Tiffin council approves emergency resolutions to pursue OPWC loans for sewer and CSO repairs

Tiffin city council on Monday authorized emergency filings and approved motions needed to pursue Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) funding for a set of sewer replacement and rehabilitation projects across the city. Council members voted unanimously to direct the law director to draft legislation and to approve resolutions of intent needed to obtain OPWC loans and reimbursements related to several projects, including sewer replacements on Shawn Avenue and Second Street, CSO inflow-reduction projects (CSO 9/13/15), and the CP 37AB/CP 38AB rehabilitation work on Ella Street, South Sandusky Street and South River Road. City Administrator Nick Dutra told the committee the total estimated cost for the Shawn Avenue and Second Street project is $700,000, and clarified that $500,000 of that amount is eligible for OPWC financing as a 0% loan/grant mix, reducing the city—9s local share. After the administrative briefing, Councilmember Aaron Jones moved that the law director draft emergency legislation (various ordinance/resolution numbers cited during the meeting) and Kevin Reisner seconded; the motions carried unanimously. Councilors also heard from the mayor that the city engineer requested a resolution of intent to obtain reimbursement from OPWC loans for the CSO 9/13/15 sewer repair projects. The mayor and city administrator characterized that resolution as an IRS requirement that must be adopted within 60 days of construction start to preserve reimbursement eligibility. The city subsequently introduced and immediately passed Resolution 2025-31 to apply to the OPWC infrastructure loan program and related intent resolutions (first readings recorded for related resolutions authorizing reimbursement intent for multiple projects). Councilmembers passed related ordinances and appropriations on the consent/agendas, and several items were carried as emergency measures to meet OPWC and construction timing constraints. The motions to suspend council—9s three-reading rule and adopt the emergency measures carried by recorded votes where noted in the minutes. No substantive objections to pursuing OPWC funding were recorded; votes on the drafting motions and the later emergency adoption were unanimous or recorded as passed with required majorities. Law Director Zach Fowler advised the body that the reimbursement-intent language and timing are administrative requirements tied to tax-exempt debt and reimbursement rules. Next steps recorded at the meeting: the law director will prepare the ordinance and resolutions for formal introduction and the mayor is authorized to submit the OPWC application and execute necessary contracts. The city clerk will hold the records and the council directed staff to proceed under the emergency timelines noted at the meeting.