With the return of warmer weather, the Metroparks Toledo board of commissioners approved a number of capital projects.
At the March 22 meeting, the park board contracted with the Dotson Company of Whitehouse for improvements to the farmhouse at Toledo Botanical Garden.
The project, which will cost $126,858, will entail renovation of the 2,474-squarefoot, two-story home including demolition of rotting wood lath, plaster ceiling removal, carpet and laminate floor removal and updates to electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems.
The Dotson Company also was awarded the renovation project at 4909 Jerome Road, adjacent to the Fallen Timbers Battlefield, at a cost of $66,550.
Work on the single-story, 2,942-square-foot building will include demolition of bathroom amenities, wall finishes, flooring material, drywall, hardware and other items. It also will include work on electrical and plumbing systems.
At Glass City Park, the commissioners contracted with Community Engagement Services for input on the riverwalk through the Vistula neighborhood. Cost for their services is not to exceed $105,496.
The consulting firm will seek public input from the neighborhood on the portion of the riverwalk from Cherry Street and the Martin Luther King Bridge north to the Craig Street Bridge, about one mile.
Other Business
In other business, the park board:
•Entered into a long-term lease agreement with Auxilior Capital Partners for a 2023 Bandit municipal chipper for $271,218.
“This is something we need to operate safely and process materials,” explained Nate Ramsey, chief operations officer.
Terms of the lease call for the park district to pay $90,406 annually for three years, after which time the equipment can be purchased for $1, or traded in against a replacement.
In a related matter, the board approved a request to declare as surplus property the 2002 chipper, which is no longer cost effective to maintain.
•Approved a long-term, lease agreement for two Groundsmaster wide area mowers at a cost of $185,316.
Lisa Whitton, regional manager of operations, said the park district will pay $61,772 each year with the opportunity to purchase them for $1 at the end of the contract, or trade in one or both of them for replacements.
“The use of these large mowers has proven to be our most cost effective method for maintaining our groomed turf areas,” she said.
The park district declared a 2018 model as surplus and will trade it in as part of the lease agreement.
•Approved a request from the Lucas County engineer’s office for a right of entry on park property at Wilkins Road.
The county is replacing the existing storm sewer due to an excessive number of sinkholes above the pipe and 150 feet of that line is adjacent to Metroparks necessitating entry on park-owned land, explained Doug Parrish, project engineer.
•Accepted Ohio park districts roadwork funds issued through the Ohio Department of Transportation for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
•Approved a one-year contract with Fastenal for green cleaning janitorial products and vending/inventory management at a cost of $160,000.
•Amended the 2023 appropriations measure and estimated resources to reflect donations and grants.
•Heard from Mr. Ramsey about a new system they are piloting to track park attendance using a cell phone.
If a person uses their phone in the park, the technology can count their attendance only. It does not give out any personal information, he explained.
•Paid bills for February totaling $2.78 million.
~Jane Maiolo
