Brook Park council approves stormwater cost-share, park grant application and Sheldon Road amendment; multiple contracts pass

Brook Park City Council on Oct. 21 approved a package of infrastructure and administrative measures advanced in caucus, including a stormwater cost-share agreement with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NORSD), a county playground grant application, and a revision to the intergovernmental agreement for the Sheldon Road profile-raising and bridge replacement project.

Stormwater cost-share: Mayor Orcutt explained that the NORSD will reimburse up to $70,000 to the city from the district’s community cost-share fund. “This is the money that is set aside — a portion of your bill goes into the community cost share,” the mayor said, and the funds will be used to help repay a city loan for the Wedo retention basin and to cover recurring stormwater operations such as street sweeping, dumpsters for street-sweeper debris and catch-basin maintenance. Council voted to introduce the ordinance and move it to first reading, and later adopted it on the council agenda.

Parks grant application: The council approved a resolution authorizing application to the Cuyahoga County Community Development Supplemental Grant (CDSG) program seeking $50,000 toward a new playground at McGovern Park on Middlebrook. Mayor Orcutt said the project already has a $63,000 award from equipment vendor GameTime and that the council’s action is time-sensitive for the grant timeline. If awarded, the county funds would reduce the roughly $117,000 remaining balance for the project after the GameTime award.

Sheldon Road bridge amendment: Council adopted an ordinance amending the earlier cooperation agreement for the Sheldon Road project to reflect that NORSD — not the county — will bid, construct and perform construction management and inspection for the work. Representatives from NORSD (Nicole Velez and project manager Michael Blair) told the council the revised agreement helps secure funding timing; Blair said design work is expected in 2026 with construction to follow in 2026–27, and that full road closure during construction would shorten the schedule to roughly 210 calendar days. Velez summarized funding sources including an earmark and grants; the district and county share portions of the local match. Council adopted the amendment as an emergency measure.

Other approvals and administrative measures: Council approved a series of procurement and contract orders under suspension of the rules, including the authorized purchase of a 2024 Ford ambulance (award to be executed per ordinance), a lot-consolidation resolution for 13955 Brook Park Road, professional service contracts for building-technology work, and other routine public-works procurement items. Council also adopted a resolution designating October 2025 as SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) Awareness Month, per recent state-level legislation.

Why it matters: The NORSD cost-share and the Sheldon Road amendment affect local stormwater and transportation infrastructure and have funding implications for the city’s capital program; the McGovern Park grant would reduce the local share for a playground replacement already supported by a vendor grant. The Sheldon Road project — a multi-agency bridge and profile-raising program — will require significant construction coordination and temporary road closures that city staff and NORSD said they will notify residents about well in advance.

What’s next: The NORSD cost-share ordinance and the CDSG resolution proceed under council action and will be implemented by the relevant departments if funds are awarded and agreements executed. The Sheldon Road project remains contingent on final design, OPWC funding rounds and construction scheduling in 2026–27.