Council approves utilities contracts, supplemental appropriations and multiple easements

The Bowling Green City Council approved a package of utilities actions — including authority to advertise for lime sludge disposal bids, contracts for annual chemical supplies and insurance, two supplemental appropriations and several utility easements — during a regularly scheduled meeting.

Utilities staff said the measures are meant to ensure continued operation of water and wastewater treatment systems, cover higher-than-expected electricity purchases and secure rights of way for several upcoming distribution and stormwater projects.

The utilities director described lime sludge as "a byproduct of the softening and clarification process at the plant" and asked the council to authorize advertising for bids and contracts for removal. He said the city typically spends between $200,000 and $300,000 annually; "last year was $300,000," and, with increased material accumulation, staff proposed budgeting up to $500,000 in the 2026 budget to accelerate removals. The director said the contractor hauls the material from lagoons "in liquid form" and applies it to farm fields. The council approved Resolution 10-2025-01, authorizing the utilities director to contract for lime sludge disposal services. The motion passed on a roll call with Newlove, Jesse, Hogan and Susiek voting yes.

Council members also approved authorization to solicit contracts for annual chemicals used at the water and wastewater plants, coverage for underground and overhead lines insurance and the sale of scrap materials. Staff said the current contract term runs April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, and the proposed next term would run April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027; the council passed Resolution 10-2025-02 to allow bidding and contracting for those items.

On budget items, the council approved a supplemental appropriation to cover higher information-technology expenses related to the city's recent migration to a .gov web and email domain and associated licensing costs. Staff said the utilities portion of the unplanned licensing and migration costs equals the city-side amount of $58,200; the utilities share is split among electric (60%), water (20%) and sewer (20%). The council passed Resolution 10-2025-03 on a unanimous roll call.

The council also approved a supplemental appropriation of $800,000 for purchased power costs. Staff said the city's current purchase order for power is about $54,497,000; projections showed roughly a $660,000 shortfall for the remainder of the year, and the $800,000 request is intended to cover possible further shortfalls. Staff attributed the increase to higher energy usage and rising capacity prices in regional markets. Resolution 10-2025-04 passed on a roll call vote.

Utilities staff presented and the council accepted multiple utility easements needed for ongoing and planned work: a permanent easement from the Northwestern Ohio Tractor Pullers Association at 1150 Haskins Road (Resolution 10-2025-05); temporary and permanent easements related to work at the Bowling Green High School site needed for a new Village pump station (Resolution 10-2025-06); an easement to route a distribution circuit along the edge of a Lock It Up storage property to avoid an intersection; an easement involving Middleton Township Board of Trustees property (Resolution 10-2025-08); and an easement from the Pheasant Farms Homeowners Association on Manitoba Drive to construct a stormwater pump station (Resolution 10-2025-09). Associated motions were made and seconded and the roll calls recorded Newlove, Jesse, Hogan and Susiek voting yes on the items presented.

In other utility business, staff reported completion of recent equipment installations at the water pollution control plant (two new UV modules and a new influent composite sampler for NPDES permitting), pole replacements and planned paving shifts for the South Main pavement project. The utilities director said Bowling Green was reelected to its seat on the American Municipal Power (AMP) board and that he was reelected as vice chair of AMP; he and the assistant utilities director also reported recognition for the electric division's mutual-aid work and an innovation award for a Phoenix recloser project.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 10-2025-01 — Authorize utilities director to contract for lime sludge disposal services. Motion: approved. Vote (roll call): Newlove yes; Jesse yes; Hogan yes; Susiek yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 10-2025-02 — Authorize utilities director to enter into contract(s) for annual chemical inventory, underground and overhead lines insurance, and sale of scrap materials. Motion: approved. Vote (roll call): Newlove yes; Jesse yes; Hogan yes; Susiek yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 10-2025-03 — Supplemental appropriation for information technology costs (migration to .gov domain and licensing). Motion: approved. Vote (roll call): Newlove yes; Jesse yes; Hogan yes; Susiek yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 10-2025-04 — Supplemental appropriation for purchased power costs ($800,000). Motion: approved. Vote (roll call): Newlove yes; Jesse yes; Hogan yes; Susiek yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 10-2025-05 — Accept utility easement (1150 Haskins Road — Northwestern Ohio Tractor Pullers Association). Motion: approved. Vote (roll call): Newlove yes; Jesse yes; Hogan yes; Susiek yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 10-2025-06 — Accept temporary and permanent utility easements related to Bowling Green Board of Education property for the Village pump station. Motion: approved. Vote (roll call): Newlove yes; Jesse yes; Hogan yes; Susiek yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution (identifier not specified in transcript) — Accept utility easement routing distribution line near Lock It Up storage property. Motion: approved. Vote recorded as yes on roll call. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 10-2025-08 — Accept utility easement involving Middleton Township property. Motion: approved. Vote (roll call): Newlove yes; Jesse yes; Hogan yes; Susiek yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 10-2025-09 — Accept utility easement from Pheasant Farms Homeowners Association for Manitoba Drive pond/stormwater pump station. Motion: approved. Vote (roll call): Newlove yes; Jesse yes; Hogan yes; Susiek yes. Outcome: approved.

Council members and staff said bidding for the lime sludge and annual chemical contracts is planned for early 2026 so the city can secure contractors for the coming contract terms. The council did not take further policy actions beyond approving the authorizations, appropriations and easements presented.