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Council reallocates funds to finish Johnson Park parking and considers OPWC match reallocation
Summary
Councilors moved to reallocate existing budgeted funds so the village can construct parking at Johnson Park this year and discussed whether to reassign an Ohio Public Works Commission matching allocation.
Village councilors approved a reallocation of budget funds to create parking at Johnson Park and discussed whether to return a block of OPWC matching funds to the water and street budgets.
Council members debated how to use roughly $178,000 in matching money related to an OPWC application and whether to reallocate portions to the water and street funds or leave allocations in place. The mayor’s office had proposed moving money back into three funds — general, water and streets — because planned OPWC projects did not proceed this year.
Council also considered a separate reallocation to pay for paving in and around Johnson Park. The mayor presented a contractor quote of about $54,000 to finish a parking area and pave the access near Orange Street and Johnson Park. Councilors discussed cheaper interim options — using grindings from other village paving work to create a gravel base this summer — and phasing the park project over multiple years so shelter and playground work can follow.
After discussion, council moved a budget allocation to pay for the Johnson Park paving and related Gordon Street finishing work. Roll call recorded affirmative votes during the motion discussion (names recorded in the transcript included Kozlov and Preeti; a councilor listed earlier as Rick Foreman was also recorded as voting yes). Councilors said the reallocation does not increase the overall budget but redirects money previously assigned for engineering and other capital items.
Officials said engineering costs for the larger OPWC project had been estimated at about $120,000 and that because the village did not receive OPWC funding this cycle it must either reduce planned capital spending or realign funds. The mayor urged leaving already‑budgeted waterfront funds alone because of low carryover balances in that account. Council members instructed staff to prepare legislation to formalize any reallocation required to move funds between capital projects and the general fund.
Council also discussed using donated ballfield lights at the girls’ softball field and pursuing small, lower‑cost paving or walking‑path work this season to make the park usable for events while larger grant‑funded construction continues.
