City Council Votes 18th Street Project

The Grove City Council, by a 4-1 vote, approved a bid of $2,222,507 from APAC Construction for the building of 18th Street from Sumac to Shundi Road, and widening of Shundi to 9th Street.
The bid was higher than expected due to rapidly rising costs for asphalt, cement and fuel, with no relief in sight for the coming year. This produced a shortfall of $513,507 in available funds for the project.
At the recommendation of City Manager Bill Galletly, the shortfall was covered by eliminating the sidewalk-bike path $161,143); transfer of funds from the Chopper Heights drainage project $100,000); transfer of funds from St. Park/Broadway project ($73,000); savings of Phase II engineering fee ($75,000); and using surplus capital funds of $104,364.
Extensive discussion was held concerning using the City Maintenance Crew to build the project and numerous reasons were given as to why this would not work.
On the vote, only Larry Parham voted against the project to be built by an outside firm.
Bid is expected to be awarded shortly.
The road will be two lanes from Sumac to Shundi, and three lanes from that intersection down to 9th street.
Council also voted to advertise for appointments to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, GMSA, and GIDA, and approved David Adzigian as appointee to the Grove Municipal Airport Authority.
Council went into executive session and after coming out, announced that the city's offer to Earl Shero in Case CV-2005-242 was for Shero to drop his case and request for attorneys fees, and the city would do the same. Council approved 5-0. In the event this fails they authorized the city attorney to respond to any adverse action resulting from the lawsuit, which was also approved 5-0.
A request to provide Errors and Omissions Insurance for the Grove Municipal Airport Trust Authority and City Council was voted down 3-2; then Council voted 5-0 to authorize the insurance with the city and Airport authority paying 50/50 share each. Cost is $6,300 per year.
This will cover members of both groups on airport related matters.
Council also approved lot split plats in Patricia Island Estates and agreed to annex into the city 60 acres of property owned by Tommy C. and Janey P. Gray.