Council authorizes engineer to prepare plans for Pepperidge Road water main; residents petitioned for service

The Pepper Pike City Council voted Feb. 11 to authorize the city engineer to prepare specifications, plans and cost estimates for installing a municipal water main on Pepperidge Road, where homes currently use private wells.

Mayor Rick Newell told council members residents on Pepperidge Road submitted an internal ballot and “it was overwhelmingly approved by the residents.” He said the council was being asked to proceed because a majority of affected property owners want city water. “There are fire safety issues involved in this as well as the convenience of having city water as opposed to well water,” Newell said.

City staff described the next steps as surveying the street, reviewing utility records, coordinating approvals with Cleveland Water and Ohio EPA, and producing an accurate construction cost estimate and assessment model for property owners. “We need to do existing surveying, look at all the utility information, determine the route, kinda get it approved by Cleveland Water, Ohio EPA, and then we’ll be able to give accurate estimated cost of construction,” the city engineer said.

The council discussed the typical financing approach: the city would finance construction and property owners would repay via a 20-year assessment or note. The mayor and engineer said the city had used that process for prior waterline installations.

Council approved the motion to authorize the engineer to proceed; the approval was recorded by roll call.

What is next

If the engineering work proceeds, the city will produce a formal resolution of necessity and a detailed assessment plan for affected property owners. Approvals from Cleveland Water and Ohio EPA and utility relocations will be required before construction can begin.