MANSFIELD — In the midst of a three-and-a-half hour Mansfield City Council session on Tuesday evening, brief remarks from Public Works Director David Remy may have gotten lost.
Remy said he would likely come to council in August with details on a necessary capital improvement program for the city’s water treatment plant that could cost “in the neighborhood of $35 million.”
He said the rehabilitative work is required by the Ohio EPA.
“We have got some hard situations to consider,” Remy said. “We don’t want to hide anything from anybody. We want to be as transparent as possible.”
An issue with the main water line at the plant in late December led to a four-day four-day, citywide boil advisory.
Remy said the main line, which he said is 350 feet in length and 48 inches in diameter, had not been cleared of calcium carbonate buildups for 10 to 15 years.
Council approved a $58,000 contract with a Cincinnati-based company that cleaned the line with divers in May.
No members of council responded to the remarks during an evening that included three committee meetings and a public hearing on Community Development Block Grant/HOME funds.
During the hearing, council learned more about the the Ritter’s Run project proposed by the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging at 200 Ohio St. near OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
The city has given preliminary approval for $600,000 in HOME funds for the project, which will consist of two, handicapped-accessible six-unit apartments for area seniors.
Officials with the agency said the project will be more than just apartments and that staff members would work at the site to answer residents’ questions and provide needed services for the residents.
The Richland County Land Bank in March transferred parcels to the agency for the project.
Council is expected to vote on the funding at its July 21 meeting. If approved by city council and HUD, construction could begin by mid to late August.
Funds for project will include previous unspent HOME funds awarded to the city, dating back to 2015.
During the same public hearing, other agencies made proposals for funding, including:
— Harmony House seeks $80,000 in block grant funds to provide assistance for local homeless residents. Officials with the shelter expect needs to rise as courts re-open and evictions resume during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Mansfield Metropolitan Housing seeks $100,000 in block grant funds for emergency monthly housing payments and $150,000 in HOME funds for tenant-based rental assistance.
— Habitat for Humanity is requesting $50,000 in HOME funds to assist in the construction of a new house on property along Foster Street made available through the Richland County Land Bank.
The block grant funds are additional $514,000 in federal dollars as part of the COVID-19 relief effort. Adrian Ackerman, the city’s new community development director, said there are still $231,528 in CDBG funds available for organizations that qualify.
Council is expected to vote on the CDBG/HOME funds at its next meeting July 21.
Also on Tuesday, council:
— voted to accept an in-kind donation from Bo Lacey Construction to repair the South Park gazebo roof.
— voted to transfer $10,000 with the general fund for mowing services in the Codes & Permits Department.
— approved $45,000 in funding from the Ohio Supreme Court to develop a text messaging system for individuals with a scheduled court-appearance date.
— approved payment of $11,222 to R&D Excavating for completed demolition work.
— voted to accept $4,200 from the Richland County Foundation to pay for an intern in the Community Development Department from June 1 to Dec. 31.
— voted to vacate an unnamed alley west of Bowman Street from West Third Street to the south end while retaining the utility rights and easements.
— voted to authorize the public works director to advertise for bids and enter into a contract to lease copiers/fax machines for a term not to exceed five years.
— voted to authorize the public works director to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for custodial services in the municipal building, the wastewater treatment plant office building, the water treatment plant office and the utility collection building.
— voted to authorize the public works director to accept and appropriate funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to acquire $69,000 federal grant funds through the CARES Act for expenses at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport.
— discussed during caucus entering into a $295,575 commercial loan agreement through Richland Bank for an IT improvement project. The city will re-pay the loan over five years with an annual payment of $63,468.15.
— discussed during caucus and give first read to a bill that would adjust positions, pay grades and salaries for certain city employees during the 2020 payroll year.
