14-05-2025
City tables another cost increase to engineers in Winchester Ave. project
ASHLAND City commissioners voted to table yet another payment request by Palmer Engineering for engineering services after a commissioner found their reasoning for a price increase 'insufficient.'
The agenda for Tuesday evening's regular meeting of Ashland's City Commission included three ordinances of proposed amendments between the city and Palmer Engineering totaling $130,000 in additional costs for 'the construction inspection/ construction administration' associated with the Winchester Avenue Streetscape Project.
However, City Commissioner Sonny Martin said the commission received a one-paragraph email prior to Tuesday's evening and voted to table the three agenda items, reasoning Palmer Engineering's explanation for the cost increases to be 'insufficient.'
Upon Martin's motion, the commission agreed to table their vote to allow time for more information to be gathered.
In other city action:
• Mayor Chuck Charles issued a proclamation to the Ashland Police Department in honor of the nationally observed Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15 and Police Week from May 11-17.
Police Chief Todd Kelley said Ashland's department was originally founded in August 1858 and adopted the modern-day police chief in 1900.
Since its founding, six Ashland police officers were killed on duty.
Kelley said those individuals include: Lt. Conrad Frank, killed in 1910, Charles West Hatfield, killed in 1919, Doc Lefler, killed in 1921, William Johnson, killed in 1923, Alonzo Castle, killed in 1925, and James Lane, killed in 1937.
Both Mayor Charles and Chief Kelley requested citizens and businesses to fly their flags at half staff on May 15 to honor the nation's fallen law enforcement officers.
• Commissioners voted to award a $110,921.28 bid to Neptune Equipment Company (NECO) of Cincinnati for the purchase of large ultrasonic meters for the top 20 water usage customers/meters in the city.
Director of Utilities Mark Hall said the replacement initiative is a result of the city's Water Loss Team who determined the top 20 largest consumption meters to begin a systematic upgrade to meters throughout the city.
Hall said the city produces an average of 7-8 million gallons of water per day.
