Council to authorize mayor to sign ODOT grant agreement for 2025 multi‑use path

Staff asked the committee to authorize the mayor to sign a grant agreement from the Ohio Department of Transportation for a multi‑use path project first applied for in 2021. The project will run from Diamond (Indian Avenue area) and staff said design is nearly complete but the formal grant agreement had not been issued until recently.

The grant agreement would lock in who pays a percentage of construction costs up to the grant cap, establish reimbursement and inspection procedures, and identify city and ODOT contacts for the project. Staff said the agreement includes options for how inspection costs will be reimbursed and other administrative details common to state and federal grants.

Staff noted a property‑access issue near the Fifth Third Bank/Dunkin’ Donuts area where an additional easement is required because the existing road cross‑section does not accommodate the path within the current right‑of‑way. Staff said the city’s right‑of‑way predates the railroad in parts of the corridor, which simplified other sections. Final project details, including easements and driveway adjustments, are being resolved before construction.

A committee member asked whether railroad or utility issues remained; staff said the major outstanding item for this segment is an additional easement near the bank and that other right‑of‑way issues have been resolved. Councilors present said they had no objections and staff requested authority for the mayor to sign the grant agreement to lock in funding terms and proceed toward bidding and construction.