Buckeye Lake council approves multiple emergency appropriations, corrects pension line and awards 2024 street-paving contract

The Buckeye Lake Village Council on Aug. 12 adopted multiple emergency ordinances to adjust the village’s 2024 appropriations, correct police pension funding and award a contract for street improvements.

Council adopted Ordinance 2024-37 (accepting a plat and street dedication for a portion of First Street) as an emergency after Public Works Superintendent Toby Miller said the step has a deadline and must move forward; the motion to suspend the rules and adopt passed unanimously, 7–0. "This step has a deadline and needs passed as an emergency," Miller said during discussion, and he described the developer’s contribution of $20,000 plus in-kind property to be received by Jan. 1, 2025.

The council also suspended the rules and adopted Ordinance 2024-39 to amend permanent appropriations, Ordinance 2024-40 to add funds for prosecutorial legal expenses, Ordinance 2024-41 for dues and fees (including a MORPC bill), Ordinance 2024-42 to correct the Police OPERS contribution rate, and Ordinance 2024-45 to add approximately $29,000 to cover engineering services for a previously approved contract. All of those motions passed by roll-call vote, 7–0, as recorded during the meeting.

On the 2024 street-improvements contract (Ordinance 2024-44), council heard that bids were reviewed by ADR and that Dreams Excavating and Paving LLP was the lowest qualified bidder. The contract covers work including Second Street, Monroe and Lakeview East (Lakeview East estimated at $201,000). Council voted to suspend rules and adopt the ordinance to award the contract; the motion passed 5–2 (Yes: Cable, Green, Keener, Lemmon, Wadley; No: Julian, Wolfe). Councilor Don Cable asked about contractor evaluation; Public Works Superintendent Toby Miller said the village is required to select the lowest qualified bidder absent disqualifying factors and that ADR reviewed qualifications.

Finance Chair Deb Julian explained that some of the appropriation amendments address timing and oversights in billing and loan payments. On the West North Bank storm-sewer project the village recorded an unexpected $17,200 design-loan payment in July that will be rolled into the construction loan once obtained; Toby Miller said he will provide a timeline and reconciliation to clarify when and how the payment posted.

Council set a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 15 to consider North Bank West stormwater items; bids open at 10 a.m. that day and the village must meet Ohio EPA submittal timing to avoid a 30–60 day delay.

The meeting ended with a unanimous vote to adjourn at 9:00 p.m.

What’s next: The council will hold a special meeting Aug. 15 to act on stormwater loan/bid items; implementation of awarded paving contracts will proceed under procurement and contract-management processes outlined by Public Works.