Napoleon City Council advances cemetery and golf-fee ordinances, approves sewer and street projects and awards $3.12 million East Washington contract

The Napoleon City Council on [date not specified] advanced two ordinances on first reading, approved bid documents for the 2025 sanitary-sewer cleaning and the 2025 miscellaneous streets improvement project, and awarded a $3,119,622.90 contract for the East Washington Street improvements project.

Council members voted to move Ordinance 011-25, which would amend Chapter 951 of the city codified ordinances (sections 951.04 and 951.05) governing burial lots and related charges, to second reading after a presentation from Council Member Andy. Andy said the review was prompted by a request from Tony and that the current fees had not been updated since February 2002; he told the council he combined comparable local cemetery rates with an inflation factor “over the last 23 years” to propose an adjusted rate structure.

The council also advanced Ordinance 007-25, which would amend Chapter 955 (section 955.09) to increase corporate golf privilege fees by $200 for the coming year. Council members who voted on first reading moved both ordinances forward without additional amendment.

Public works items took up much of the meeting. Chad, the city’s public works director, asked the council to approve bid documents for the 2025 sanitary-sewer cleaning program and said the city is restarting a 10-year cleaning cycle. The council approved advertising the project for bids; Chad told members the 2025 budgeted estimate is $100,000 with a project completion date of Aug. 29, 2025, and that the city plans to bid the work in three-year sections (2025–27).

Chad also presented plans and specifications for the 2025 miscellaneous streets improvement project, identifying Newark Drive and a short section where Bordeaux connects Twin Oaks to Riviera Heights as top priorities. The estimated cost for that project is $419,000 and the budgeted amount is $500,000; the listed completion date is Oct. 31, 2025. The council voted to advertise that project for bids.

The council then considered bids for the East Washington Street improvements and, on the public-works director’s recommendation, awarded the contract to Hillebrand & Sons Construction for $3,119,622.90. Chad said the engineer’s estimate was $2,950,000 and the project budget is $3,950,000; the project includes roughly $1.6 million in grant funding to cover portions of the work and is described as phase 1 of 2 in the city’s long-term control plan for sanitary sewers. The contract’s stated completion date is Aug. 16, 2025. The council approved the award (one council member recorded an abstention).

Council members discussed reuse of concrete from street removals; Chad said the city will take concrete to the yard waste site, crush it and use crushed concrete on city projects (for example, on East Washington) where state-highway restrictions do not apply. He said crushing and reuse reduce the need to purchase quarry stone and can lower costs on later projects.

Other business: the council directed the law director to prepare legislation accepting the annual rate calculations for the Henry County South Joint Ambulance District and its member jurisdictions (Freedom Township, Napoleon Township, Harrison Township and the Village of Florida) with the intent to have the ordinance in place by April 1; accepted a $450 training grant from the Ohio State Fire Marshal for the fire department; and received a Parks & Recreation Committee report recommending new pickleball courts at Oakwood Park (discussion only). During the pickleball discussion council members and residents raised concerns about noise, proximity to nearby homes, restroom availability, parking and whether courts should be asphalt or concrete; no formal action was taken.

Finally, the council recessed into executive session to discuss pending litigation and acquisition of property and later reconvened; no formal action on those matters was reported. The meeting concluded with approval of payment of bills and adjournment.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 011-25 (amend Chapter 951 — burial lots): First reading advanced to second reading; roll call recorded: Ken yes; Bob yes; Jordan yes; Tom yes; Dr. Dave yes; Britney yes; Cross/Ross yes.

- Ordinance 007-25 (amend Chapter 955 — golf privilege fee): First reading advanced to second reading; roll call recorded: Ken yes; Bob yes; Jordan yes; Tom yes; Dr. Dave yes; Britney yes; Ross yes.

- Approve bid documents: 2025 sanitary-sewer cleaning (advertise for bids): Approved; roll call recorded: Ken yes; Bob yes; Jordan yes; Tom yes; Dr. Dave yes; Britney yes; Cross yes.

- Approve plans/specifications: 2025 miscellaneous streets improvement (advertise for bids): Approved; roll call recorded: Ken yes; Bob yes; Jordan yes; Tom yes; Dr. Dave yes; Britney yes; Ross yes.

- Award contract: East Washington Street Improvements to Hillebrand & Sons Construction, $3,119,622.90: Approved (Jordan recorded an abstention; remaining recorded votes yes).

- Direct law director to draft legislation accepting ambulance-district rates (Henry County South Joint Ambulance District and members): Approved; roll call recorded: Ken yes; Bob yes; Jordan yes; Tom yes; Dr. Dave yes; Britney yes; Ross yes.

- Accept Ohio State Fire Marshal training grant, $450: Approved; roll call recorded: unanimous (recorded members yes).

Why it matters: The projects approved represent large public works spending and grant-funded sewer work tied to the city’s long-term control plan; the East Washington award moves a major sewer/street phase into construction, and the sewer cleaning and streets bids set the city’s maintenance schedule for coming years. The cemetery ordinance would update fees that have not been comprehensively revised since 2002, which affects residents who use municipal burial services.

Who spoke on record (selection): Council President (chair); Council Member Andy (presenter on cemetery rates); Chad (Public Works Director); Mikayla/Mikaela (clerk, roll calls); Annie (staff on ambulance rates); Chief Owen (fire chief); several council members (Ken, Bob, Jordan, Tom, Dr. Dave, Britney, Ross) and residents who commented on pickleball siting.

Ending: Council members said they will return two ordinances for subsequent readings and continue work on the bid schedules and grant administration for the sewer and street projects; timing for some projects depends on bid results and grant closings.