Geneva approves $120,000 flow-monitoring study; council declares emergency

The City of Geneva council on March 23 approved an emergency resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with Verdantes for a flow-monitoring and model recalibration study for the city's sanitary system.

City Manager (speaker 5) said the study will update a model last produced in 2014 to provide a current representation of flow characteristics and highlight problem areas for remediation. "This update will provide a more current representation of the sanitary systems, flow characteristics, and give direction of problem areas for further remediation to lower inflow and infiltration," the City Manager said, and asked council to authorize an agreement with Verdantes not to exceed $120,000. He estimated the work would take approximately three months.

Council members asked how the study would tie into a concurrent stormwater master plan and whether the consultant methodology would augment other planning work. The City Manager responded the studies are "tied together" and said he would follow up to clarify methodology and coordinate with the stormwater master planning process.

Council voted to waive three readings, declared the resolution an emergency and approved passage by roll call. The City Manager described the study as critical to determining future capital investments and potential compliance obligations linked to the city's No Further Action (NFA) status with the Ohio EPA.

Next steps: administration will finalize the services agreement with Verdantes, schedule the three-month monitoring work, and return with results and recommendations upon study completion.