Public Service Committee - November 10, 2026

The Wadsworth Public Service Committee met on November 10, 2026, to review infrastructure projects and the 2027 operating budget. For downtown improvements, members discussed the Mills and Part D stormwater project, with a reported bid of about $700,000 and 11 interested bidders; the project was expected to begin shortly. Bids for the larger downtown infrastructure project were scheduled to open November 17, followed by compliance review and a possible Council action on December 1. Construction is expected to start in late January or early February, contingent on budget alignment and issuing project bonds. The committee also emphasized coordinating project phases and communicating impacts to downtown businesses and residents. A lead-service-line verification project is nearing completion, and water-line and paving work and wastewater overflow-reduction phases are continuing. The committee had no update on the fiber project. The city reported that its salt supply is from Cargill under the state contract with ODOT and is not affected by a shutdown at a competing supplier.

Members reviewed a proposed $101,000 fuel supplemental appropriation, citing substantial increases in gasoline and diesel prices; a motion to forward it to the Committee of the Whole passed. The 2027 budget assumes a stormwater fee increase from $4.50 to $5 per equivalent residential unit, adding about $100,000 in revenue, and anticipates a rate study. The water budget also includes a proposed rate increase expected to generate about $1.95 million. The committee supported adding an installer position to the 2027 CityLink budget to accelerate the transition from cable to streaming service and address anticipated retirements; administration said it would include the position and monitor staffing needs. No final contract award for the downtown project was made at this meeting.