Council considers doggy splash pad project, approves loan request for industrial sewer line

BY NANCY BOWMAN

Tipp City Council talked Nov. 20 about a mostly privately funded effort to build a doggy splash pad at Kyle Park and approved borrowing money for the extension of a sewer line to help serve industrial and other properties west of Interstate 75.

The estimated cost for the splash pad project is approximately $17,000, said City Manager Tim Eggleston. An individual has offered to pay $10,650 for equipment needed.

The city could provide additional fencing and possibly could handle plumbing work needed, Eggleston said. Hopes are private donors and possibly a foundation grant would help pay the balance, he said.

Council could be asked to consider a resolution approving the project at a December meeting.

In other business, the long-talked about sanitary sewer line would be designed to help provide adequate service to current customers and allow for growth west of the interstate.

Council earlier was told that two of three sanitary sewer lines that serve the northwest portion of the city are at or near capacity.

Among benefitting properties would be 550 acres with Meijer Distribution, Meijer dairy, Meier warehouse, Abbott warehouse, HSA Abbott warehouse, and vacant acres in that area. In addition, they would include 50 acres at the southwest corner of County Road 25A and State Route 571 that is zoned commercial.

The project would include line extensions along 25A to South Kinna and Hyatt Street to First Street at an estimated cost of $7 million. The city has set aside $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, money and budgeted another $500,000 for engineering and acquisition of easements. Another $5.5 million to $6 million needs to be borrowed.

The resolution approved by council seeks to borrow funds from the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). The OWDA has interest rates lower than traditional borrowing, said City Finance Director John Green.

Council also discussed a proposal to extend the city highway signs zones to add properties near the interstate Exit 69 targeted for construction of Sheetz and Quik Trip gas stations/convenience stories.

The highway sign zones allow for the larger signs visible to vehicles on the interstate.