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Hudson staff propose utility shift to keep Ravenna Street sidewalk on schedule; council signals support
Summary
City Manager Thomas Sheridan and engineering staff proposed moving the sewer to the south side and offsetting water lines to avoid future rework, with developers to pay utility relocation costs; council voiced support and asked staff to proceed with bidding.
City staff outlined engineering options for the Ravenna Street sidewalk project and recommended a design that would shift sewer infrastructure to the south side of the roadway and offset the water line to meet EPA-required clearances, allowing the sidewalk to be installed on schedule while minimizing the risk of having to re-excavate the path during future development.
City Manager Thomas J. Sheridan told council engineering staff had run designs that maintain a minimum 12-foot separation between the outside of the water and sewer pipes (12 feet used instead of the 10-foot EPA minimum as a safety buffer) and reviewed utility-pole locations and bracing requirements. Sheridan said portions of the sidewalk would be disturbed where utility connections are required, but the developer would pay costs to relocate utilities and repair any disturbed sidewalk.
Council members asked whether the design change would substantially increase cost; staff responded that utility relocations would be paid by the developer, not the city. Councilors also raised concerns about legal matters discussed in past executive sessions; the city solicitor and other staff said those issues had not changed but that the proposed design allowed the project to proceed while shifting burden to the developer.
After discussion, council expressed a consensus to move forward with the original timeline and to instruct staff to proceed with bidding so long as the recommended utility approach is viable.
What happens next: The city will proceed with advertising bids for the sidewalk and related contract documents; staff said they would prepare necessary engineering and contract materials and coordinate with the developer on required utility work.
