City manager reports auction sales, staffing updates, tourism push and a $75,000 gap on Fairfield Avenue culvert project

City Manager Lance gave an extended update May 19 covering recent events, staffing and capital projects.

Lance reported the city's recent public auction sold all items; final figures will be provided at the next meeting. Staff have reached out to a city overhaul committee to review initial drawings from Stro Architects and House of Baird and are drafting a new zoning district for that area. The manager and mayor attended statewide small-business awards to recognize Mark Lancha, who the manager said received state and national honors including recognition at the White House.

Public-works items discussed included a bid opening for a 69 kV circuit-breaker and relay-control-panel project; staff said they may recommend an award or rebid the project after further review. Lance told council the city has applied for additional Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) loan funds to cover an approximate $75,000 increase in expected costs for the Fairfield Avenue culvert project since the original application.

Lance also summarized community and departmental items: a high-school entrepreneur-class presentation, the leadership Columbia County course graduating in June, an A+ Powder Coders open house, tourism promotion for a June 6 wine festival, continued stormwater and pothole work in the water/street departments, wastewater UV light maintenance, EMS ambulance layout streamlining and distribution of AED monthly logs, police plans for the Memorial Day parade and assistance with an OVI checkpoint on May 16, and the imminent start of a new full-time dispatcher.

Staff did not provide dollar amounts for the 69 kV bid opening or the OPWC request beyond the reported $75,000 gap; the manager said full auction proceeds and some procurement recommendations will be reported at a future meeting.

Next steps: staff to return auction results and final procurement recommendations to the council for formal action.