Schaeffler company to begin construction soon
Mayor Shane Gunnoe provided an update on two projects in progress in the city.
“Schaeffler is nearing the completion of their site work and has completed their city zoning permits in advance of building construction starting in the next few weeks,” Gunnoe said.
The permits list a building cost for phase one construction at $49 million and 315,000 square feet.
“This is over double the size originally expected in our tax increment financing agreement authorized last year and marks the single largest construction project the city has permitted by size and cost in our history,” Gunnoe said.
Utility installation work is nearing an end at Crimson Cove, and the developer expects to begin housing construction in June. The home sales at the site have been strong, and the average home price is higher than assumed in the initial TIF agreement, which will allow for quicker payoff of the public infrastructure costs included in the TIF.
“Though it's still early in the process, both projects are on track to significantly exceed the investment targets associated with the incentive agreements, and both will greatly benefit our city,” Gunnoe said.
The fire department is in the process of replacing all the automated external defibrillators at the city facilities and adding additional units at other places. The $30,000 in funding for the project is from the city’s One Ohio Opioid Settlement Fund.
The Splash Pad grant application is expected to be submitted to ODNR this week.
The electric field department is expecting its contractor to complete the repainting of the remaining decorative lights downtown in the next few weeks.
This week the general services department will install new upgraded safety lighting on all its vehicles to improve employee safety in work zones.
The Dover City Pool will open May 24-26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pool will then reopen for the season May 31 with those same hours. The admission cost is $3 per person. Those age 60 and over or age 5 and under receive free admission.
The Dover Lions Club Summer Concert Series at the Dover City Park Amphitheater will begin June 5 with a performance by the Dover High School steel drum and jazz bands.
In legislation council suspended the rules and approved two emergency ordinances. Ordinance 22-25 authorized additional funding for the reconstruction of Crown Road from Wooster Avenue to the R.J. Corman Railroad Tracks for an approximate distance of 1,525 feet in an amount not to exceed $187,000. Gunnoe said more drainage was needed, and that added to the cost.
Ordinance 23-25 authorized the service director to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Crown Road and Wooster Avenue in an amount not to exceed $393,412 including engineering, construction, administration and inspection.
Service Director Dave Douglas reported a prebid meeting was held recently at the site of the new administration offices on North Wooster Avenue, and about 16 contractors were present to tour the building and ask questions. The bid opening date for the project was extended to May 30 at 10 a.m. to give the contractors more time to complete their quotes.
Safety Director Bob Everett reported new safety signs and flashing lights have been installed at the North Tuscarawas Avenue and West Sixth Street school zone in a roughly two-block area. A sign displaying a driver’s speed has been added as another reminder for drivers to slow down when school is in session. Lights will flash during the time when the 20 mph speed limit is in effect.
Everett also asked for a committee assignment regarding the possible legislation he would like to see drafted to make e-scooter operation safer.
“Since we've had our last meeting, I have been told of three examples of operation of e- scooters that has been actually horrible, reckless, one of which I heard about tonight,” Everett said. “It was an unbelievable feat that they tried to pull off at the city park on scooters placed side by side. We've got to do something. Our worst nightmare is that we do absolutely nothing, and someone gets seriously injured or worse.”
At the end of the meeting, council went into an executive session to discuss ongoing legislation. No action was taken.
The next Dover Council meeting will be June 2 in council chambers, 121 E. Second St., Dover.