Richmond Heights council unanimously approves five first-reading resolutions on engineering, roads, sewer, signs and fire-station flooring

Richmond Heights City Council voted unanimously March 11 to approve five first-reading resolutions authorizing contracts and purchases for engineering services, road work, sewer construction administration, a digital sign and fire-station flooring.

The resolutions passed by roll call vote with each present council member voting yes: Council President Jordan; Council Members Justice, Lewis, Robinson, Silver and Ursu. Mayor Kim Thomas introduced the items where noted.

Resolution 41-2025 authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with Verdantas (also reported in the meeting as Verdantes/Verdantas) to provide routine professional engineering services. City staff said the contract is a continuation of an existing arrangement; the monthly retainer is $5,000 (annual retainer $60,000) and the expense is in the service department budget.

Resolution 42-2025 authorized an agreement to provide professional engineering services for the city's 2025 road program. Staff said the largest components previously approved were the Douglas and Dunbarton segments, that design work is ongoing, and that the project is budgeted with some funds provided by Cuyahoga County.

Resolution 43-2025 authorized an agreement with Verdantas for engineering services related to a sewer construction project funded through the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and paid for with grants from the MCIP program and IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) funding; staff said the city expects to go to competitive bid for that construction work in the March–April timeframe and that construction inspection and administration work will be covered by the grants.

Resolution 44-2025 authorized the mayor to enter a purchase agreement with Daktronics Inc. through the Omnia Partners cooperative purchasing program for replacement of the city's digital sign in front of the fire station; staff said the purchase was budgeted for capital expenses in the 2025 fiscal year.

Resolution 45-2025 authorized purchase and installation of new flooring at the fire station through the Ohio Department of Administrative Services purchasing contract. Fire staff described the work as phase one of a two-year interior refresh for the station's living area and said the project was approved in the 2025 budget (fund code noted in the record).

All five resolutions passed on first reading by roll call vote. Council did not debate substantial changes to the measures during the meeting. Staff and department heads provided brief project updates tied to the measures, including design status, funding sources and scheduling details.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 41‑2025 — Authorize agreement with Verdantas for routine engineering services; monthly retainer $5,000 ($60,000/yr); passed by roll call vote (all present yes). - Resolution 42‑2025 — Authorize agreement for 2025 road program engineering and design; county funds included in budget; passed by roll call vote (all present yes). - Resolution 43‑2025 — Authorize agreement with Verdantas for IIJA/MCIP sewer construction project engineering; paid with grants; passed by roll call vote (all present yes). - Resolution 44‑2025 — Authorize Daktronics purchase through Omnia Partners for fire-station digital sign; budgeted capital expense; passed by roll call vote (all present yes). - Resolution 45‑2025 — Authorize purchase/installation of new fire-station flooring via Ohio DAS contract; phase 1 of a two-year interior project; passed by roll call vote (all present yes).

Council moved from the committee-of-the-whole meeting into the regular council session and approved the items on the consent/agenda as recorded.