City’s road program gets rolling

Council passes $2 million bond anticipation note legislation

The final funding piece for Kirtland’s 2021 comprehensive road repair program was approved this week.

The final funding piece for Kirtland’s 2021 comprehensive road repair program was approved this week.

City Council on April 5 unanimously authorized issuance and sale of $2 million in notes in anticipation of issuing bonds to pay for costs to improve streets via reconstruction, resurfacing, grading and drainage projects.

“Having worked hard in 2020 to control costs makes a significant paving program possible this year,” Mayor Kevin Potter said, in his monthly memo to residents. “The unanimously passed budget committed $200,000 of savings from last year and will capitalize on low market rates to raise an additional $2 million for road spending.

“Dollars freed up from outsourcing dispatch as well as other 2020 personnel reductions justify the annual note payments supporting the 2021 paving program.”

Targeted for rehabilitation this year are Billings Road, Springer Drive, Springer Circle, Prelog Lane, Mitchells Mill Road, Parkwood Drive and Beechwood Drive.

Roads proposed for maintenance are Wisner Road, Locust Drive, Kirtland Lakes Boulevard, Singlefoot Trail, Arborhurst Lane, Sperry Road, Kirtland Chardon Road, Euclid Chardon Road, Route 306, Tibbetts Road and Wrenwood Drive.

Street rehabilitation will go out to bid as one project and maintenance work will be a separate package, city Engineer Doug Courtney said. Projects are to be advertised May 20 with awards in June and construction tentatively beginning in July.

The mayor last year commissioned Courtney and Public Service Director Joe Fornaro to author a 10-year road paving plan and cost of implementation after evaluating pavement conditions. An estimated $17.4 million is needed to implement the plan during the next decade.

The program would rehabilitate or repave 20 miles of city roads, and include a maintenance plan and schedule.

Councilman John Lesnick motioned to waive the three-reading rule on the legislation for this year’s plan.

“We’ve had a considerable number of discussions about this,” he said. “And it’s really good to be able to get this started again — not a sustainable program — but it is able to get it started, to get 20 percent of this $17 million plan well on its way for the residents without asking for increased taxes or further reduction in services.”

Councilman Matt Schulz posed numerous questions, including whether any of the road funding would be used toward hiring staff or purchasing equipment. Potter said no.

Potter has indicated that, in order to avoid “further and significant personnel restructuring,” Kirtland voters will be given the option to fund the long-term plan at the polls this year or next.

“I continue to be proud of our city government’s resourcefulness and its commitment to spending your tax dollars wisely,” he said in his April memo. “I look forward to working with City Council members, our department leaders and the community as we explore new ways to further support infrastructure, building maintenance and equipment needs.”