Village engineer recommends awarding Ryan Drive and Seeley Circle resurfacing bid to Empire Paving; council to review grant and cost breakdown

The village engineer recommended the village award the Ryan Drive and Seeley Circle resurfacing contract to Empire Paving LLC for $474,440, according to a memo read into the record at the Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday.

"I reviewed the bid proposals and have identified the lowest and best bid proposal as that means submitted by Empire Paving LLC in the amount of $474,440," the memo from Joe Gulotti said when read into the record. Gulotti is identified in the memo as the village engineer.

Council members discussed whether the bidder was familiar to village staff; one member asked whether Empire Paving had done other work in the village, and others said the engineer was comfortable with the firm's qualifications but deferred to Gulotti for confirmation.

Members also discussed anticipated grant support from the Ohio Public Works Commission. Councilors said the budget included an OPWC award of roughly $250,000 for the project and asked staff to confirm the exact amount and provide a full breakdown of the total project cost. Council agreed to bring the detailed cost breakdown back at the next Committee of the Whole meeting so members could review questions before any formal vote on awarding the contract.

No formal contract award or recorded vote on Resolution 2026-23 was taken at the meeting; the engineer's memo serves as the staff recommendation and council requested further documentation to be presented before taking action.

The council did not specify a schedule for final consideration beyond placing the item on next week's agenda for further review.