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Council adopts committee report recommending $200,000 appropriation for Spring Lake sanitary project; members press for MOU and assurances
Summary
Council accepted the Water & Sewer Committee report recommending a $200,000 appropriation for the Spring Lake sanitary upgrade, while several councilmembers asked why no memorandum of understanding existed and requested documentation and assurances that Ohio EPA reimbursement will occur.
The Findlay City Council on Jan. 21 adopted the Water & Sewer Committee report recommending a $200,000 appropriation to advance the Spring Lake subdivision sanitary project, with the understanding that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will reimburse the city when EPA funds become available.
Councilmembers debated whether a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the EPA should accompany the appropriation. Councilmember Miss Frisci asked why the committee had not requested an MOU to guarantee reimbursement before the city obligates funds; she said, "Why wouldn't the committee have asked for an MOU to make sure we are dotting i's and crossing t's?" City staff said the EPA has communicated in writing (email correspondence from the EPA regional CFO was described as documentation on file) and that the timing mismatch between the EPA fiscal year and the city's fiscal year was the main reason the city would front $200,000 now and expect reimbursement later.
City Engineer Jeremy Kalb described the work as a second and final phase that replaces the existing private system with a new public collection system, pumps and lines sized to current requirements and built to city standards. Kalb said crews found lines and conditions during field work that required a complete rebuild rather than lining. He said the pumps have an 8-to-9-month lead time and that, if ordered in February, the contractor expects project completion by the end of November.
Councilmember Hellman asked whether the appropriation marked the final phase; staff said it was the second and final phase. Several councilmembers said they support moving forward so construction can proceed this year, but the auditor requested invoices and supporting documentation before any funds are paid. The committee report recommending appropriation was adopted by council; the appropriation itself will follow administrative steps and coordination with the EPA for reimbursement.
The council recorded the committee report vote and instructed staff to continue coordination with the EPA and to provide documentation to the auditor's office prior to any disbursement, acknowledging the city will track project costs for eventual turnover of the system to the city after construction.
