Council authorizes conduit agreements with Buckeye and Frontier for downtown utility burial

The Sylvania City Council on Aug. 18 approved agreements with Buckeye Cablevision and Frontier Communications to relocate portions of their utility facilities below ground as part of a downtown transportation improvement project.

Staff told council the city is installing underground conduit and that utilities may request dedicated conduit, handholes and vault ownership. Buckeye’s statement of conduit access rights and estimate of $99,714.84 was approved by ordinance 88‑2025; Frontier’s letter of intent to relocate aerial fiber and copper into two city‑provided 4‑inch conduits was approved by ordinance 89‑2025 with a cost of $70,251.52.

Public Works staff explained the costs reflect that when the city requests a utility move from above ground to below ground the utility is allowed to charge for that work under Ohio law. Staff said utilities have different ownership of poles and facilities and that once facilities are placed below grade and operational certain elements become the utility’s property and they retain the right to access the conduit and vaults for maintenance and repair.

Council members asked whether the contractor estimates had been competitively bid; staff said the utility estimates likely reflect the utilities’ own cost calculations or contracted costs, and invoices will be submitted by the utilities when work occurs. Council also discussed what rights utilities retain to dig for repairs after installation; staff said utilities retain service and maintenance rights and may need to spot‑dig for repairs, but would not have unrestricted authority to tear up finished landscaping without coordination.

Council approved the ordinances as emergency measures by voice vote. Staff said the purchases are programmed in the 2025 capital improvement budget and are necessary to move the downtown construction toward the advertising and construction phases.