Finance committee approves contracts, accepts donation and advances building notes; seeks grant for Fort Meigs path

The Perrysburg Finance and Economic Development Committee on Feb. 7 approved several routine and project-related items, accepted a small donation, and discussed a competitive grant application for a multiuse-path project.

Donation: The committee accepted a $100 donation made in the name of Joe Lawless. The administration said the gift will be deposited into the general fund (parks and recreation expenditures are paid from that fund) and that formal council legislation will be prepared to accept the donation.

GIS contract renewal: Committee members approved a three-year renewal with Esri for the city's GIS platform at $30,200 per year. The renewal will continue the city's existing service and budgeting coverage.

River Road Building notes: The administration said the city issued one-year notes last May to pay part of the $4,000,000 cost for the River Road Building and that it plans to roll those notes for another year while a space-utilization study is completed. Staff said the plan remains to consolidate construction costs and the notes into a single 20-year bond when estimates and bidding are complete; the committee directed staff to bring ordinance language and timing to council and indicated support for the approach.

Housekeeping levies and assessments: The committee declared the necessity for three routine items (a one-year street-tree assessment, a two-year street-tree item, and a two-year replacement "rough use" levy). Members described these as standard procedural steps and indicated they will proceed with the usual advertising and readings.

Then-and-now purchases and payments: The committee approved previously incurred expenditures that require then-and-now documentation, including payments related to the Fort Meigs Road project and other routine vendor invoices. Committee members described one payment to CSX for work in the railroad right-of-way to relocate a gate structure (described in the meeting as a metal gated offset).

Grant application: City service staff reported applying for a new state active-transportation grant that would fund the path portion of the Fort Meigs Road project. The application requested roughly $1,100,000 total: about $857,000 for construction, about $85,000 for contingency, about $86,000 for inspection and roughly $85,000 for engineering; staff said the program is unique in that it may cover engineering costs and that awards will be reviewed quarterly. Construction under the grant must be able to start before July 1, 2026.

Votes at a glance - Accept $100 donation (Joe Lawless): approved by committee (vote recorded as 3-0). No mover/second recorded at committee level; council legislation to formally accept will follow. - ESRI GIS renewal, three years at $30,200/year: approved by committee (vote recorded as 3-0). - Roll short-term notes for River Road Building (extend 9- or 12-month notes while study completed): committee agreed to advance to council for ordinance readings; committee indicated support (no formal roll-call shown in transcript). - Declarations of necessity for assessments/levy: committee advanced standard three declarations for readings and public notice (procedural approval). - Then-and-now purchases and related payments: approved by committee (vote recorded as 3-0).

Committee members asked staff to prepare ordinance language, readings timing and public notification for council consideration; several items will return to council for formal legislation and any required public hearings.