Norwood council approves Montgomery Road pedestrian, lighting and water-main projects; low-bidder raises procurement concerns

Norwood City Council voted to approve a package of infrastructure work on Montgomery Road Wednesday, adopting ordinances to move forward on pedestrian-safety improvements, upgraded street lighting and replacement of the water main between Norwood Avenue and Fenwick Avenue.

The measures passed after council suspended the usual three-reading rule for time-sensitive contracts and authorizations. Safety Service Director Noah Powers told council the pedestrian project is funded in part by a Metro MTIF grant and that the city authorized $2,300,000 in local matching funds tied to the grant.

Why it matters: Montgomery Road is the focus of several coordinated improvements — roadway safety, lighting and underground utilities — that the city says must proceed together so contractors and reimbursements align with Ohio Department of Transportation work. The package affects streets, trees, utilities and the pedestrian environment for residents and businesses along a busy corridor.

Dustin Ruwe, speaking for Welsh Excavating, told council his company was the lowest bidder on the water-main contract and asked the city to clarify how the award would be decided. "It is our opinion that Welsh has met all of those standards. They were the lowest bid and they have done everything that they can do to show the city of Norwood that they are completely qualified," Ruwe said, adding the project bid is "close to $1,300,000." He said Welsh was later asked for post-bid qualifications and bonding assurances and that the company had provided those documents.

Powers described the pedestrian project funding and explained cost uncertainty during the bidding process: "You will see that it is authorizing $2,300,000 of city funding, which is coupled with $2,300,000 from a Metro MTIF grant that the city received. When we initially applied for this grant, that was the time where there was a lot of variable pricing going on. We are expecting this to come in a little bit lower now, which is why you will see that in the FRP at that $2,000,000 figure. But it's put in here because we don't have a perfect idea of where this is going to come in."

Council also approved a contract with Duke Energy to replace and upgrade street lighting along the pedestrian project corridor. Council members discussed fixture design, pole spacing and community concerns about light levels; Powers said the plan reduces the number of light poles but increases the quality of illumination and allows more room for street trees. On the ordinance, Powers clarified the city portion of the lighting cost as part of a cost-share: "Yes, that's correct. So this is $230,000 — one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars (our share) and 50% reimbursed by SORDA," he said during the discussion.

All three ordinances were approved on unanimous roll-call votes. The pedestrian safety ordinance, the Duke Energy lighting authorization and the water-main contract ratification were each passed with council members present recorded as voting yes: Mrs. Franzen, Mrs. Hoover, Ms. Royce, Mrs. Bolling, Mr. Moore and Mr. Gertin.

What happens next: The safety-service director was authorized to advertise for bids and enter contracts for the pedestrian work and the Duke Energy contract will proceed toward execution. The water-main ordinance ratified the bid process and authorized the director to enter into a contract for the Norwood-to-Fenwick replacement.

Council did not resolve the procurement concern raised by Welsh Excavating at the meeting; city staff indicated administration (not council) would handle procedural questions about bid awards and that the administration had been provided the written materials Welsh submitted.

Votes at a glance: The three Montgomery items were each advanced as emergency ordinances and passed by unanimous vote. The council recorded the motions and roll calls during the meeting.