Public Works and Infrastructure Assistance

The Center can assist local governments in preserving, repairing, and expanding their local capital infrastructure.  Capital assets include all of the buildings, equipment, and facilities that are funded with local revenues.   These are "big-ticket" items that require asset management, responsible operation, and long-range planning for repair and replacement.  Center staff have been involved in the following infrastructure activities:

• infrastructure inventories  
• capital improvement planning
• income surveys
• selection of design professionals
• funding strategies

Infrastructure Inventory - this is an assessment of every facility or infrastructure system that a jurisdiction is responsible for.  The original cost, replacement value, and current condition of every sidewalk, curb, gutter, road, bridge, water treatment plant, storage facility, lift station, distribution system, sanitary sewer treatment plant, pump station, and collection system is evaluated and recorded.  It is also recommended that one consider the designed-service capacity and remaining useful life of each component.

Capital Improvement Planning - this is a process for systematically planning for infrastructure improvements.  Based on the information collected from the inventory process, a plan for future capital investments is made by balancing the infrastructure needs, availability of funds, and project management considerations (such as replacing water lines before street paving and the local capacity to manage the projects).  Such a plan also allows local officials to defend funding decisions and plan for the future.

Income Surveys - are often necessary to establish eligibility for local, state, federal and foundation assistance programs.  The Center can serve as a third-party to conduct a uniform income survey and collect the data and provide confidential analysis and reporting to the appropriate agencies.

Selection of Design Professionals - the Ohio Revised Code now requires that the selection of design professional and construction managers be made on the basis of qualifications and experience.  The Center can coordinate a qualifications-based selection process for entities that may not have done a major project recently or don't have a full-time staff to coordinate such a process.  Design professionals can be contracted to develop a general plan or feasibility study, prepare bid documents, and oversee the management process.

Funding Strategies - the Center is an active member of the Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group which provides advice to those communities who are facing a significant infrastructure investment. Recent assistance has been provided to the villages of New Miami, Spring Valley, and Somerville.

Examples of Projects

Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group (SCEIG) - Center staff often speak to small communities considering a water or sewer project.  The SCEIG is an excellent resource for local officials.  To learn how the various committees of the group can help your community, follow the link for a copy of the SCEIG overhead presentation. 

New Miami (Butler County) - project involves design and installation of sewer collection system and wastewater treatment plant:  coordinated qualifications-based selection of design professional for general plan and design and conducted income survey to establish eligibility for financial assistance; project update: Village is awaiting approval of grant/loan combination from USDA/Rural Development.  

Spring Valley (Greene County) - water project is necessary to site additional well source and upgrade treatment facility: coordinated formation of water project team and qualifications-based selection of design professional for general plan, conducted income survey, assisted in completion of capital improvement reports; project update: awaiting analysis and certification of income survey results and filing application to Ohio Public Works Commission for grant.

Somerville (Butler County) - consideration of joining regional water district due to water quality concerns and drought conditions: coordination of area team to discuss alternative, conducted water needs assessment survey; project update: currently seeking assistance from the Ohio Public Works Commission and Butler County Department of Development.