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Tuscarawas County selects ADR & Associates for Moravian Trail Road waterline extension
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Summary
The Board of Tuscarawas County Commissioners approved a recommendation to enter negotiations with ADR & Associates to design a waterline extension for Moravian Trail Road intended to address local water-quality concerns and low groundwater yields; the county will facilitate delivery and later transfer the infrastructure to Twin City Water & Sewer District.
The Tuscarawas County Board of Commissioners voted March 16 to approve a recommendation naming ADR & Associates, Inc. as the most qualified firm to provide engineering services for a proposed waterline extension on Moravian Trail Road.
The motion, moved by Commissioner Mitch Pace and seconded by Commissioner Greg Ress, passed with both commissioners present voting yes and Commissioner Kristin Zemis recorded as absent. The Board authorized the Tuscarawas County Sanitary Engineer to begin contract negotiations with ADR & Associates for Phase A (preliminary engineering and planning) and Phase B (funding, environmental review and special-assessment support).
The county said the project responds to “documented water quality concerns and diminishing groundwater yields” affecting property owners along Moravian Trail Road. The County will act as the facilitating entity for project delivery and financing, with the intention to transfer completed infrastructure to the Twin City Water & Sewer District for long-term ownership and operations under ORC Chapter 6119.
Under the Board’s approved resolution, selection followed a Request for Qualifications and a review by a designated evaluation committee from the Sanitary Engineer's Office and the Office of Community and Economic Development. The resolution affirms that, if the Sanitary Engineer cannot negotiate a fair and reasonable contract with the highest-ranked firm, state law (ORC 153.69) authorizes the Engineer to terminate negotiations and begin discussions with the next-ranked firm.
Commissioner Pace described the project as “a long time coming” for residents along the affected road, and Commissioner Ress said the project would deliver needed water to the area. County Engineer Kris Lowdermilk thanked Sanitary Engineer Mike Jones for his work advancing the proposal to this stage; the minutes note broad agreement that Jones had been instrumental to progress.
Next steps authorized by the Board are contract negotiations between the Sanitary Engineer and ADR & Associates. The resolution also reaffirms compliance with open-meeting requirements (ORC 121.22). If negotiations do not result in a contract on acceptable terms, the Engineer may proceed to the next-ranked firm.