Maumee council approves land purchase to expand Epstein Park, authorizes GIS inspections for sewer-lining program

Maumee City Council on Jan. 20 approved the purchase of about 1.8 acres adjacent to Epstein Park and authorized a professional services agreement for GIS data collection to support the city’s sewer-lateral lining program, officials said at a meeting in Maumee City Council chambers.

City Administrator Dr. Burch said the wooded parcel — listed in the staff recommendation as 1686 Woodlands — would cost roughly $268,500 and provide road access and a potential parking/trailhead that the city says will make Epstein Park more usable and support mixed-use reinvestment in the adjacent Arrowhead business park. “I believe this is the right thing to do to encourage the growth and the reinvigoration of Arrowhead Park,” Dr. Burch said.

Council members also heard details about a proposed professional services contract to collect GIS and inspection data for sewer laterals. Dr. Burch told council that as of that morning about 460 property owners had signed up for inspections, and that mapping and video records of laterals are needed so contractors can submit accurate bids. “Much the same as bidding a house without having a blueprint,” he said, describing how precise lateral footage, depth and “bellies” will reduce uncertainty and likely lower contractor bids.

Why it matters: Council documents and Dr. Burch’s remarks linked the two items to longer-term infrastructure and economic goals. The new parcel would create an entrance and parking access for Epstein Park, which officials say is currently landlocked and could better serve residents and nearby housing; the GIS work is intended to speed and standardize the sewer-lining work the city is undertaking to meet regulatory and program goals.

Details on the park purchase: Dr. Burch said the parcel is wooded, roughly 1.8 acres, and was previously offered as an easement that the owner declined; the purchase would allow the city to extend park pathways, install low-level lighting and add a small parking area serving both park users and nearby mixed-use development. The staff recommendation lists the purchase price as about $268,500.

Details on sewer GIS services: The professional services contract covers field collection of lateral video, laser-measured depths and lengths, and creation of a public-facing dashboard layered into the city’s Esri GIS, Dr. Burch said. That public dashboard, he said, would let residents see the status of work on their property and the project timeline. The inspections would be limited to laterals (the line from the building to the public main) while in-home inspections would remain the responsibility of city staff. Dr. Burch said contractors will use the collected data to prepare more accurate, drainage-area–based bid packages rather than bidding individual scattered addresses.

Other business noted by staff and council: During discussion councilmembers praised the state-of-the-city address delivered earlier in the day and heard administrative updates on uptown signage, new rail/guardrail elements, and ongoing water-main breaks related to cold weather. The meeting included standard consent calendar items ranging from a three-year labor agreement with ASME Local 649 to a payment-processing contract for the municipal court; those consent items were carried by roll call.

Votes at a glance

- Consent calendar (includes purchase of 1686 Woodlands / expand Epstein Park; professional services for GIS data collection for sewer-lining): approved by roll call (recorded as unanimous). The staff recommendation described the sewer GIS contract as intended to “provide those videotapes and those reports to a contractor” and to create a public-facing dashboard.

- Ordinance 2-2025 (authorizing the Ohio Department of Transportation to work within Maumee for Salisbury Road repairs; emergency declaration): approved by roll call; meeting record states the work is 100% funded by ODOT.

- Resolution 1-2025 (City of Maumee supporting the Ohio Municipal League’s challenge of AT&T’s tariff application at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio; emergency declaration): approved by roll call. The law director explained the resolution opposes a PUCO tariff filing that would have shifted pole/cable relocation costs to municipalities; the application had been withdrawn but might be refiled.

- Motion to enter executive session regarding pending litigation: approved by roll call.

What council did not decide tonight: The meeting moved the consent items and the ordinance/resolution by roll call; no additional separate public hearing or substantive amendment was recorded for the Epstein Park purchase or for the GIS professional services contract during the meeting. Several councilmembers asked clarifying questions but the formal approvals occurred as part of the consent/regular agenda.

Quotes and attributions are from the meeting transcript and staff recommendations presented at the Jan. 20 Maumee City Council meeting.