Northfield moves forward on Milford Drive reconstruction, allocates nearly $100,000 in sewer-district cost-share funds

The Village of Northfield council on Feb. 11 heard an update on the Milford Drive Reconstruction Project and authorized using nearly $100,000 in regional sewer-district funds toward the work. Engineer Daniel Collins told council the bid opening is scheduled for Friday at noon at the 199 Ledge building, and eight contractors have picked up bid documents and plans.

Collins said the Village could apply $99,950 of its Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) cost-share balance—about $110,000 currently—to cover 27 new catch basins and a single 16-inch diameter manhole cover for the project. He said staff hopes to bring a contractor recommendation for approval at the March council meeting. Council must later decide whether sidewalks will be included in the reconstruction.

The NEORSD cost-share agreement, read into the record and adopted as an emergency resolution later in the meeting, allows the Village to allocate the specified funds to this capital project. Collins emphasized the timeline: the Friday bid opening is the next milestone, followed by review of bids and a March recommendation to council.

The reconstruction will address stormwater infrastructure along Milford Drive by installing new catch basins and replacing the manhole noted by Collins. The inclusion of sidewalks remains a policy decision for council, which could affect project cost and construction sequencing. No contract award was announced at the Feb. 11 meeting; council members directed staff to return with a procurement recommendation after bids are opened.

The council also adopted the formal cost-share resolution authorizing the mayor to execute the standard NEORSD community cost-share agreement for the project.