Wintersville creates fund, OKs Cadiz Road bid
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WINTERSVILLE -- Members of Village Council Thursday accepted a bid for the Cadiz Road improvement project and created a perpetual fund that will generate money that can be used for future village improvements
Cronin Enterprises Civil and Rail of Imperial, Pa., was selected as the contractor for the project after submitting the low bid of $2,298,416. The decision came on a 3-1 vote, with Councilmembers Jason Mattern, Randy Spence and Gael Damron voting to accept the bid and Councilman Carmen DeStefano casting the dissenting vote.
Councilmembers Bob Merriman and Dr. Pennie Scarpone were not present at the meeting.
Five companies had submitted bids for the work. In addition to Cronin, Border Patrol LLC of Hopedale submitted a bid of $2,318,949.27, James White Construction Co. of Weirton submitted a bid of $2,470,999, S.E.T. Inc. of Lowellville submitted a bid of $2,662,917 and Alex E. Paris Contracting Co. of Atlasburg, Pa., submitted a bid of $2,831,056.
The engineer’s estimate was $2,386,000.
Before approving the Cronin bid, a motion to award the contract to James White failed on a 2-2 vote, with DeStefano and Spence voting yes.
After the meeting, Mattern said the interests of village residents were behind his votes.
“Accepting a bid that exceeded our established engineering estimate and $171,000 over the lowest bid is just not being fiscally responsible. We must be more diligent and wise with our residents’ hard-earned tax dollars,” he explained.
The work will include the replacement of a mile-long section of water line between the village water tank on Woodridge Drive and Park Drive; repaving the road from the intersection with Canton Road to Park Drive; and the replacement of sections of sidewalk along both sides, as well as the installation of handicap-accessible curbs.
It was the second time bids were received for the project. During the July meeting, councilmembers rejected bids from Cronin, James White and Border Patrol after they had come in well above the then-estimated cost for the work.
Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi said it was too early to determine when the work could begin, adding a preconstruction meeting would be held within 60 days.
Council voted 4-0 to approve the third reading of a resolution that will create a perpetual fund.
Mayor Mike Petrella said the fund’s principal will start with $1 million, and after that, about 25 percent of the money generated from the state’s marijuana tax and from other sources, including oil and gas, will be added to the principal. Each January, members of council will decide how the interest from the fund will be spent. At current rates, that could give council an extra $50,000 to spend each year.
In January, the state started to return recreational marijuana tax revenue to municipalities where the dispensaries are located. Since then, the village has received $1,381,667. This month’s payment was $67,139.13.
Though recreational marijuana has been legal in Ohio for two years, it took members of the Legislature until last year to create a process for the money to be distributed. Under state law, 36 percent of the 10 percent excise tax collected inside their borders is returned to municipalities.
Spence meanwhile, reported that he was continuing to seek answers from officials at the Steubenville post office concerning late delivery of utility bills.
Kosegi congratulated the village’s police department for being recertified, and said AEP had finished installing LED streetlights along Cadiz Road. He added that the Cross Creek Tomahawks 4-H Club would hold a car show at the village building from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 27.
Petrella said that the village’s trick-or-treat hours had been set for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.
In other matters, council:
• Tabled an ordinance amending a garbage and disposal ordinance;
• Passed the third reading of an ordinance adopting a public records policy on production and inspection of video recordings for law enforcement video;
• Passed an emergency ordinance directing the village clerk to certify delinquent sewer fees to the Jefferson County Auditor’s office to be placed on the real estate tax duplicate as liens to be collected as real estate taxes;
• Passed an emergency ordinance directing the clerk to certify delinquent water fees to the auditor’s office to to the auditor’s office for placement on the real estate taxes;
• Passed an emergency ordinance directing the clerk to certify delinquent sanitation fees to the auditor’s office to be collected with real estate taxes;
• Passed an emergency resolution authorizing Petrella to apply for and enter into a water supply revolving loan account for planning and design or construction of water facilities and designate a dedicated repayment source for the loan
• Approved spending no more than $35,000 on two new salt spreaders;
• Approved spending no more than $110,000 on a new Kubota tractor with multiple attachments; and
• Reviewed refuse bids from Kimble Co. and D&L Construction.
Council’s next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Village Building.