Council approves application for ODOT transit grant and adopts water-plant and maintenance contracts

Worcester City Council on Oct. 20 voted to authorize an application to the Ohio Department of Transportation for federal transit funding and adopted three separate resolutions to fund operations and maintenance at the city water treatment plant.

The council passed Resolution No. 2025-61 to file an application with the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration for federal transit grants. The council also adopted Resolution No. 2025-62 (HVAC replacement at portions of the water treatment plant), Resolution No. 2025-63 (one-year contract renewal with Berkey Excavating Inc. for lime and biosolids residual management) and Resolution No. 2025-64 (advertise and contract for chemicals used at the water treatment plant).

Why it matters: The transit grant application lets the city pursue federal and state operating funds for local transit service; the water-treatment items are intended to maintain plant operations and avoid interruptions to water treatment and distribution.

What the council approved

- Transit grant application (Res. 2025-61). President Myers moved to advance the resolution to third and final reading and to adopt it the same night; the council suspended rules and then adopted the application authorizing staff to file with ODOT and the FTA. Council recorded the motion, the suspension and the adoption; roll-call adoption responses recorded in the meeting transcript were affirmative by President Myers, Councilmember Hussain, Councilmember Abernathy, Councilmember Gaffey, Councilmember Malta and Councilmember Konapik (6 yes, 0 no).

City staff and council said the application would seek approximately $1,128,000 in federal/state funds. City transit staff explained the typical funding split for rural/operating grants under the 5311-style program: roughly 50% federal, about 20–25% additional state grant funds and the remaining share made up by fares, contract revenue or a local match. As Kevin White explained, "50% is federal funding, and then 50% is non federal funding... our state house gives us some additional grant dollars, about 25 to 20%, depending on the year." President Myers added, "if we don't apply, we don't get any." (transcript references: public comment by Alex at 783.21–809.245; resolution reading and discussion at 892.955–1066.16)

- HVAC replacement (Res. 2025-62). The resolution, described in the meeting packet as budgeted, authorizes advertising and contracting for a redesigned HVAC system for portions of the water treatment plant. Staff noted the plant systems are about 29–30 years old and that the engineering department has redesigned the system before bidding. The council adopted the resolution by roll call (yes votes recorded: Malta, Myers, Abernathy, Gaffey, Jose, Knappett — 6 yes, 0 no).

- Biosolids removal contract renewal (Res. 2025-63). The council authorized the administration to exercise the city’s option to renew its contract with Berkey Excavating Inc. for lime and biosolids residual management for a third and final year at 2024 prices so the service does not lapse before an open bidding process next year. The measure passed on unanimous roll call (yes votes recorded: Malta, Konapik, Gaffey, Myers, Abernathy, Jose — 6 yes, 0 no).

- Chemicals for the water treatment plant (Res. 2025-64). The council authorized advertising and contracting for the purchase of treatment chemicals so the plant does not run short; staff said the plant typically holds about 30 days of supply on site and that many chemical vendors have been unable to commit to multiyear pricing in recent years. Budget figures discussed in the meeting placed last year’s chemicals spending near $750,000 and the FY2026 budget line at $800,000 to account for inflation. The resolution was adopted on unanimous roll call (yes votes recorded: Malta, Gaffey, Konapik, Myers, Abernathy, Jose — 6 yes, 0 no).

Funding and next steps

City staff noted that Resolution 2025-62 (HVAC) is budgeted and that the chemicals purchasing authorization is intended to be put out to bid quickly so contracts are in place before year-end. The biosolids renewal uses the third-year contractual option at no price increase; staff said the contract will go to open bid after the third year.

The council did not discuss issuing long-term debt tied to these measures at the Oct. 20 meeting; any future borrowing or project-specific spending would require separate council action.

Ending

With the adopted motions, the city moves to secure federal operating support for transit and to maintain continuity of critical water-plant operations through planned contracting and bidding. Council members said they expect staff to return with contract documents and implementation details as bids and procurement proceed.