Council approves $1.4M in paving contracts, some using recycling method

by Sue Serdinak

May 11 special village council meeting

Richfield Village Council suspended readings and passed legislation on two big-ticket items.

Members unanimously accepted a bid of $735,178 from Perrin Asphalt to pave five village streets using the traditional resurfacing method. Council also unanimously accepted a bid of $684,964 from Angelo Benedetti, Inc. to pave seven streets using a recycling paving method.

Mill Street, Overdale, Kinross, Creche and Gelding will be paved using the traditional method. Buell, Sorenson, Grant Street north and south, Southern, Prairie Vista and Richlawn will be paved using the recycling method.

Councilperson Jeff Stoppenhagen said he would have preferred that the village use the recycling method for all of the streets because it would save about $400,000.

Sue Ann Philippbar, chair of the public works committee, said there was hesitancy to use the recycling method for all streets because it was relatively new and only a few communities used it.  In a few years roads paved using each method can be compared.

Council suspended readings and passed a resolution to accept the $917,331 bid from Tri-Mor Corp to construct Grant Street extension, the library drive access and a public parking lot on Broadview Road.   

Councilperson Rick Hudak voted against the resolution because he opposed the project and the way it was approved, saying council didn’t have time to look over the bids. He said Tri-Mor completed a project in Bath that has been unpopular with residents. He added that the company engineered the Bath project, but its shortcomings should have been recognized before doing the work.    

Zoning enforcement

Planning Director Brian Frantz gave a presentation of zoning enforcement in the village. He showed dozens of examples of clutter, peeling paint, parked vehicles and uncut grass. He said he cites a couple of hundred property owners each year.

In addition, he cited owners of animals that are not permitted.  He explained that chickens are permitted in the village, but if they wander onto another property, the owner can be cited. He also said that any chicken house must meet all of the requirements for setback.

Frantz said he would like the regulations reviewed regarding dogs, goats, chickens and other animals.

Mayor Michael Wheeler said the village is out of compliance for storage of equipment. In addition, the EPA is requiring that salt, mulch and stone be stored under roof by the end of 2023.

The village purchased the property at 3921 Brecksville Road in 2000 and later remodeled it for over $1 million. However, it is not tall enough to store large equipment.

The salt storage unit on Town Hall property does not comply with EPA standards, and the stone and mulch stored on Brecksville Road are not on a hard surface or covered.

“It doesn’t look good for the village to not be following its own rules,” said Frantz.

Wheeler agreed, saying, “Sooner rather than later we have to determine what we’re going to do [there].” ∞