Committee forwards Applewood culvert cost‑share and Wildwood right‑of‑way design to council

The North Royalton Storm Water Committee voted Sept. 2 to send Ordinances 25‑126 and 25‑127 to city council, advancing a cost‑share plan with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) for the Applewood culvert replacement and the related Wildwood right‑of‑way vacation. The committee vote to forward the measures was unanimous among members present (Yeas: Nickell, Webber, Wos).

Wastewater Superintendent Ed Haller told members the project is being handled as a single overall effort with two separate funding streams: NEORSD will assume full responsibility for the Applewood design (estimated at $370,000), and construction is currently estimated at about $4 million. NEORSD is asking the city to cover a share of construction costs but has capped the city’s liability at $750,000. Haller said NEORSD also is offering the city an interest‑free option to spread that payment over five years. “NEORSD is offering the option to pay for it over 5 years,” Haller said.

Haller added that the Wildwood right‑of‑way vacation is being treated differently because it primarily benefits the city: the city would be responsible for 100% of Wildwood design (already estimated at $50,000) and, ultimately, full construction costs, which staff preliminarily estimated at about $200,000 but said that figure could change once design is finalized. Haller emphasized the $750,000 figure is a maximum city exposure for the Applewood construction share; if bids come in lower the city’s payment would be reduced.

City Engineer Matthew Glass reported related work on NEORSD projects in the area: the Thornhurst stream restoration is essentially complete with only minor contractor punch‑list items outstanding, and the Applewood design is near completion. Glass said the project will require coordination with the Turnpike for a small portion of work in the Turnpike right‑of‑way; the Law Department is finalizing that access agreement and Glass estimated scheduling could fall into the second quarter of 2026.

Finance Director Jenny Esarey noted that NEORSD’s cost‑share money is taken directly from the district fund and will not flow through the city’s operating budget as a reimbursement, a procedural detail that limits short‑term budget impact. Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz told the committee the cost‑share account currently holds about $1.2 million and typically receives roughly $350,000 annually, a factor in considering whether to take NEORSD’s multi‑year payment option.

The committee’s action on Sept. 2 was procedural—moving the ordinances to council for final consideration. If council approves the ordinances, staff will return to the committee with finalized construction estimates after the design is complete and after bids are solicited.