Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Erosion Stabilization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Toledo to accept $931,153 FEMA BRIC grant to stabilize Wright Avenue embankment
Summary
The City of Toledo will accept a $931,153 FEMA BRIC grant to stabilize an eroding embankment on Wright Avenue; city staff say the project requires a $491,248.14 local match already budgeted in road and bridge maintenance.
The Toledo City Council on Feb. 4 approved authorizing the mayor to accept a $931,153 Federal Emergency Management Agency Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant to stabilize an embankment on Wright Avenue and designated a city official as the applicant agent to complete the award paperwork, administration staff said.
"We've been selected for award of a Bridal Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant from FEMA for an embankment stabilization project on Wright Avenue," said Simon Nee, grama commissioner, who told council the Ohio Emergency Management Agency administers the funds and required the city to name an applicant agent. Nee said he would serve as the designated applicant agent for grant management and reporting.
The grant is intended to fund a long-term stabilization solution where an embankment along Swan Creek has produced severe erosion and, if unrepaired, could lead to complete roadway failure and loss of vehicle access for nearby residents. City staff told council the erosion problem has been known since about February 2009.
City legislation approved Feb. 4 authorizes the mayor to accept the BRIC award, deposit and appropriate the grant proceeds into the capital improvement fund, accept bids and award contracts for the Wright Avenue embankment stabilization project, and declares an emergency to expedite procurement. Administration staff said the BRIC award carries a required local match of $491,248.14; that match has been included in the Road and Bridge Maintenance (RBM) matches and planning budget for the year and would be authorized when transportation brings forward its matching ordinance.
Staff provided a project timeline: design and procurement steps in 2025, with construction targeted for late 2025. They said the city expects to advertise bids in June and likely needs the project under contract by September to meet that schedule; any delay would require negotiating a revised timeline with FEMA. Councilman Martinez asked for the exact location; staff confirmed the site is on Wright Avenue alongside Swan Creek.
Council approved the two related items after administration requested suspension of the rules (noted in the meeting record as "SEP"); the transcript does not record a formal roll-call vote tally. The legislation also authorizes the mayor to accept bids and award contracts when procurement proceeds.
Next steps are finalizing the grant agreement with Ohio EMA and FEMA, formally executing the applicant-agent designation, and moving the project through procurement and contracting so construction can begin on the schedule described by staff.
