County Line Road Project Overruns Discussed

April 23, 2020 by Ann Wishart

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Russell Township Trustees met in special session April 13 to address financial issues surrounding the County Line Road project the township is sharing with Hunting Valley Village in Cuyahoga County.

Trustees authorized a change order for the project and paid about $30,000 to TRAX Construction Company of Willoughby, said Trustee Jim Mueller in a phone conversation April 17.

They also dispersed payment of $60,000 from the Hunting Valley budget, he said.

Russell Township took the lead on the $3.7 million project in 2018, coordinating with Hunting Valley to improve County Line Road.

More than half the widening and straightening work is being done on the village side of the road, which twists and turns on the south end where it connects with Kinsman Road.

Trustees also approved applying for the grant funds from the Ohio Public Works Commission for the township side of the project, Mueller said, adding it will be up to Hunting Valley Village to apply for OPWC grants for their side of the project. The grants total about 50 percent of the project cost, he said.

Trustees also discussed with an attorney which entity is responsible for covering the County Line cost overruns, Mueller said. The bill for the project’s unexpected delays and work is going to exceed the 10 percent of the contract contingency allowance, or $370,000.

“We’re in the negotiating stages,” he said.

In other business, Mueller noted work has begun on the Circle K project at the corner of Kinsman and Chillicothe roads. The former veterinarian’s office and hair salon has been demolished.