Council approves bid for Bremen Street project
NEW KNOXVILLE — New Knoxville Village Councilors voted to accept a bid for the multi- phase Bremen Street storm sewer project during Wednesday’s monthly meeting.
Council passed Ordinance 2020-12- 02 as an emergency, awarding the first phase of the West Bremen Street project to Tom’s Construction Inc. for $198,518.
The first phase had an original estimate from Choice One Engineering of $294,146, with the village paying $91,185 upfront and $202,961 fi
nanced. This amount was the basis for the original filing with Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) but Village Administrator Larry Kellermeyer noted that a second estimate from the engineers quoted $264,725, with the village paying $82,065 upfront and $182,660 financed.
The village then sent the project out for bids, with nine bids coming in, and council approving Tom’s Construction Inc. out of St. Henry for $198,518, the village would pay $61,541 and $136,977 would be financed.
The project has two objectives: fix drainage issues from the ag
ing storm sewer and add width to provide a means for residents to walk/ bike from the west part of the village to Main Street.
The first round of funding is from an OPWC grant that is 20 years of financing at 0% interest. The village would need to contribute 31% of the project and 69% could be financed by the OPWC grant.
Kellermeyer noted the higher the percentage of the project that the village can pay upfront helped to get the overall project approved for funding.
Since the total street repair was too big of a project, Option II of the first phase — resurfacing and widening West Bremen Street from Laura Street to South West Street — would be the most viable option. The original cost for that option was $310,940.
The village decided to proceed, because of cost, to split the overall Laura Street to South West Street project into two separate projects. The first project would be replacing the West Bremen Street storm sewer from Bielefeld Street to South West Street, add two feet of a south-side berm, add four feet to the north- side path and complete resurfacing.
The second round of OPWC funding includes grant money of approximately $76,000 and the remainder of the project would be financed through a second 0%, 20-year loan.
Grant monies are typically available to the village every four years.
Phase II of the project is paving, which has an engineering estimate of $179,581, with $76,000 grant money for an upfront payment and $103,581 financed at 0% for 20 years.
This amount was the basis for the original filing and that project is currently open for bidding.
According to estimates from Choice One Engineering to finish
West Bremen Street, from Laura Street to Bielefeld Street, it would cost $133,740 to complete the storm sewer, $72,242 to add four feet of a path to the north side, $59,117 to resurface and $265,099 to complete West Bremen Street.
Kellermeyer noted in his report to council that the village has asked Choice One to explore time frames for applying for OPWC funds for completing West Bremen Street through Laura Street.
Choice One’s estimate also involves installing new water laterals and eliminating the current copper connections. The electrical service for the residents on the north side of Bremen Street will be taken underground, eliminating overhead power lines going across West Bremen Street.
“When this project is done, the street is going to be a lot cleaner,” Kellermeyer added. “It will be wider, the poles on the north side will be gone, all but the light poles. There’s more happening than fixing the storm sewer and repaving the street.”
The first phase of the project is tentatively set to begin in late spring.
Also on Wednesday, council:
• Heard and passed Ordinance 2020-11- 02 as an emergency, waiving second and third readings of all pay ordinances for the year 2021.
• Heard the first reading of Ordinance 2020-11- 04, allocating income tax receipts for the year 2021, which include: South Street, $ 4,425; Mill Street, $3,600; B/A, $1,000; Laura Street, $1,834.06; Water Bond1999, $31,770; MSSS, $941.26; Bremen Street storm sewer; $10,200 and West Bremen Street Improvements, $5,200.
• Heard the second reading of Ordinance 2020-11- 05, transferring funds of $15,266.22 from the water fund to the water bond fund 5723 for the year 2021.
• Heard the second reading of Ordinance 2020-11- 06, transferring funds of $32,091.50 from the general fund to debt service fund 3406 for the year 2021.
• Heard the second reading of Ordinance 2020-11- 07, transferring $15,000 from the general fund to fund 4904 — capital assets fire/ emergency.
• Heard the second reading of Ordinance 2020-11- 08, transferring $30,000 from the sewer fund to the sewer reserve fund.
• Head the second reading of Ordinance 2020-11- 09, transferring $100,000 from the electric fund to the electric reserve fund.
• Heard the second reading and waived the third reading of Ordinance 2020-11-10, approving Christmas gifts, not to exceed $1,500, for employees as a proper public purpose.
• Heard the second reading of Ordinance 2020-11-11, requesting the county auditor to certify tax levy valuations and renewal levy.
• Amended Ordinance 2020-11-13, approving the wage ordinance for 2021. The first reading had a 2% increase, but during Wednesday’s Finance Committee meeting, members agreed to change it to a 3% raise for village employees. Also, the part-time secretary utilities clerk position rate is changing from $12.21 per hour to $13.79.
•Heard the first reading of Resolution 2020- 12- 01, allocating the share of funds for the village from the county coronavirus relief distribution fund and reaffirming pursuant to Senate Bill 310 have been expended only to cover costs of the subdivision.
• Passed as an emergency Ordinance 2020-12- 03, increasing appropriations in the Coronavirus Relief Fund from $106,000 to $122,529.29.
• Went into executive session to discuss property and wages.