Kettering City Council approves multiple park, bridge, equipment and grant measures

Kettering City Council on April 8 approved a series of resolutions covering park repairs, engineering services, equipment purchases and a demolition grant, as well as routine administrative items and appointments.

The actions taken Wednesday included a $366,000 authorization to repair and renovate paths at Pond View Park and make minor asphalt repairs in other parks; an amendment to increase consultant design fees for the Galewood Street (Municipal) bridge rehabilitation project to $193,751; purchase authorization for four mobile column lifts for the Vehicle Maintenance Center at $75,000; and a demolition grant agreement of up to $50,000 for the property at 2945 Glenmore Avenue. Council also approved a cost-sharing agreement with the Kettering City School District for crossing-guard services, a contract for AT&T voice-over-IP phone service, renewal steps for annual street-lighting assessments, and acceptance of a $100 donation to the Charles Latham Senior Center.

Why it matters: the Galewood Street bridge project will be designed now with consultant LJB Inc. and is funded through a combination of federal municipal-bridge funds (80%) and local matching funds (20%); construction is scheduled for 2028. The park-path repairs and vehicle-maintenance equipment are funded from the city's capital and operating budgets; the demolition grant is a targeted, property-specific aid intended to improve a site adjacent to a private business.

Votes at a glance (motions, movers/seconds if recorded, and roll-call outcomes): - Pond View Park paths and various park asphalt repairs — Resolution authorizing competitive bidding/negotiated quotes; estimated cost $366,000; requested by Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department. Moved: Mrs. Fisher (motion recorded). Second: not specified. Vote: Fisher — Yes; Sullivan — Yes; Hall — Yes; Duvall — Yes; Mayor Peggy Lehner — Yes. Outcome: Approved.

- Acceptance of donation to Charles Latham Senior Center — Resolution to accept a $100 donation from Susan Falter to support ongoing senior-center programming. Moved: Mrs. Fisher. Second: recorded. Vote: unanimous (Fisher, Sullivan, Hall, Duvall, Mayor Lehner). Outcome: Approved.

- AT&T voice-over-IP phone service contract — Resolution authorizing city manager to contract with AT&T for VoIP phone service; estimated/budgeted cost $82,000. Moved: Mayor Peggy Lehner (motion recorded). Second: not specified. Vote: Fisher — Yes; Sullivan — Yes; Hall — Yes; Duvall — Yes; Mayor Lehner — Yes. Outcome: Approved.

- Cost-sharing agreement with Kettering City School District for crossing guards (2025–26) — Resolution authorizing city manager to enter agreement for shared costs (city and school board generally split most crossing-guard costs 50/50). Moved: Mayor Peggy Lehner (motion recorded). Second: recorded. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved.

- Renewal and filing of consolidated street-lighting assessments — Resolution directing city engineer to prepare and file annual assessments under the city codified ordinances. Moved: Mrs. Fisher. Second: recorded. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved.

- Amendment for Galewood Street (Municipal) bridge design services (PID 122768) — Resolution amending prior authorization to procure design and environmental services; consultant LJB Inc. selected with a design fee of $193,751 (original authorization $120,000). Additional local share of $73,751 will be covered from underspending on other projects; ODOT/Federal funds will keep the funding split at roughly 80% federal / 20% local. Moved: Mrs. Fisher (motion recorded). Second: recorded. Vote: Fisher — Yes; Sullivan — Yes; Hall — Yes; Duvall — Yes; Mayor Lehner — Yes. Outcome: Approved. Note: project construction is planned for 2028.

- Purchase of four mobile column lifts for Vehicle Maintenance Center — Resolution authorizing purchase at estimated cost $75,000; equipment to be depreciated through the VMC operations fund; minor bay modifications will be required. Moved: recorded. Second: recorded. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved.

- $20,000 contribution to Big Hoopla / Dayton Development Coalition Hometown Heroes program — Resolution authorizing city contribution to sponsor Military Appreciation Night at Fraze Pavilion (event this summer; Hometown Heroes purchasing 700 tickets for Wright-Patterson AFB personnel and families; concert July 18 featuring Riley Greene). Moved: recorded. Second: recorded. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved.

- Demolition grant agreement for 2945 Glenmore Avenue — Resolution authorizing a dollar-for-dollar demolition grant of up to $50,000 to remove a vacant structure adjacent to the Blueberry Cafe and convert the site for additional off-street parking. Moved: recorded. Second: recorded. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved.

Appointments and proclamations: Council approved appointments to the Board of Community Relations (Alexandra Williams, term ending 12/31/2027) and to the Board of Zoning Appeals (Kim Haverstik, term ending 12/31/2028; John Reed, term ending 12/31/2027). Council issued proclamations declaring April 19, 2025 as Arbor Day in Kettering and April 26 as National Volunteer Week; the mayor presented the Mayor's Award for Volunteer Service to a youth recipient and a volunteer group from the Charles Latham Senior Center.

Ordinance in first reading: Council held first reading of an ordinance to adopt procedures under Ohio Revised Code chapter 5722 and sections 323.65 and 323.79 to facilitate reutilization of nonproductive and abandoned land; this is a first reading only and requires further council action for adoption.

Discussion and staff notes: council members and staff gave brief explanations for several items. Engineering staff said the Galewood Street consultant selection completed the required ODOT process and that additional federal funds will preserve the 80/20 funding split despite the higher design fee. Parks staff outlined TreeFest and Tree Love Arbor Day events on April 19 and noted ongoing park and tree care work. The city manager delivered routine community-service announcements and spring program dates.

No recorded dissent: for each resolution vote recorded in the transcript, the roll call recorded every council member present voting "Yes." No votes against, abstentions, or recusals were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Next steps: items that require further legislative steps include the street-lighting assessments (additional legislation/advertisement and final approval to set the assessments) and the ordinance now at first reading about reutilization of abandoned/nonproductive land, which will return for second reading and final action at a subsequent meeting.

Ending: Council concluded business after member reports and scheduled the next regular meeting.