Recreation center construction work approved

by Dan Holland

April 4 city council meeting

Members of Broadview Heights City Council at an April 4 meeting approved an agreement with Mechanical Piping Systems Inc., of Chardon, to perform construction and renovation of the women’s restroom located near the fitness center in the city’s recreation center at a cost of $40,000.

The current women’s restroom space will be divided into separate men’s and women’s sections. New fixtures, sinks, block dividing walls, dividers, toilets and shower valves will be installed in each remodeled section with four shower stalls in each.

As part of the project, new walls with secured doors will be built in the corridors to separate recreation department staff offices from the member access area. The current men’s restroom will be used as storage space once work is completed, according to Parks and Recreation Director Amanda Hutcheson.

“What we are doing, is we are isolating the office area of the building, so that there will be only one entry and exit out of the fitness center,” Hutcheson explained. “This way, we’ll be able to conduct operations without being interrupted. We just want to keep it confined to the stretching area, the locker room/restrooms and have everyone enter and exit in the main area of the building.”

The fitness center will remain open during construction with work expected to be initiated and completed sometime within the next few months. Service department personnel will perform much of the supporting work for the project, including carpet, ceilings, demolition, lighting, painting, wall construction and other tasks as needed, according to Hutcheson.

In other action, council:

  • Authorized officials to apply for three grants to support fire and EMS operations in the city: a Department of Homeland Security Grant through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant through FEMA and a Priority One Grant though the Ohio Division of Emergency Medical Services.
  • Passed a resolution to renew a stormwater pollution prevention memorandum of understanding between the city and the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District for technical assistance in implementing soil and water conservation measures within the city for 2022.
  • Passed a resolution to apply for a Recreational Trails Program Grant through ODNR to upgrade the city campus recreation trail. If received, the grant would go toward paving the trail.
  • Passed a resolution to apply for the 2023-2024 50/50 Program through the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works for the paving of Harris Road (I-77 to Old Royalton Road), Wyatt Road (Wallings Road to Harris Road) and Avery Road (Royalton Road to Oakes Road).
  • Passed a resolution to provide street lighting for certain streets in the following subdivisions: Autumn Woods, Country Lakes Estates, Homestead Phase One and Two, Scottsdale and Creekside Reserve.
  • Approved an ordinance amending approved appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures in the city for 2022.