The Parma finance committee on a unanimous voice vote moved two ordinances authorizing construction contracts for septic‑to‑sanitary‑sewer conversions — the North and West Linden Lane septic abatement project (Ordinance 129‑25) and the Craiglee Drive septic abatement project (Ordinance 132‑25) — to a second reading and referred them back to committee.

The measures would authorize the mayor and the director of public service to enter contracts with the lowest and best bidders for construction on the listed segments, which include North Linden Lane from East Bagley Road to Millerwood Lane and Craiglee Drive from Ridge Road west to the dead end.

Why it matters: converting neighborhood septic systems to sanitary sewers reduces the number of on‑site sewage systems and brings neighborhoods onto the municipal sewer system, a policy that city officials described as part of a long‑running program in Parma.

Councilwoman Lime asked how many septic systems remain to be converted and whether the work now before the council would finish the program. "I've been wondering, once the passage of these 2 are done, what, if any, how many are left that have to be converted?" she asked.

A staff member who responded, identified in the meeting as Hashmook, said the city had completed the majority of conversions but did not know a final count. City staff member Patel provided the more detailed accounting: "In Parma, originally, we had a 1,300 septic system... As of today, we put this sanitary sewer almost, more than thousands home. Right now we have a lot of projects about 150 septic in a Northwest Linden phase 1, 2, and 3. And also in a Craigley, we have about 51. So once we finish these 2 projects, we will have about a 100 120 septic remaining," Patel said.

Patel also summarized project cost and grant status: he said Northwest Linden Phase 1 has an estimated construction cost of about $4,500,000 and that the city has secured roughly $4.1–$5.0 million for that project. For Craiglee Drive he said the project is about $4,000,000 and that the city has secured about $3,000,000 in grant money so far.

Mayor DeGeeter — who spoke about comparative front‑footage charges in a nearby city — praised the department’s work in keeping costs lower for Parma residents and noted the use of MCIP funds from the sewer district to reduce homeowner assessments.

Discussion vs. decision: the committee approved motions to advance both ordinances to a second reading and to refer them back to committee for further work; no final construction contract awards were made at the meeting. Council questions focused on counts remaining, cost exposure to homeowners, and the grant funding secured for each project.

Next steps: both ordinances will return to committee for further consideration and a subsequent reading before final council action. The timing of contract awards will depend on the bidding process and any additional steps required by the public service department.

Sources: Statements from Councilwoman Lime; Hashmook (staff member); Patel (staff member); Mayor DeGeeter during the finance committee discussion and the ordinance texts read into the record.