Golf Manor Village council approves six emergency resolutions, extends American Tower lease and awards bid for school crosswalk signals

Golf Manor Village Council members convened an emergency meeting Jan. 21 to pass six time-sensitive resolutions, approving an amendment to a lease with American Towers Inc., authorizing a contract for a school-area signals and crosswalk project, and voting to join an Ohio Municipal League challenge to an AT&T tariff filing.

The measures addressed short-term cash handling, appointments, a telecommunication lease amendment that includes a $25,000 signing bonus, support for a utility-regulation challenge, and acceptance of a construction bid for new school-area signals and crosswalks. Council members said the items were urgent because of statutory deadlines, grant timelines and vendor lead times for signal equipment.

Council members said the American Towers amendment protects existing park land and grants the company up to 1,200 square feet of space for a planned expansion behind the current fenced area. Council discussion noted tweaks to lease language to preserve park use, and at least one council member said the village is in a strong bargaining position with that provider. Council members also discussed earmarking part of the $25,000 signing bonus for finishing a park walking path.

On the public-works side, the council accepted the low bid from Danville Construction Inc. for the 2025 Pineville Avenue signals project (referred to in meeting materials as the Placene/Pineville Avenue project). Officials said the project includes reconfiguring two intersections, installing or upgrading crosswalks and adding school-area markings and flashing beacons. Funding for the contract was described in the meeting as roughly 50 percent grant and 50 percent loan. Staff said some signal components (the stands that hold signals and crosswalk signs) take 20–26 weeks to manufacture and cost about $36,000 each, and the council’s authorization would allow ordering those long‑lead items to meet the grant schedule.

Council also approved a routine resolution that lets the village fiscal officer request advances of tax distributions from the county auditor when needed, and a separate resolution authorizing interfund transfers to cover timing gaps for the general fund, fire levy fund and DEA (police) fund. The meeting included the council’s annual required action to employ and set compensation for legal counsel for the year.

On utilities regulation, the council voted to join the Ohio Municipal League’s challenge to an AT&T tariff application filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). Meeting discussion noted the village’s intent is to support the Municipal League’s challenge to a PUCO filing that, if adopted, could allow a utility to shift costs to municipalities seeking to relocate poles for sidewalks or other public-works projects. Council members said the village’s participation was non-binding and that language limiting financial commitment had been added at the finance committee’s request.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025-1: Request county auditor advance tax distributions (approved) - Resolution 2025-2: Authorize village fiscal officer to transfer/pay funds between general, fire levy and DEA funds (approved) - Resolution 2025-3: Employment and compensation of village legal counsel for 2025 (approved) - Resolution 2025-4: Amend and extend lease agreement with American Towers Inc.; includes up to 1,200 sq. ft. expansion and $25,000 signing bonus (approved) - Resolution 2025-5: Support Ohio Municipal League challenge to AT&T tariff application at PUCO (approved) - Resolution 2025-6: Accept bid and authorize contract with Danville Construction Inc. for the 2025 Pineville Avenue signals project (approved)

What council members said and next steps

Council members emphasized that several items were time-sensitive. Staff and council described lead times for specialized signal components as a key reason for holding the emergency session: vendor lead times for the signal stands were described as 20–26 weeks, and the stands were estimated at about $36,000 apiece. Officials said ordering long‑lead items now is necessary to satisfy grant timing and allow construction to proceed on schedule.

On the American Towers lease amendment, council members said the contract language was modified to protect village park land and to keep expanded equipment behind the existing fenced area. During discussion a council member asked that some or all of the $25,000 signing bonus be earmarked for a walking path in the park; council members indicated there was support to pursue that earmarking in future budget or appropriation action.

Regarding the AT&T tariff matter, council discussion clarified that joining the Ohio Municipal League’s challenge does not obligate the village to cover legal costs unless the village later chooses to intervene; finance committee edits were made to remove or reduce language that would create a binding financial commitment.

The council completed its annual appointment and compensation action for village legal counsel, noting the village solicited proposals and had a single respondent for that request-for-proposals process.

Council adjourned after completing the six votes. Staff indicated the projects and agreements will move forward under the terms approved and that the village administrator and fiscal officer will manage contract execution, procurement of long‑lead items and any earmarking or reporting back to council on use of the signing bonus or grant funds.