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Ross Township road budget shows $894,000 in anticipated revenue; trustees flagged equipment replacements and paving estimates
Summary
Staff told trustees the road department expects roughly $894,000 in revenue for 2026, reviewed grant-funded projects (ODOT satellite barn, stormwater wash-bay grant), and highlighted urgent equipment replacements (boom mower/tractor, dump truck) and a Green Drive paving contract with contractor estimates ranging about $59,000–$84,000.
Township staff told Ross Township trustees that the road department’s anticipated revenue for 2026 is about $894,000 and outlined several capital needs and grant-supported projects that will shape spending decisions.
The presenter said the township has an arrangement with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for a satellite barn on township property: the state paid half of construction costs, the township paid half (with the township’s share funded via a county stormwater grant), ODOT supplies salt and a rubber-tired loader and bills the township annually for salt usage. The presenter described the arrangement as beneficial and said the current salt price under the arrangement was $78 per ton, lower than county-contracted rates.
The township received a stormwater grant to build a wash bay to prevent oil and grime from washing into the local aquifer; staff said that grant and a matching fund were instrumental in funding the addition. Staff also noted that grant programs are limited and have been paused after this round of awards.
Equipment and capital needs were highlighted: staff described an 18-year-old boom mower (2008) with frequent breakdowns (recent $2,300 repair) and an aging dump truck scheduled for replacement in 2028; staff estimated the replacement dump truck cost at roughly $210,000–$225,000 and anticipated selling used equipment on GovDeals for an estimated $20,000–$25,000.
On procurement, staff presented two contractor estimates for a planned paving project on Green Drive—one estimate at $59,000 and another at $84,000—and recommended the trustees select a contractor. Staff noted there are options to handle large equipment purchases (spreading payments vs. buying outright) but flagged audit complications with financing and said outright purchase often minimizes long-term interest costs.
Trustees agreed to housekeeping items including correcting the budgeting line for longevity pay (moving it to salary) and left the contract decision to a future action; staff indicated they would flag the board when it was time to proceed.
Next steps: trustees can pick a contractor for the Green Drive project or refer the procurement to an executive session if needed; no procurement contract award was finalized during the meeting.
