SERVICE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2007

WORK SESSION

6:30 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mrs. Hammond opened the work session at 6:30 P.M., with the following members present: Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Hackworth, and Mr. Fix. No members were absent. Others present were: Judy Gilleland, Keith Smith, Heidi Riggs, Lynda Yartin, Phil Hartmann, Lance Schultz, Ed Drobina, Jennifer Frommer, Brenda VanCleave, and others.

2. SCHEDULED MATTERS:

A. Review and Discussion of Diley Road Widening Project. Mrs. Hammond stated Jennifer Frommer was present to brief the Committee on the status of the Diley Road Widening Project. Ms Frommer stated she had distributed a memorandum this evening detailing the Diley Road improvements (Attachment 1 to these minutes), which include the multi-use path and sidewalks, driveways, medians, landscaping, median irrigation, speed limit, traffic signals, coordination with Canal Winchester/Violet Township, street lighting, city utilities, South Central Power facility relocation, noise walls, retaining wall, peat bog removal, subgrade stabilization, bridge replacement, detouring of traffic, post-construction storm water best Management Practices (BMP), future storm sewer accommodation, railroad crossing, and right-of-way legal services. Ms Frommer stated she would be happy to answer any questions anyone may have. She further stated there is a small opportunity, prior to filing the project for bid, for any changes Council might want. Ms Frommer stated once the project is filed for bid, although it will affect your residents, ODOT will consider it their project and Stilson will try and ease that transition and ensure that the communication you are getting from ODOT is up to what you are used to. Mr. Hackworth questioned if the crossing gates for the railroad will be on both sides of the railroad track for the sidewalk and walking path, and Ms Frommer stated she believed so, however, the railroad has not forwarded their final design and they are in full charge of the improvements at the railroad tracks. Ms Frommer stated further with regard to the driveways, in some cases turnarounds were proposed to allow them to exit onto Diley Road, however, in some cases the residents insisted the turnaround be removed because they did not want them. Mr. Hackworth stated he would like to know the cost of including the pre-emption devices on the two new traffic signals, and Ms Frommer stated it will be some time before the signals are put in. Ms VanCleave stated this is not something that we need to decide right now, and there is also the possibility of requesting these be put in by developers who may want to develop property in that area. Ms Frommer stated with regard to the detouring of traffic, signage is only along Diley Road because detour signage along the side streets is not required by ODOT. She stated if we wanted to add signage on the side streets we can do that now. The Committee members all indicated they would like to have the signage on the side streets. Ms Frommer stated she knew she had provided a lot of information and if anyone has any questions they should not hesitate to call or e-mail her and she will get the answer.

Ms Frommer stated with regard to the budget for the project she had provided a brief summary sheet showing the budget status. (Attachment 2 to these minutes.) Mr. Hartmann clarified there is no agreement between the City and MORPC or the City and ODOT for this project. Ms Frommer stated ODOT has manuals that detail what is reimbursable and what is not, what is eligible and what is not, etc. Mr. Hartmann questioned right of way costs above and beyond the amount that has been offered, and Ms Frommer stated ODOT has indicated that will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Mr. Fix clarified that the estimated cost of utility relocation by South Central Power doubled since the first projected cost, and Ms Frommer stated ODOT is monitoring this and it appeared they felt that was an eligible expense to be paid. Ms Frommer stated the project is currently doing well as far as the budget. Ms Frommer stated once again, if anyone had any questions, she would be happy to get the answers for them.

Mr. Hartmann stated he was preparing a brief summary of estimated right-of-way costs for Council’s use in executive session based on a review of each file. He stated he has some issues he needs to review, depending on ODOT’s funding, and he would be happy to answer any questions Council members may have. Mrs. Hammond clarified we currently have 27 property owners where we are anticipating filing eminent domain actions, however, should any of the property owners want to settle, that can still be done.

Ms Frommer stated from the time the filings are made, you will begin to see activity on the utility relocation very quickly.

3. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mrs. Hammond closed the work session at 7:30 P.M., January 24, 2007.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk