Toledo City Council sets special meeting for Summit Street legislation
Jun. 16—Toledo City Council is planning to have a special meeting Wednesday to discuss legislation that would compel the city's law director to take action to recoup money spent on any revisions to privately-owned facilities related to the downtown Summit Street reconstruction project.
The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. in council chambers. It will be the first in-person meeting for city council since last year.
The city of Toledo filed a lawsuit last week against Block Communications, Inc., to recover the cost — nearly $1 million — of moving Buckeye Broadband's underground utilities as part of the Summit Street project. According to the lawsuit, the city initially agreed to pay the relocation cost for Buckeye Broadband.
BCI owns Buckeye Broadband and The Blade.
The special meeting was briefly discussed during council's agenda review on Tuesday.
"Before we meet, I would ask you all to drive it and see how much work has gone into Summit Street," said Councilman Rob Ludeman, making a point of his belief that, in contrast to what the city has argued in the past, the Summit Street renovation is not simply an aesthetic project.
Last year, Toledo Law Director Dale Emch issued an opinion that it was the city's responsibility to cover the costs because the Summit Street renovation was an aesthetic project, not one borne out of necessary transportation improvements. And because of that, he argued that the impacted utilities do not have to pay to move their equipment.
Mr. Ludeman said that the proposed legislation was planned before the city filed its lawsuit, but even now that it has, he believes it's important for council to stay the course to keep the "mayor and law accountable to us [and] the taxpayers."
Councilman Nick Komvies, who with Mr. Ludeman introduced the legislation, said it's important for council to take its own initiative in ensuring that this process moves forward. Mr. Komives pointed out that the city's lawsuit only came after a group of citizens issued a formal demand that the city file suit to recoup the funds.
"There have been no signals this administration was going to be pushing hard to recover these tax dollars," he said.
BCI issued a statement last week after the lawsuit was filed.
"We are deeply disappointed that the city has decided to file a lawsuit against BCI because the facts and law are clear. The Summit Street Improvement Project was all about improving the look and feel of downtown Toledo to, as the mayor has repeatedly said, putting its best foot forward. Portraying the city in a positive light is wonderful, but that should not come at a substantial unjustified expense to BCI," the statement said.
During the agenda review, council members also discussed a proposal to allocate $1.5 million from the capital improvement fund for major building improvements to the Frederick Douglass Community Center. The legislation, introduced by Councilman Cecelia Adams, would allow the mayor to accept bids for the project.
"There's an urgent need for major building improvements," Ms. Adams said.
Other members of council asked whether more could be done to improve the center. Mr. Ludeman brought up the prospect of constructing an entirely new facility.
Ms. Adams said she believed that the idea of a brand new center is a long-term project whereas the building needs short-term improvements. She also noted that the legislation is not limited to certain fixes.
Also on the agenda are resolutions to vacate Marina Drive West and South as part of the Glass City Metropark initiative. The resolutions have been through the planning and zoning process and are ready for a final vote.
Council's next regular meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. on June 22.
First Published June 15, 2021, 5:46pm
