Utilities Committee backs Wildwood Drive vacation, WPCLF loan and GPD contract; all three motions pass 3–0

The North Royalton Utilities Committee on Jan. 6 recommended three ordinances to City Council after hearing project details and financing options.

The committee voted 3–0 to remove Ordinance 26‑10 from committee and recommend Council approval of a cooperation agreement with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) and affected residents to vacate a portion of Wildwood Drive and permit culvert replacement and maintenance access. City Engineer Matt Glass said the project includes removing pavement, abandoning a water line, rerouting a gas main and establishing a 15‑foot access easement across the vacated right of way; the work is slated for mid‑spring 2026 and the city will not file the vacation until right‑of‑way work is complete.

The committee also voted 3–0 to recommend Ordinance 26‑13, a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) planning and design loan to accelerate development of a citywide sanitary‑sewer model by GPD Group. Wastewater Superintendent Ed Haller told the committee that planning/design loans under the WPCLF are 0% interest and that construction loans carry very low interest (typically about 1–2%). He said, “With that calculation for about 9,500 users it comes out to $0.42 per month per family,” describing that figure as a 20‑year amortization beginning after a roughly five‑year deferment if the loan is rolled into construction financing.

Haller said the loan would let the city move mapping, metering and modeling work forward now rather than drawing from the operating fund and that a later rate study (planned for 2027 with rate proposals in 2028–29) would be used to evaluate user impacts. He added that the design portion remains 0% even if rolled into a construction loan and that WPCLF terms may include 20‑, 25‑ or 30‑year repayment options depending on project components.

Finally, the committee voted 3–0 to recommend Ordinance 26‑14, an agreement with GPD Group to develop the citywide sanitary‑sewer model. Haller and Glass said the city has relied on GPD’s expertise and that the contract is being presented to council to maintain transparency.

Votes at a glance Ordinance 26‑10 (Wildwood Drive vacation/cooperation agreement): Moved by Matt Coleman; seconded by Gary Petrusky; committee vote Yeas 3, Nays 0 — motion carried (recommend to Council). Ordinance 26‑13 (WPCLF planning/design loan for citywide sanitary‑sewer model): Moved by Matt Coleman; seconded by Gary Petrusky; committee vote Yeas 3, Nays 0 — motion carried (recommend to Council). Ordinance 26‑14 (Agreement with GPD Group to develop citywide sewer model): Moved by Matt Coleman; seconded by Michael Wos; committee vote Yeas 3, Nays 0 — motion carried (recommend to Council).

What it means If Council approves the loan and contract, the city will accelerate conversion of paper maps to geolocated electronic maps, deploy metering and complete a citywide hydraulic model intended to identify inflow/infiltration points and guide corrective work. The WPCLF planning/design loan structure minimizes near‑term interest costs; construction borrowing, if needed, would carry low interest and could be amortized over decades.

The committee’s recommendation of the Wildwood Drive vacation formalizes an access easement and sequencing for culvert replacement; Glass said vacation filing will wait until the physical right‑of‑way work is complete.

Next steps All three ordinances were recommended to full Council for action. The committee noted projected design and bid timelines for early plant action items aim for bid readiness by fall 2026; any Council action will determine final schedules and funding.