Council authorizes change order for traffic‑signal repairs; mayor says insurance and emergency funds will cover much of the cost

Council authorized a change order on July 25 that adds maintenance and repair work for traffic signals performed by the city’s signal contractor. The mayor described a mix of emergency repairs (including tornado cleanup and crash damage) and routine maintenance as the reason for the expanded change order; council approved the measure at the special council meeting.

Why it matters: Traffic signals are safety‑critical infrastructure. The change order will increase the city’s contract authority for the vendor that maintains and repairs the signals; the mayor and service director said most tornado‑related costs are expected to be reimbursed by insurance and state emergency management.

Key details: Mayor Orcutt asked council to approve a larger appropriation so crews would not have to return repeatedly to council for authority; he described ongoing work related to tornado cleanup and other repair needs. Service Director Byers told council the replacement for one damaged traffic controller unit cost about $45,000 and that insurance covered about $38,000 of that cost. Byers and the mayor emphasized the practical difficulty of competitively bidding for emergency replacements when a traffic signal is knocked out and requires immediate repair.

Council discussion: Council members voiced a desire to get competitive pricing for routine maintenance while acknowledging the need to act quickly in emergency circumstances. Councilman Troyer reiterated a long‑standing preference for soliciting quotes on maintenance work where practicable; the mayor and service director said the vendor provides 24‑hour service and that the city historically has used the contractor for both maintenance and emergency work.

Outcome: Council approved the change order and funding amendment to ensure the contractor can proceed with repairs and emergency work; staff said they will seek reimbursement from insurance and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency for the tornado‑related portion of the expense.

Ending: The change order increases the city’s authorized spending for traffic‑signal maintenance and emergency repairs; council asked staff to continue using competitive process where feasible for routine maintenance and to document reimbursement claims for emergency expenses.