Brecksville council approves culvert work, first-responder health screenings, easements and routine purchases

Brecksville City Council on Feb. 4 approved a set of infrastructure and personnel-health measures, including a cost-share agreement for a Highland Drive culvert, authorization to advertise for bids on a Sentinel Drive culvert project, purchase requisitions for cancer and wellness screenings for first responders, and several easements tied to road work.

The council approved a resolution authorizing a community cost-share agreement with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) for the Highland Drive Culvert C-10 replacement project in an amount not to exceed $200,000. Council also authorized the purchasing director to advertise for public bids for the Sentinel Drive culvert replacement project, using an engineer’s estimate of $395,000.

Why it matters: The culvert projects are aimed at reducing flood elevations and coordinating construction with the city’s road-repaving program; the first-responder wellness purchases use ARPA funds to provide preventive physical and mental-health services to police and firefighters.

Council and committee action - Highland Drive cost share: Council adopted Resolution 5653 authorizing a cost-share agreement with NEORSD not to exceed $200,000. Motion carried on a recorded roll call (Bender, Ganim, Jansen, Koepke, Savage and Stuckey — all voted yes).

- Sentinel Drive culvert: The Utilities Committee recommended and council approved a motion authorizing the purchasing director to advertise for bids for the Sentinel Drive culvert replacement project (engineer’s estimate $395,000). Council roll call: Bender, Ganim, Jansen, Koepke, Savage and Stuckey — all voted yes.

- First-responder health screenings (ARPA First Responder Wellness Grant): Council approved two purchase requisitions recommended by the Safety & Service Committee: LifeScan Wellness Center, $68,100 for early detection/cancer physicals for firefighters and police; and Cleveland Psychiatry Associates, $18,000 for mental-health and wellness visits. Both motions were moved by Councilmember Koepke and seconded; final roll call on each showed unanimous recorded support from the six voting councilmembers present (Bender, Ganim, Jansen, Koepke, Savage and Stuckey).

- NOPEC energized community grant: Council approved Resolution 5654 authorizing the mayor to complete the application and enter into a NOPEC 2025 Energized Community grant agreement for $46,979, with recommended uses including lighting and heating/cooling upgrades to city facilities. Motion passed by recorded roll call (six yes votes).

- Memorandum of Understanding (child-abuse operating procedures): Council approved Resolution 5652 authorizing the mayor to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Cuyahoga County that sets out expected operating procedures for reporting and interviewing in child-abuse and neglect cases. The MOU, described in committee as a standard biennial agreement, passed on a recorded roll call (six yes votes).

- Temporary grading and access easements: Council passed three resolutions accepting temporary grading and access easements for parcels related to the Middle Road/interchange work (Resolutions 5655, 5656 and 5657). Each passed on recorded roll calls with the six councilmembers voting yes.

- Purchase requisitions and professional bills: Council approved routine and committee-recommended purchases including: $20,173.35 for annual flowers (buildings and grounds); $8,214.91 to Silco Fire & Security for inspection/maintenance of fire alarm and sprinkler systems; and the monthly professional bills totaling $32,450.33. All motions reported unanimous yes votes from the six councilmembers present.

- Snowville Road engineering PO increase: Council approved an increase of $1,500 to the purchase order for Donald G. Boeing & Associates for additional surveying and engineering on the Snowville Road lowering project (motion carried on council roll call with six yes votes).

Key discussion points City Engineer Jeremy Wise described the Sentinel Drive project as a twin-corrugated culvert replacement with a 12-by-4 concrete box; he said the work lowers the 100-year flood elevation by about a foot, reducing but not eliminating occasional backyard flooding. "We lowered the hundred year flood elevation by about a foot," Wise said, noting that temporary one-lane traffic control and tree-lawn detours will be necessary during construction.

Purchasing Director Barkowitz discussed the ARPA First Responder Wellness Grant and the scope of the LifeScan and psychiatry proposals, calling the LifeScan exam “more than just cancer screening” and emphasizing preventive testing and medical follow-up.

Votes at a glance (selected) - Resolution 5653 (Highland Drive cost share with NEORSD, ≤ $200,000) — Passed; roll call: Bender, Ganim, Jansen, Koepke, Savage, Stuckey — 6 yes. - Sentinel Drive culvert (authorize bidding; engineer estimate $395,000) — Passed; council roll call — 6 yes. - Purchase requisition — LifeScan Wellness Center $68,100 — Passed; council roll call — 6 yes. - Purchase requisition — Cleveland Psychiatry Associates $18,000 — Passed; council roll call — 6 yes. - Resolution 5654 (NOPEC 2025 energized community grant, $46,979) — Passed; council roll call — 6 yes. - Resolution 5652 (MOU with Cuyahoga County re: child-abuse procedures) — Passed; council roll call — 6 yes. - Annual flowers purchase requisition $20,173.35 — Passed; council roll call — 6 yes. - Silco Fire & Security purchase requisition $8,214.91 — Passed; council roll call — 6 yes. - Monthly professional bills $32,450.33 — Passed; council roll call — 6 yes. - Snowville Road PO increase $1,500 (Donald G. Boeing & Associates) — Passed; council roll call — 6 yes.

What’s next Projects that require external approvals or further procurement steps — notably the NEORSD cost-share, Sentinel Drive bidding, and NOPEC grant execution — will move forward under the purchasing and engineering departments; staff said solicitations and grant paperwork will follow. The council record shows unanimous recorded support from the six members present for the items above; several items had been vetted earlier in committee meetings.

Ending Council held committee meetings before the full session and heard reports from boards and departments; the council then adjourned after closing routine business.