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City manager reports water main break, landfill monitoring order, archive relocation and ODOT sidewalk grant
Summary
City manager Merriman reported a major water main break near Monroe & Country Club, a preliminary Ohio EPA order extending landfill monitoring, Wright State archives closure requiring relocation of city records, and notification of a probable ODOT Transportation Alternatives Program award for East Market Street sidewalk replacements.
City manager Merriman told council on Sept. 25 that staff is responding to several operational issues: a substantial water main break near Monroe and Country Club, a preliminary Ohio EPA finding affecting the closed municipal landfill’s 30‑year monitoring, the imminent need to relocate historic city records after Wright State University’s archive center closure, and a likely Transportation Alternatives Program award for East Market Street sidewalk replacement.
Merriman said the break involved a high‑pressure segment where Country Club’s 12‑inch main transitions to a 6‑inch line on Monroe. The failure caused substantial roadway washout and damaged a recently paved approach; public service staff will repair the pavement and the water fund will absorb repair costs. Merriman said additional water main replacement work will be considered when the rest of Monroe is scheduled for replacement.
He said the Ohio EPA’s preliminary correspondence is notable because 2025 marks 30 years since the municipal landfill’s closure and the statute requires a 30‑year monitoring period; staff will meet with the law director and may hire outside technical consultants as they review the agency’s preliminary order and negotiate next steps.
Merriman also reported Wright State University is closing its archive center; the city stores historic records there and will need to identify new archival storage, possibly at city facilities with containment fixtures. He said he had contacted the Greene County Public Library archivist, who requested the opportunity to review records the city chooses not to retain.
On a positive note, Merriman said the city was notified that its ODOT Transportation Alternatives Program application for sidewalk replacement on East Market Street (North Columbus to Patton) is lined up to receive funding for the 2028 award cycle; staff praised the application and said the project will address sidewalk gaps linked to the Ohio to Erie Trail and infill areas.
Merriman said he will discuss the landfill matter in more detail at the council work session and asked staff to keep council updated on repair schedules and records relocation plans.
