Corwin advances water-mitigation project; JWCI engineer named, grants eyed

Corwin Village Council heard details Aug. 12 about a planned water mitigation project that council members said could clear persistent drainage problems in parts of the village.

Shawn Campbell of Jones Warner Consultants Inc. introduced engineer Wayne Beyerlein, who Campbell said will oversee the project and pursue required environmental clearance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Campbell told council the firm needs an executed Professional Consulting Contract to proceed and that JWCI bills by hour with detailed timesheets; he said a $101,000 figure that appeared as a placeholder in a sample contract would not result in charges to the village if no work is done. Clerk-Treasurer Debra R. Femmer said she had sent the executed professional consulting contract to JWCI and that the council had already approved the Professional Consulting Contract.

Campbell reviewed potential funding sources and calendars: the Ohio Public Works Commission has a Sept. 6 application deadline, and Warren County block-grant deadlines fall in the last week of December. He warned that many grant programs use census income data by ZIP code—which mixes Corwin with Wayne Township—and that a door-to-door resident income count might be necessary to show eligibility for some programs. Council members agreed to schedule a special meeting to approve resolutions needed to apply for OPWC funds. Femmer reminded council a purchase order is required before the village can pay any invoice.

Council members discussed next steps for additional contracts, including a design contract (not yet executed) and documentation JWCI will supply for the Auditor of State to cover preliminary work. Council thanked Campbell and Beyerlein for their briefing. The council recorded no formal vote specific to awarding the design contract at this meeting; further approvals were discussed for a subsequent meeting.