Upon call of the roll on the question of the motion, the following vote was recorded:

There being five (5) yea votes and no (0) nay votes thereon, said resolution was declared duly passed and it was so ordered.

Public Works Department Presentation: Mr. Doug Spitler, Engineering and Public Works Director, referenced a PowerPoint presentation and updated Council on various Public Works projects and operations.

The Public Works Department has made several project and staffing adjustments amid COVID-19 to continue to provide essential public services to the Oakwood community.

The concrete curb along Far Hills Avenue between Patterson Road and the north end of Oakwood at Springhouse Road was repaired. This was the first phase of roadway improvements along Far Hills Avenue in advance of a total roadway resurfacing currently scheduled for 2024.

Asphalt repaving was completed on E. Schantz Avenue (Patterson Road to Spirea Drive); Southwood Lane; and Delaine Avenue. Mr. Spitler recognized the Public Works crews that completed the adjustment of 24 manholes prior to the asphalt repavement work on Delaine Avenue.

The repaving work at the intersection of Springgrove Avenue and E. Schantz Avenue, and the northbound lane of Oakwood Avenue from Far Hills Avenue to Schenck Avenue was invoiced to Vectren directly. The work was necessary to restore pavement damaged by the Vectren gas line project.

The 2020 Sidewalk, Curb and Driveway Apron project was completed in the northeast quadrant of Oakwood, in the area bounded by Irving Avenue, Springhouse Road, Far Hills Avenue, Patterson Road and Acorn Drive. That cost was $135,534. Concrete street repair took place on Oak Forest Drive at a cost of $88,224.

Additional projects include: pavement markings were repainted before the start of the school year; all traffic signals throughout Oakwood were tested; the Asphalt Pavement Rejuvenation Project is pending; and the installation of the storm sewer on Ridgewood Avenue and replacement of the storm sewer serving the water softening plant at 210 Shafor Boulevard are pending.

The multi-year Vectren gas line project work is scheduled for completion in 2023. This is a project to replace the original bare steel and cast iron pipeline infrastructure and installation of new gas services to each property. The 2020 work was broken down into four project areas. Project Area A included work on Oakwood Avenue, W. Dixon Avenue, Harman Terrace, Park Avenue and Runnymede Road. Project Area B included work on Ridgewood Avenue and Schenck Avenue. Project Area C included work Runnymede Road, Oakmead Place, Thornhill Road and Walnut Springs Drive. Project Area D included work on Fairmont Avenue and Dell Park Avenue.

There were several large equipment purchases made for this year. The purchases included: Street Service Truck: $83,851; Refuse Packer Truck: $245,687; Refuse Scooter: (pending); Water Plant Controls at 210 Shafor: $29,700; and a Sewer Vactor Truck: $391,335.

The Public Works Department provides a broad range of municipal services such as: weekly trash/recyclables collection, yard debris and special pickups; and leaf disposal/leaf mulch. The annual leaf collection program begins on Monday, October 12. There are also several self-service options available such as: drop-off containers for recycling cardboard, yard debris, and co-mingled materials at a 24/7 site in the Creager Field (Dog Park) parking lot at Shafor Boulevard and Irving Avenue; the Foell Public Works Center at 210 Shafor Boulevard is open from 8 a.m. until 12 noon on the first Saturday of each month for Oakwood citizens to drop off refuse items; and refuse dumpsters are available for disposal of a mixture of debris from “do-it-yourself” homeowner projects.

Mr. Spitler displayed a line graph showing refuse collection trends over the past five years. The line graph showed a substantial increase in collection beginning in March of this year. This increase follows the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that many property owners disposed of more household debris during the statewide “stay at home” order. He thanked the Public Works Secretary Missi Seifert for her help in creating this graph.