Council asked to approve $105K waterline fix

FINDLAY — Findlay City Council just got something unexpected from Project Hat Trick, the state's project name for construction of the Sheetz distribution center. It's another big bill. On Tuesday, council was asked to appropriate $105,000 from the water fund to replace a 20-inch waterline at the intersection of County Road 212 and Township Road 230, after three mainline breaks in recent weeks. Legislation to appropriate the money and allow city administrators to bypass state bidding laws has been introduced to council. The contract would go to Helms & Sons Excavating, Inc., Findlay. The company has already been contracted to widen Township Road 230 as part of the construction project and submitted a quote of $92,010 to replace the waterline. Because the cost exceeds the city's bidding threshold, council approval is needed to waive formal bidding requirements. Final asphalt on the roadway is expected to be put down in early October. In a letter to council, dated Aug. 27, City Engineer Jeremy Kalb said inspections during repairs of the waterline breaks showed the pipe is in poor condition, raising concerns about future failures beneath the soon-to-be-finished roadway. Kalb said replacing the line now will avoid future disruptions, particularly to nearby businesses such as Sheetz, and protect the integrity of the new pavement. Funding for the roadway work is coming from a mix of state and local dollars, including $300,000 from the Ohio Department of Transportation. A total of $886,666 in state roadwork development money is helping fund the project. Findlay's contribution to the project includes $518,179 from the city's capital improvement fund and $224,268 from the stormwater fund. The road improvements for Sheetz included widening Township Road 99 by three feet on each side. Turn lanes were added to the south side of Township Road 99 at the Sheetz site. Improvements also included a new storm sewer system, new curb and gutter, and thickened asphalt to accommodate heavy truck traffic. The roadway is designed to accommodate turn lanes into any of the other properties along the roadway in the future. Plans also called for a "fly lane," a hybrid of a normal intersection and a roundabout that gives semi-trucks more room at intersections. Sheetz convenience stores are building a $150 million food preparation and distribution center east of Lowe's Distribution Center, Hancock County Road 212. Council agreed to annex the lot, which is located northwest of the Hancock County Road 212-Allen Township Road 230 intersection. Annexation of the 77.8 acres qualifies the company for a city tax exemption on the facility. The 511,704-square-foot building will be used for warehousing, production, and offices for Sheetz convenience stores. The building could be operational by early 2026. The company has said it will create 750 jobs over five years. The State Tax Credit Authority has also approved a 10-year payroll tax credit for Sheetz for the jobs and $43.5 million in annual payroll it would create.