Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Operations Update topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City manager reports USACE permit, planning filings, grants and project bids in update to council
Summary
City Manager Michael Hamilton told council that the U.S. Army Corps issued the permit for the Sewell project, staff received a ConAgra concept plan for preliminary review, parks and recreation received small grants, income tax receipts are up about 14% through April, and several public-works projects are out to bid.
City Manager Michael Hamilton gave a multi-topic operations update during the council meeting, reporting recent permits, planning filings, grants and capital project activity.
Hamilton said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the permit for the Sewell project; the city is awaiting final confirmation from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and will prioritize design completion once clearances are confirmed. "We're waiting for final confirmation from ODNR that they do not require anything else. And KS will now prioritize the design completion and approval process," Hamilton said.
Staff also told council the ConAgra general development concept plan had been submitted for preliminary internal departmental review and that the staff report and any noncompliant items would be presented to the Planning Commission Design Review Board during a public hearing scheduled for May 21, 2025. Hamilton said staff expect one or two additional plan submittals as the developer completes design sets.
In parks and recreation, Hamilton said the department received a $4,368 local capital improvement grant from Erie MetroParks for Nickel Plate Beach and noted a separate Weideman Weaver Foundation grant of $2,500 to support a kids "Learn to Fish" day at Dancing Waters Pond Park planned for Aug. 12, 2025.
On utilities, Hamilton said the East Side water tower repainting is complete and back in service, and that an electric rate study has been completed and will come to council in June. He said the city's aggregation contract expires in July and, after vendor outreach, staff do not recommend re-entering aggregation now because market pricing does not make it worthwhile. "We will step back from aggregating," Hamilton said, and directed residents to Energy Choice Ohio for price comparisons.
Hamilton reported income-tax receipts through April totaled $1,332,548, about 14% higher than the same period in 2024.
Personnel and capital projects notes included a resignation: Firefighter Austin Gardner submitted a letter of resignation effective May 16. Hamilton also reported several bids and RFQs are active, including West Side water-tower construction, South Main pedestrian crossing inspection, and the Cleveland Road East sidewalk-extension inspection RFQ. For the Cleveland Road East sidewalk project, Hamilton said the contractor anticipates starting approximately three weeks after an inspection firm is selected and estimated construction could take one month in good weather or up to three months in a wet summer.
Council members asked clarifying questions on the USACE permit category and the income tax trend; staff answered that the permit was issued under a nationwide authorization, which saved time, and that the tax trend appears to be a continuing pattern though no single cause was identified.
Hamilton closed by listing upcoming public meetings and welcomed follow-up questions from council.
