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Council approves bridge widening and bike path funding; also authorizes replacement of water reclamation plant entry gates
Summary
The council authorized increases to a cooperative agreement with Warren County for the Mason Morrow Millgrove Road bridge widening and bike-path connection and approved an emergency contract to replace failing entry gates at the water reclamation plant; the work will enable a bike path link and address urgent gate failures.
The Mason City Council on May 12 authorized an increased cooperative agreement with the Warren County Commissioners to support bridge widening work on Mason Morrow Millgrove Road that will add a bike-path connection across the county-owned bridge and connect the Mason Sports Park to nearby subdivisions. Council also approved a separate contract, with an emergency clause, to replace two failing entry gates at the Mason Water Reclamation Plant.
Public works staff explained the project was awarded nearly $900,000 in Ohio Public Works Commission funds and $140,000 from the Ohio Department of Development (Ohio Jobs and Commerce). Bids opened in January and the construction cost exceeded initial estimates. The city’s share of the bridge-widening work is estimated at about $650,000; the 2025 budget included $700,000 for construction.
City staff said the widening is necessary to carry a new bike path along the bridge and in front of the water reclamation plant. To install the path, the existing perimeter fence at the plant must be pushed back; two gates that provide access are 20 years old, failing, and cannot be repaired because parts are unavailable. The council approved authorizing the city manager to enter a contract not to exceed $80,000 to replace the gates and declared an emergency to allow ordering in advance of the typical procurement timeline.
Staff also noted the fence relocation offers an opportunity to replace the gates using a subcontractor for the bridge project, which produced a lower quote and a cost savings. Council approved both ordinances as recommended.
The bridge project ties to the city’s larger active-transportation goals by linking the Mason Sports Park and nearby neighborhoods by a continuous bike path. The gate replacement is intended to remedy operational failures that have caused winter maintenance problems and to ensure secure and reliable access to the water reclamation plant.
City staff said the cooperative agreement increase and gate replacement award will move forward to contracting and implementation. No specific construction schedule beyond anticipated summer/fall work and end-of-year completion was given in the discussion.
