PERRYSBURG — Plans for a roundabout at the West Boundary Street West Front Street intersection have been canceled.
Mayor Tom Mackin made the announcement at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Ever since the roundabout was proposed and funded in early 2022, there have been a steady stream of residents of that neighborhood speaking against the proposal, arguing it cost too much, it’ll worsen the traffic flow, and it is dangerous to pedestrians.
The city had been granted a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant through Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) that would cover 80% of the $5.9 million cost of construction for the roundabout.
While the city had said the proposed project would reduce the number of accidents at the intersection and allow safer and easier access to Orleans Park and the wastewater treatment plant, neighbors consistently have come to council meetings to object to the project and to say there are other ways to mitigate traffic that would be better for their community.
Mackin said the city will ask that TMACOG allow them to keep the funding for other traffic projects and will have the council’s service committee continue to look for solutions for traffic problems in that area.
Council then went on to approve other ordinances and resolutions, mostly via emergency, bypassing the usual three readings, including:
• A renewal contract with P & R Communications Service, Inc. for police divisions radio repair and maintenance for $38,616.00. P&R Communications also was approved as contractor to purchase and install the necessary equipment in the two new police vehicles at a total cost of $40,515.34.
• A ProPhoenix Corporation contract for $35,657.93 to support the police department’s computer-aided dispatch software, mobile terminal software, and a records management system and to provide backup license maintenance for those systems, for one year beginning March 21.
• A resolution authorizing the trade-in of the three unneeded LUCAS 2 Chest Compression Systems to Stryker Medical, for $15,000.00. The resolution also will allow the city to enter into a purchase agreement with Stryker Medical for the purchase of three LUCAS 3 v3.1 Chest Compression Systems for $40,821.00.
• A resolution to authorize the Department of Public Utilities and Department of Public Service to apply to the H2Ohio Chloride Reduction Grant Program for funds for equipment upgrades that will prevent the over-application of salt on Perrysburg roads and reduce the amount of salt running off into Ohio’s streams, rivers, and lakes. Municipalities, townships, counties, and other governmental agencies can apply for single grants of up to $75,000.
• An agreement with Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. to provide technical support services for the city’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System PDES permit appeal a cost not to exceed $50,000.
• A resolution with Charlie’s Dodge, Inc. for the purchase of a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Altitude Vehicle for $46,438.00 for the department of public utilities.
• A contract with Positive Trades Group, LLC for the service and repair of the Building Management Systems in the Police Building for $74,609.
• A contract with Geddis Paving & Excavating, Inc., of Toledo, Ohio, for the Downtown Parking and Paving Improvements project for a total amount of $281,388.64.
• A $341,500 contract with The EDGE Group, Inc. to create a downtown streetscape design plan.
• Changes in wage ranges for executive staff, senior administrative staff and administrative staff for 2024. The ordinance states wage ranges will be reviewed each year.
• The Department of Public Utilities to set a new fee schedules which allow for the fees collected to cover the cost of the materials and services provided by the city.
The department reported that in its periodical review of the fees charged for taps and connections and capital expansion within the water and sewer divisions, it was found that certain fees were out of date, causing the cost to the city to be higher than the fees collected. This ordinance will allow for the fees collected to cover the cost of the materials and services provided by the city. All fees generated by public utilities must remain in appropriate utility funds.
