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Fostoria officials discuss covering roughly $550,000 shortfall to complete splash pad
Summary
Council heard that a low bid for the planned splash pad exceeded available funds by about $550,000; mayor and finance staff outlined grant and local fundraising sources and said an emergency appropriation and a revised fiscal recovery plan would be required to proceed quickly.
Fostoria Mayor Donald L. Manel told city council that the splash pad project has $1,037,775 committed from a mix of local donations and grants but that the lowest responsive construction bid came in at $1,297,500, leaving the city about $550,000 short of the amount needed to begin construction.
The mayor said local funders have raised $321,075; the city holds a $150,000 capital budget grant from the State of Ohio; the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) awarded $466,700 to pay for restrooms; and the city has pledged $100,000. He noted demolition is underway and estimated demolition costs at $57,000. He said the low bidder, Albedo Construction, is ready to begin work immediately after demolition finishes.
The potential additional cost arises from four bid alternatives that the administration says “must be done,” which would raise the total to about $1.36 million. Mayor Manel told council, “If we walk away from it, we're walking away from almost $600,000 of grant money.” He recommended bringing two pieces of legislation to the next council meeting if council wishes to proceed: (1) a resolution to revise and resubmit the city’s five‑year fiscal recovery plan to the oversight committee and (2) a separate resolution to appropriate the additional money from the general fund and transfer it to the park and recreation fund. Both, he said, would be presented as emergency measures so the contract could be signed and work started promptly.
Finance staff told council they will prepare an updated five‑year forecast showing the effect of adding the splash pad debt and share updated revenue trends (income tax receipts, real estate settlements) before any appropriation. Councilmembers asked for those forecasts and for clarity on how the city would repay any general‑fund advance; staff said the enterprise funds would need a documented repayment method if an advance from the general fund were used.
No formal council vote to fund the gap occurred at the meeting. If council directs staff to proceed, the administration proposes emergency legislation at the next meeting to appropriate the roughly $550,000 shortfall and to revise the recovery plan before signing the construction contract.
Ending: The administration said delaying the project could raise costs due to inflation and that the city could forfeit sizable state and ODNR grants if it declines to proceed. Council did not take final action on funding at this meeting; staff will return with a five‑year forecast and recommended legislation if the council requests it.
