The plan to work with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to construct a multi-use path on Route 47 may not come to fruition because of a lack of funding.
During the council meeting on Tuesday, Village Administrator Monte Asher said the proposed consultant for the Safe Route for Food Route 47 project, Civil Environmental Consultants Inc., gave him a verbal quote of $35,000 for consulting services. The official quote, which could be higher, should be sent this week, Asher said.
“I don’t know if you want to spend that much money,” he told the council.
Mayor Scott Jerew said the village could also request more funding from the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). However, Asher said the program would only provide a maximum of $9,000.
“I don’t think we can afford that,” Jerew said.
Council member Von Beal asked about the necessity of a consultant. Jerew said “we absolutely do” need a consultant to work with ODOT on the project. He added that the consultant has to be “ODOT-certified.” For that reason, Craig Mescher, a project manager at Access Engineering, who is the village’s consultant on all other projects, could not fill that role. Mescher has not completed the requirements and procedures to be qualified by ODOT for consultant services.
“We can do it ourselves without ODOT cheaper than $35,000,” Jerew said.
He and Asher said they could hire a local concrete company to put in a five-foot sidewalk.
“I hate to turn down free money and these guys jumped through hoops to give us this grant, but I was misled a little bit by (Access Engineering),” the mayor said.
In the spring, the Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization (CORPO) awarded the village $47,500 for the project.
Tamisha Matus, Creating Healthy Communities coordinator at the Union County Health Department, has previously said eight applied for CORPO funding. She said the Village of Richwood was on the “bottom tier.”
However, she said five of the communities or entities who were recommended for funding – the Fairfield County Engineer’s Office, Morrow County Commissioners, MetroParks, City of Lancaster and City of Mount Vernon – indicated they would decrease their funding requests to allow for Richwood to receive funding.
With the generosity of the other entities, Richwood could be eligible to receive up to $94,000.
“They said they were going to make $94,000 available, but I’d have to go back and ask them if we could use that for that $35,000,” the mayor said.
There are currently no sidewalks from downtown Richwood to the dollar stores in the area, which are the primary source of fresh food for village residents. The multi-use path, which is to be named Rosette Way to Healthy Food, would ensure residents can safely access healthier food options as well as provide a designated space for exercise.
The original plan was to construct a 10-foot wide asphalt walking path, but the village could not afford the cost. Now, the concrete path is to be five feet wide, compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and EPA approved.
In other news:
-With early voting for the general election beginning, the council discussed advertising about the 3-mill, 5-year street levy on the ballot through signs and social media posts. Council members also suggested going door-to-door to talk with constituents about the importance of the levy for street repair and maintenance.
-The council approved the first reading of an ordinance to regulate low-speed vehicles, under-speed vehicles, utility vehicles and mini trucks in accordance with state law.
-Zoning Inspector Marion Bump, Council member Reddy Brown, Village Solicitor Julie Spain and Aaron Smith, a planner and GIS operator at Logan-Union-Champaign Regional Planning Commission (LUC), worked on a non-conforming use application and certificate. They decided to offer a free certificate rather than a non-conforming use permit because grandfathering is protected by state law. Residents are encouraged to apply for a certificate to document their properties with non-conforming, agricultural uses.
-The splash pad is expected to be installed in mid- to late- November depending on the availability of materials.
-The project to paint the water tower will go to bid late this year for spring work.
-Grader patching is complete on Oak Street, North Fulton Street, Blaine Avenue, Ottawa Street, Grove Street, South Clinton Street, Beatty Avenue, Pearl Street and South Fulton Street.
-The budget committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 5:30 p.m. at the municipal meeting to complete the temporary budget. The council needs to have three readings of the budget by Dec. 31.
-Fiscal Officer Sarah Sellers mailed Magnetic Springs residents their first bills on Tuesday.
-The Richwood Police Department is accepting candy donations to distribute on Halloween from 5-7 p.m.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. at the municipal building.