STAFF REPORT
A map was displayed depicting the 2023 Asphalt Street Resurfacing Project. The work took place on E. Schantz Avenue between Far Hills Avenue and Lookout Drive; Lookout Drive; Acacia Drive; E. Thruston Boulevard between Woods Road & Acorn Drive; Hathaway Road between Patterson Road and north end; the alley between Rubicon Road and Oakwood Avenue; and the alley between Ridgewood Avenue and E. Schantz Avenue at a cost of $556,670.
The 2023 Sidewalk, Curb and Driveway Apron Repair Project is taking place in the southwest area of the city, including all areas of Oakwood west of Far Hills Avenue, south of Park Road. Work also took place around Harman Elementary School. The cost of the project is $229,050.
Work is underway to repair a series of stormwater inlets along the east and west sides of Far Hills Avenue, and to replace numerous sections of concrete roadway curbing, mostly between East Drive and Patterson Road.
A portion of the storm sewer system is being replaced at the crossing of Far Hills Avenue at Greenmount Boulevard; on Dellwood Avenue from Far Hills to East Schantz; Forrer Boulevard from Far Hills to East Schantz; and along a section of Devereux Drive north of Forrer Road. The estimated cost of the project is $2.1 million.
CenterPoint (formerly Vectren) began a major gas line replacement project in 2010. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2023. At the end of 2023, all of the underground gas distribution pipes and home service lines in Oakwood will be renewed. Mr. Spitler displayed the 2023 CenterPoint project maps.
There are several large equipment purchases this year. Several pieces of equipment were purchased last year but were not delivered until this year. The purchases already made or planned include: Dump Truck: $141,469; V-Box Salt Spreader (3 units): $97,290 total; and a sewer camera with trailer unit: $110,800.
The annual leaf collection program begins on Monday, October 9. As in previous years, the program will provide bi-weekly leaf pickups of all areas throughout the city. The city is divided into ten sections with each being collected on a 2-week interval. The program is scheduled to continue until Friday, December 15, but will be extended if conditions warrant. Mr. Spitler advised residents to place leaves in the street gutter, ideally just a day or two before the pick-up. Leaves must be unbagged and spread out along property frontages so that traffic flow is not impeded. The City will not provide special pick-up service during the ten-week leaf collection season.
The next Styrofoam recycling event is on Saturday, October 14.
Mr. Spitler displayed a line graph showing refuse collection and cardboard collection trends over the past six years. The line graph showed a substantial increase in refuse collection beginning in March 2020. This increase follows COVID-19, suggesting that many property owners disposed of more household debris during the pandemic. The 2022 refuse collection data appears to be trending back to normal. The line graph shows that the cardboard collection is continuing to trend upward. In January 2022, the city of Oakwood began delivering cardboard to Rumpke for market-based revenue. The amount received in 2022 was $13,214.60.
The next Oakwood Rotary hazardous waste pick-up event is on Saturday, October 21. Citizens desiring a pick-up should call (937) 296-5155 before noon on Friday, October 20, and leave their name and address.
From December 2022 to March 2023, the Public Works Department used 741 tons of salt through the winter season, compared to 639 tons in 2022. There are approximately 800 tons of salt in storage. The cost of salt this year is $83.98 per ton, compared to $54.98 per ton last year.
Mr. Spitler shared several personnel changes in the Public Works Department. Longtime employee Vere Mason retired in December 2022. He shared the sad news of Mr. Mason’s passing on September 7, 2023. The Public Works Department welcomed Jacob Dersarkesian as a new General Service Worker.
Mrs. Turben asked if the annual shred event had been scheduled.