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South Russell council endorses ODOT schedule for Bell Road, approves Hemlock culvert finalization and advances grants, ordinances
Summary
Council acknowledged an ODOT schedule for Bell Road East (with award-date change), approved final payments and change orders for a Hemlock Road culvert project and the village salt-storage project, authorized a $75,000 grant application for sodium-reduction, accepted a council resignation, and introduced a 12-month cannabis-permit moratorium.
At its Feb. 5 meeting the South Russell Village Council moved through a broad business agenda that included several formal approvals and first readings of ordinances.
The village engineer reported the Hemlock Road culvert replacement was completed with the road open; council approved Change Order No. 1 (a net negative adjustment of $1,908.57) and authorized final construction payment Application No. 1 for $95,741.43 by voice vote. Council also approved a design change for the salt-storage facility ($4,500) and progress payment No. 2 to CMG Contracting for $38,640.
On Bell Road East, the engineer presented an ODOT Local Public Agency schedule showing stage 2 submittal and later stages; council asked for a correction to an award date and acknowledged the LPA scope with the award date changed to Dec. 14, 2026. The engineer noted estimated construction could begin in a worst-case April 2027 but that design and review costs would occur in 2026.
The street commissioner was authorized — with solicitor review of the application — to submit a $75,000 reimbursement grant application for sodium-reduction equipment. Council members also discussed placing a trail/path levy on the ballot: a recent consultant estimate for the most expensive option was about $1.8 million with approximately $800,000 expected from a WACCAS grant, leaving roughly $1,000,000 to be raised by a levy over five years.
Council accepted the resignation of council member Misha Alexander, approved advertising to fill the vacant seat with an application deadline of Feb. 10, and scheduled special meetings and an executive-session interview process to consider appointment candidates (special meeting set for Feb. 14 at 8 a.m.; additional special meeting Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m.).
Council introduced a first-reading ordinance to impose a 12-month moratorium on reviewing, issuing or processing permits for adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries, cultivators or processors; council declared an emergency for first reading. Several other administrative ordinances and routine motions — including ratifying a payment register totaling $72,103.23 and scheduling a community trash day — were also approved by voice vote.
Engineer Eric emphasized the ODOT schedule's conservative nature and asked council to acknowledge it as a worst-case timeline while the village continues to push to advance stages more quickly.
