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Council waives readings to approve water/sewer, paving contracts and join AT&T tariff challenge
Summary
New Franklin Council voted to join the Ohio Municipal League in opposing an AT&T tariff filing and approved engineering and construction contracts for a Rollins-area water main and the city paving program, using grant funding to cover costs.
New Franklin City Council on Jan. 2 voted to join the Ohio Municipal League’s challenge to AT&T’s tariff application at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and approved several emergency-style resolutions to advance water, sewer and paving projects.
Councilmembers unanimously moved to support the OML challenge to AT&T’s tariff filing, a regulatory matter that city leaders said could, if approved, let utilities charge municipalities for relocating facilities during road projects. The resolution signals the city will join other communities opposing expanded chargebacks.
On infrastructure, council approved contracts and procurement steps for the Rollins bundle water-main project and the city’s 2025 paving program. City staff told council they selected OHM Consultants for construction engineering and grant administration for the Rollins project; the contract for construction engineering and grant administration was cited at $75,276 and will be paid from a roughly $970,000 grant. The low construction bid for the Rollins water-main work by H.M. Miller Construction was $578,180; staff asked authorization not to exceed $635,998 to include a roughly 10% contingency and related material costs. Staff said water materials will be supplied by Aqua at about $150,000; all such costs were described as covered by the grant and not charged to residents who do not choose to tie in.
For the paving program, council approved OHM Advisors to provide combined engineering, bidding and inspection services at a cost the city said will total $59,284 for 2025. Staff noted this is below the combined cost for similar services last year when separate contracts totaled about $73,900.
Why it matters: Staff said the ODNR (state agency) timeline requires the water main to be in the ground by May 1; council indicated the city must move quickly to keep grant-dictated schedules. Council and staff emphasized that the grant will pay the capital and material costs, limiting direct financial impact on the city’s general fund.
Votes at a glance: - Resolution 25R03 (support OML challenge to AT&T tariff): adopted (vote recorded as unanimous). - Resolution 25R05 (contract with OHM Consultants for Rollins water main): adopted (unanimous). Contract amount for services cited at $75,276; funds from $970,000 grant. - Resolution 25R06 (award to H. M. Miller Construction Co. for Rollins water main): adopted (unanimous). Low bid $578,180; authorized expenditures not to exceed $635,998 (includes ~10% contingency). Aqua materials estimated at $150,000; staff said grant will cover materials and contractor costs. - Resolution 25RO4/25RO4 (OHM Advisors for 2025 paving): adopted (unanimous). Combined engineering/bidding/inspection fee $59,284.
Ending: Council waived three readings and approved the measures to keep the projects on the timelines required by the grant and state reviewer; staff said they will return with contracts and related paperwork for formal execution.
