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Council approves surplus fire truck sale, infrastructure contracts and ODOT salt purchase
Summary
Wooster City Council unanimously suspended rules where required and approved ordinances and resolutions April 6, 2026, including sale of a surplus ladder truck, multiple pedestrian and streetscape contracts, sewer lining, electrical upgrades at the water facility, a cooperative ODOT salt procurement and facility garage-door replacements.
Wooster City Council on April 6 unanimously approved a package of ordinances and resolutions that move city maintenance, pedestrian and utility projects into procurement or execution.
The council suspended rules as needed and approved ordinance 2026-09 to sell a nearly 30-year-old ladder truck to the Carthage (N.C.) Fire Department for $15,000 after two unsuccessful GovDeals cycles. Council members voted in favor by roll call; the motion carried unanimously.
Council approved multiple contract-authorizing resolutions: EDG for pedestrian improvements on Madison Avenue and South Beaver Street (resolution 2026-18, total services $97,765; ODOT to cover 90% or $87,988), CESO for West Miltown Road pedestrian improvements (resolution 2026-09, $174,000; 90% ODOT share $157,320), and a streetscape project in the downtown arts district (resolution 2026-22, estimated $650,000) that will use state capital budget funds and a National Fitness Campaign grant for outdoor fitness equipment.
The council also moved infrastructure and maintenance projects forward: resolution 2026-21 authorized sanitary sewer lining on Woodland and Northwestern Avenues (estimated $125,000) to reduce root intrusion and extend pipe life (staff said lining can add roughly 40–50 years); resolution 2026-23 authorized replacement of obsolete 480-volt switchgear at the Water Resource and Recovery Facility; and resolution 2026-25 authorized replacement of 12 garage doors and six openers across city facilities to improve energy efficiency and safety.
For winter operations, the council authorized participation in the ODOT cooperative purchasing program (resolution 2026-24) so Wooster can buy road salt at state-negotiated discounts. Staff said the city has roughly 5,500 tons storage, used about 4,100 tons this past winter, sold 500 tons to local institutions and typically requests quantities it can store; procurement rules require taking about 90% of the requested amount.
Votes and outcomes (roll-call counts reflect council members present): all listed motions to suspend rules and adopt passed unanimously (7–0). Specific motions, movers and seconds were recorded in the meeting minutes and roll-call results were read aloud for each action.
Next steps: many of the items are budgeted or use federal/state grant funds; purchasing and contract execution will proceed through the director of administration and city engineering as scheduled.
