduled informational open house related to the project.

Because the pending project may affect resident’s daily driving activities and the right-of-way in front of homes, the city will be holding an open house on Tuesday from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Rossford Zuchowski Safety, Planning and Zoning Annex, 229 Eagle Point Road.

There will be graphics, maps and project plans available for examination. City engineering staff and the project design engineers from Tetra Tech will be available for questions.

Committee chair Larry Oberdorf read the meeting minutes from the Jan. 9 meeting and pointed out that parks and recreation committee announced 2023 capital improvements with the following purchases: a John Deere Gator with snow blade attachment, a new treadmill and NuStep exercise machine, new vending machine, tables and chairs.

Veterans Park concession stand will also be getting new equipment. Council President Caroline Zuchowski-Eckel recommended that they get it on the health inspection list early.

Zuchowski-Eckel read the meeting minutes for the safety committee meeting of Feb. 22.

The recently released Joint Fire District Study was discussed and details of the study need to be talked over with Fire Chief Josh Drouard and possibly presented at the next safety committee meeting. The committee is considering a committee of the whole for council. A possible co-op, similar to that with Whitehouse and Waterville, is also being considered as a cost saving measure.

The committee did agree that three new full-time fire department positions need to be created, with the positions supplemented by on-call and part-time positions. The cost would be $1.7 million per year.

Potential costs for self-funding would be equivalent to 12 mils, while the Joint Fire District would be 9 mil ask. Committee members felt that this is too high a burden for home owners and are looking at a number of different funding sources and cost cutting measures.

Fire department staffing concerns were also discussed related to scheduling, benefits, pension and changing to a bi-monthly pay period. Currently they are paid monthly.

Council approved the purchase of a used 2018 Vactor U-2100P Combination Sewer Cleaner from the Jack Doheny Company of Twinsburg for $298,918. A new one would be approximately $500,000.

The current unit is more than 10 years old and needs to be replaced. It will be used by the Public Works Department, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency, to monitor the wells at the site of the former Rossford landfill, as well as clean and clear storm sewer catch basins throughout the city. A possible lease was also considered, for a price of $358,861, but council opted for the lower total price option.

In other business, a community electric aggregation notification letter has been sent to residents and small businesses. Rossford is joining with Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition and selected Energy Harbor for electrical power. Costs will be 6.3 cents per kWh, through May 2025. There is no fee to switch and enrollment is automatic. Opting out is an option with a March 27 deadline. Those already in a choice program will not be changed.

The Racing for Recovery 5K route plan was submitted to the city. The race date is Oct. 21. Route maps are available from the city for public comment.

If approved, it would follow the same route as two years ago.

Council approved the purchase of a replacement salt barn for $114,591 on a first reading, as an emergency. It is an arched galvanized steel structure to handle approximately 2,000 tons of salt.

John Rust Jr. was approved by council for reappointment to the Municipal Planning Commission for a four-year term, which would expire on Nov. 30, 2026.

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