North Ridgeville council moves to front Taylor Parkway resurfacing costs to meet state grant deadline

North Ridgeville City Council on Feb. 17 approved a package of financial measures intended to allow the Taylor Parkway resurfacing project to proceed and to comply with an Ohio Department of Transportation grant deadline.

The director of finance told council the ODOT grant for Taylor Parkway carries an expenditure deadline of June 30, 2026, and urged council to adopt the appropriations amendment (ordinance 20 26 dash 22) and the fund-advance resolution (20 26 dash 23) with emergency clauses so finance staff would have the resources needed to begin work and meet the deadline. Council discussed the timing and agreed to dispense with remaining readings and adopt the legislation.

Council members noted the mechanics: the city will advance funds from the general fund into a state grant fund to pay up front for work and be reimbursed later when grant reimbursement is received. One council member described the state grant fund portion as the “lion’s share” (about $355,000) and the city match as about $45,000.

The ordinances for project-approval and appropriation adjustments (20 26 dash 21 and 20 26 dash 22) and the resolution authorizing fund advances (20 26 dash 23) were moved, seconded and adopted on roll call. The transcript records discussion about asphalt timing, with engineering saying the project should be completed by June to meet the grant deadline.

Next steps: Council adopted the funding motions with emergency clauses; staff will proceed with advertising for bids and entering an appropriate contract to meet the grant timeline. A further appropriation amendment will be presented when reimbursements are received, per the finance director.