By Sam Wildow
TROY — On Monday, the Troy City Council authorized the estimated cost increases for the rehabilitation project of the North Madison Street Lift Station, the improvements of which may cost up to $1 million.
Last week, the Troy City Council’s Buildings and Utilities Committee recommended increasing the bidding authorization for this improvement project from $586,466 to $1 million, as well as increasing the city’s professional services agreement with Strand Associates from $81,000 to $91,000 for the design of the project. The city also plans to allocate up to an additional $150,000 from the Community Development Grants from the city of Troy Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund to this project. Those increases were authorized by the council during its regular meeting on Monday evening.
According to the bid documents, this project consists of the removal and rehabilitation of two 55-foot-long screw pumps, the installation of a removal system for the motors, and providing a new portable generator at the Madison Street Lift Station in Troy. A lift station is a pumping station for wastewater, containing equipment to move wastewater from a lower elevation to a high elevation.
Also on Monday evening, the council approved a resolution in memoriam of Thomas E. Force. Force was a life-long resident of the city of Troy, the resolution read, adding that Force was “a volunteer with several organizations, a dedicated employee, devoted to his family, and served as an Ohio Track Official for over (35) years.”
Force was also an elected official in the city of Troy, serving as a council member at large from Jan. 1, 1976 through March 31, 1980; appointed president of council from April 1, 1980 through Dec. 31, 1981; elected council member at large from Jan. 1, 1992 through Dec. 31, 1991; and elected president of council from Jan. 1, 1992 through Dec. 31, 1993.
Force also continued in his public service as a member of the Troy Planning Commission from May 1994 to December 2017 and on the Troy Board of Zoning Appeals from July 2007 through December 2017.
Next, the council approved a rezoning request for the Strayer Annexation on Washington Road. The rezoning request is to change the property from the county zoning of domestic agriculture and general agriculture to the city zoning of single-family residence district. The annexation includes inlot 11463, which is 5.0 acres, and inlot 11464, which is 3.13 acres. The rezoning was approved after the third reading of the ordinance.
Following that, the council also approved an ordinance with amendments to Ordinance Chapter 721 related to mobile food vendors. At-large council member Lynne Snee said the “proposed amendments would streamline the process, possibly attract additional mobile food vendors, and retain protections requested by the Police Department.
A representative of a local farmers market spoke on behalf of this ordinance, as well as in favor of reducing background checks for local food trucks, saying it is not required for brick and mortar restaurants. At-large council member Todd Severt said the background checks are to help keep track of mobile food vendors who may go into mostly residential areas.
Next, the council approved transferring the property of the soon-to-be former Fire Station 11 at 19 E. Race St. to the Community Improvement Corporation of the city of Troy (CIC). This transfer will allow the CIC to use the services of a licensed realtor to market the property on behalf of the city. This property is the old Fire Station One, now called Fire Station 11, which is being replaced by a new fire station under construction at 110 E. Canal St.
The first readings of two zonings of two annexations, the Blackmore-Hill Annexation and Ferryman-Kerber Annexation, were held. Public hearings will take place on May 2.
Lastly, the council, by a majority vote, authorized an agreement and notwithstanding legislation in regard to the 2022 Troy Strawberry Festival. William C. Twiss, fifth ward council member, voted against this agreement and legislation, which included authorization for a beer garden. Twiss has previously stated that he is against the sale and/or consumption of alcohol on public property.
“The event will continue to provide an opportunity for local non-profits to raise funds for community purposes while providing an opportunity for residents and visitors to come downtown to enjoy a variety of bands, support local businesses, and support the local non-profit organizations,” said at-large council member William Rozell. Rozell said that the suspension of the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) that city staff and event organizers requested for June 4 was not recommended by council’s Community Partnerships Committee and not part of this agreement.
At the end of the meeting, Nikki Reese, community development manager with the city of Troy, spoke about the Fair Housing Act and National Fair Housing Month. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination by providers of housing, such as landlords and real estate companies, on the basis of race or color, religion, sex or gender identity, national origin, familial status, or disability. The state of Ohio also prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of military status or ancestry. The city of Troy also has a Fair Housing ordinance that was passed in 1988.
The next council meeting is currently scheduled for 7 p.m. on May 2 in council chambers at City Hall, which is located at 100 S. Market St.
