Explanation
Background: The City of Columbus, in cooperation with the State of Ohio and the Federal Highway Administration, is engaged in the widening and improvement of Hilliard Rome Road south of Roberts Road. Construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2012. The project includes the addition of three (3) new traffic lanes, sidewalks, tree lawns, bike lanes, and utility relocation. Ordinance 0366-2007, was passed by City Council on April 23, 2007 to provide the funding and authorized the City Attorney to contract for professional services, under $20,000.00, including the hiring of independent appraisers, necessary for the acquisition of the remaining parcels. Right-of-way acquisition is to be completed prior to 2010, and therefore it is in the best interest of the City to hire more than one appraiser for this project whose past performance with the City has displayed a high level of competence, excellent quality of work and a consistent success in meeting deadlines of this nature and who are on ODOT's list of qualified appraisers. Appraisers in the Columbus area on ODOT's qualified list were contacted and of those contacted; two independent appraisers have submitted qualifications and time frame proposals that meet the aforementioned criteria. Each of the contracts for these services is expected to cost over twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00), but not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00). It is therefore necessary, to the extent it may be applicable, to request that City Council waive the process for awarding professional service contracts exceeding twenty thousand dollars, but not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, as relates to this transaction only.
Fiscal Impact: Funds necessary for these aforementioned services will be paid from the existing Auditor's Certificate established by Ordinance 0366-2007, passed on April 23, 2007.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow the City to the aforementioned ...
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