Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Schoolhouse Park Demolition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Covington council approves demolition of 'Rudy' property, secures grant and community donation for Schoolhouse Park
Summary
Council approved demolition of the Old Rudy property and accepted a $108,000 donation for Schoolhouse Park playground; the demolition is funded largely by a $275,000 Ohio Brownfield Remediation Fund grant with $95,000 from the village budget.
Covington’s Village Council on Oct. 3 approved the demolition of the Old Rudy property and accepted a sizable community donation tied to the development of Schoolhouse Park. The council waived the three-reading rule and adopted Resolution R36-22 to accept the low bid for demolition, and later approved a $108,000 donation from the Covington Community Chest to the Felger Memorial Trust for the park playground.
The vote matters because the demolition and related property vacations are tied to the village’s funding package for Schoolhouse Park. Village Administrator Kyle Hinkelman told the council that Contract C (the Rudy demolition) received a valid low bid and that the demolition is funded primarily by an Ohio Brownfield Remediation Fund grant of $275,000; the village will provide the remaining $95,000 from its 2022 budget.
Hinkelman also reported that Contracts A and B for Schoolhouse Park did not receive bids. He said the village increased the engineer’s estimate by 20% and extended the project completion deadline to Sept. 1, 2023, to attract more bidders. He added that animal-control staff have already set traps on the Rudy property and expected to continue work for about another week before demolition begins.
Council considered and approved a companion measure, Resolution R33-22, authorizing disposal of certain property via internet auction (GovDeals). Council members used the procedural waiver that allows final action at the same meeting; the minutes record unanimous approval each time: 'All ayes.'
Votes at a glance: - Resolution R36-22 (accept demolition bid for Old Rudy property): approved (waiver of readings; motion to approve: Amy Welborn; second: Dawn Duff). Recorded as 'All ayes.' - Resolution R33-22 (declare items surplus and sell via GovDeals): approved (waiver of readings; motion to approve: Keith Warner; second: Derrick Canan). Recorded as 'All ayes.' - Resolution R37-22 (accept donation of $108,000 from Covington Community Chest / Felger Memorial Trust): approved (waiver of readings; motion to approve: Jesse Reynolds; second: Keith Warner). Recorded as 'All ayes.'
What’s next: Hinkelman said the third and final reading for Ordinance 18-22 (vacation of portions of Grant and Maple streets and an unnamed right-of-way within Schoolhouse Park) is scheduled for Oct. 17, 2022, a step he said is required to preserve the project’s funding that assumed those vacations. The village will proceed with demolition and park planning consistent with the grant and the approved budget match.
Council members thanked the Community Chest trustees and Felger Trust for the donation. The meeting then moved on to other business and later convened an executive session on personnel matters.
