Hudson proposes stricter underground drilling, low-speed vehicle regulations.

by Judy Stringer

Aug. 18 city council meeting

Hudson City Council heard the first reading of stricter safety regulations for underground construction and horizontal directional drilling. The proposed guidelines are in response to the June 25 natural gas explosion in neighboring Twinsburg Township as well as recent utility line strikes in Hudson. Following the Twinsburg Township blast, Hudson instituted a temporary moratorium on all horizontal directional drilling.

In an Aug. 11 city council workshop discussion, City Engineer Brad Kosco said both public city projects and private contractors operating within public rights-of-way will be required to follow the new operational mandates if they are passed. Under the proposed ordinance, any crew drilling or digging in the city must adopt non-mechanical vacuum excavation – using air or water instead of traditional shovels or heavy machinery – to visually verify utility locations before drilling.

“That is non-mechanical, non-cutting type equipment,” Kosco said. “So there isn’t that cutting and that shoveling. … That’s a huge improvement.”

Among other key measures is a requirement for a 3-foot separation buffer between new installations and existing underground infrastructure, where feasible, going beyond the previous standard minimum guidelines.

Crews also will be required to physically expose parallel utility lines every 50 feet – and every 25 feet along curb lines – to visually confirm locations before drilling. Furthermore, the updated protocol incorporates mandatory field checklists, optional ground-penetrating radar for unmapped private lines and automatic safety shut-off switches monitored by on-site inspectors.

During the workshop discussion, city leaders acknowledged that while the heightened standards will increase construction safety, they will likely impact project budgets and timelines. City Manager Thom Sheridan noted that similar regulatory overhauls in neighboring entities resulted in an estimated 20% cost increase.

“I really think this spec is very good and safe for our community, and for all those other fiber companies that could come in our town, they would have to follow this spec,” Sheridan said. “I think it’s the safest spec, and it’ll work out really well.”

Council member Kyle Bresovec made a motion to place the new drilling regulations on emergency and pass them immediately, but that measure failed 5-2. As of press time, the legislation would be up for a vote at council’s Sept. 15 meeting

Legislation to enact additional regulations on low-speed vehicles, such as street-legal golf carts and utility vehicles, is also pending a vote by city council this month. At the July 28 council workshop, Police Chief Perry Tabak outlined proposed updates, including restrictions on where certain categories of low-speed vehicles could be driven.

In the proposal, under-speed vehicles (with maximum speeds of 15 mph) would be banned from all public roads in Hudson. Low-speed vehicles (up to 25 mph) could not operate on roads over 25 mph, and mini trucks and utility vehicles would be barred from roads over 35 mph. Other rules would include no operation after 9 p.m., child restraints as required under state law, VIN and manufacturer requirements (no homemade builds), and an age floor to keep juveniles from driving.

The chief also proposed a one-time city inspection, using a state checklist with added local safety requirements, and a public education campaign to inform current and prospective owners. The legislation is up for a vote on Sept. 1.

Senior van service

The city will launch its new senior transportation van service on Sept. 2, Sheridan reported during his comments. The service aims to provide reliable rides to residents ages 65 or older – or beginning at age 55 for those with a disability – to medical appointments, pharmacies and local stores within a 6-mile radius of the state Routes 303 and 91 intersection.

The program is funded through the Hudson Community Foundation, which also financed the van’s wrap, while the city will handle staffing. Service will initially run Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with reservations required for rides.

Sheridan said the city has hired two part-time drivers for the program, selected from a pool of about 20 applicants. Both have prior experience working with seniors and churches and have clean driving records, he said. Seniors will then have a chance to meet the drivers and see the new van during a launch celebration on Sept. 16, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at City Hall.