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Public works director says $125,000 expected, urges help with DEQ variances delaying projects
Summary
The public works director told the council that a bill from Senator Sheehy is expected to result in $125,000 for local infrastructure and urged the council to seek relief from DEQ variance constraints that are delaying project designs.
Columbus — The city’s public works director told the Columbus City Council that a bill sponsored by Senator Sheehy is expected to be signed and would bring $125,000 in funds to the city, and he urged the council to pursue relief for regulatory variances that are delaying local design work.
“apparently, from senator Sheehy that the bill is going to the president to sign, so we will get already a $125,000,” the public works director said, reporting on the anticipated federal action. He said he planned to send a letter to the interim committee on infrastructure summarizing local problems with regulatory variances and asking for help so the city would not need to redesign projects and resubmit them to DEQ, which he said wastes time.
The director described prior back-and-forth communications between agencies and said the city has faced variance denials that force design changes. He asked council members whether they wanted some of the expected funds allocated to northern infrastructure projects and urged coordination so the city could use the money efficiently.
Council members acknowledged the update and discussed earmarking the funds for infrastructure rather than design rework. Staff said they would draft the suggested letter to the interim committee and coordinate next steps if the funds are received.
The discussion ended without a formal vote; staff direction was to pursue the committee letter and report back to the council.
