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Fort Recovery outlines Butler Street reconstruction plan; residents warned of sidewalk costs and likely tree removals
Summary
Village officials presented a Butler Street reconstruction plan that includes water and storm-line work, a new mast‑arm traffic signal, and widening sidewalks from 4 to 5 feet; homeowners were told they will bear sidewalk costs or opt into a 5‑year 0% tax assessment, and several residents raised concerns about losing mature trees and parking changes.
Mayor Dave Kaup and village staff presented details of the Butler Street Reconstruction Project at a Sept. 16 special meeting in the Fort Recovery Council Chambers, telling residents the low bid was submitted by Tom's Construction of St. Henry and that construction is likely to begin in late winter or spring and take about three to four months.
"This begins our open house from 6-7 p.m. tonight," Randy Diller told attendees and encouraged residents to review engineer Ryan Lefeld's plans. Diller and Lefeld said the work includes new water service lines to the curb box, installation of storm taps and catch basins, and a mast‑arm traffic signal with a pedestrian crossing. Lefeld said the sidewalk replacement will increase the walking surface to 5 feet and that a storm line shown in red on the plans will require significant excavation in the curb lawn.
Several property owners said the excavation and wider sidewalk will threaten longstanding trees. "Is there any way? They change the look of the property," resident Jamison Hess said. Diller and Lefeld said trees planted close to the curb lawn are unlikely to survive the required excavation. "It is a pretty big cherry tree," Diller said, adding that with the amount of work planned he had "never seen a tree that close that can survive." Kaup suggested consulting local arborists but staff emphasized the curb‑lawn excavation and Federal requirements for a flat walking surface make it difficult to preserve trees in that location.
Diller also explained how sidewalk costs will be handled. Property owners will be charged for sidewalk replacement; they can pay up front, pay monthly through next August, or have the cost assessed on their property taxes over five years at 0% interest if unpaid. Several residents said the assessments pose a hardship. "People around here annual income is not a huge amount; this really hurt," Alison Homan said. Diller responded by repeating the payment options and noting that some homeowners add the cost to their real estate taxes through an assessment program.
The meeting included a discussion about a parking lot across from one business. Owner Ron Ranly asked whether he would be charged for sidewalk across the lot; Diller said the village previously received a parking‑lot easement and described plans to change the entrance and possibly designate some adjacent spaces as public parking to support the Opera House. Staff estimated a reconfigured layout could yield roughly six to eight 90‑degree spaces and noted maintenance and easement terms would apply.
On the subject of traffic signals, staff said ODOT warrants originally did not require a traffic signal at the intersection but the village obtained OK from a prior study and elected to retain/replace the signal with a mast arm. The council also discussed replacing roughly 20 feet of brick paving and coordinating work with Decorative Paving while the contractor is on site.
No council vote on project authorization was recorded at the meeting. Diller said residents would receive the final contract letter after the meeting and reiterated that substantial construction activity likely would not begin until late winter or spring. The council adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
Next steps: staff to issue the final contract letter to affected property owners, provide parking‑lot layout options to interested owners, and proceed toward contracting with Tom's Construction pending any further administrative requirements.
