Columbia Gas details Coe Street project

TIFFIN — Columbia Gas of Ohio detailed plans for a major natural gas infrastructure project on the city's east side while waste management contractor Rumpke offered reminders ahead of annual bulk cleanup week during Monday's Tiffin City Council meeting. Katie Rosa, a public affairs specialist with Columbia Gas, told council the Coe Street Accelerated Main Replacement Program will cover a substantial portion of the city's eastern half. The project mirrors the ongoing Noble Street project, which Rosa said was nearing completion of mainline installation as of Monday, with service line work set to begin by week's end. Under the Coe Street plan, most affected streets will receive full mainline and service line replacement along with meter relocation. Two areas, Rosa Street and Hedge Gate Court, will receive mainline upgrades only, with service line replacement determined on a case-by-case basis. Miller Pipeline will again serve as the contractor. Rosa said the new plastic lines, replacing wrought iron and steel pipe installed in the 1950s and '60s, are expected to last well over 100 years. She said the upgrade eliminates the need for another overhaul of this scale within residents' lifetimes. Before construction begins, residents will see pre-construction staking activity in their area, including workers on foot performing underground camera work along with flags and spray paint marking gas lines and every other utility in the right of way. Installation will use a combination of open-cut trenching and directional underground boring. Rosa said the method used at any given location depends on the results of the underground camera assessments. Clear camera work allows for boring, which requires only a small incision, while unclear results require open-cut. She said the Coe Street project will involve less open-cut work than some past projects. All mainline installation must be completed before service line work begins. Service line appointments are scheduled individually with each property owner and typically take two to four hours. Residents over 18 must be home for the appointment. Rosa said meters will need to be relocated in the vast majority of cases due to updated state and federal regulations. After each appointment, a crew member will return to relight all gas appliances and confirm everything is operating safely. In rare cases where an appliance fails inspection, the homeowner will be notified on next steps before service is restored. During construction, residents should expect temporary erosion control measures in their yards, including gravel, straw and coconut netting, that Rosa acknowledged are not visually appealing but are required by the Ohio EPA. Final restoration includes level grading, topsoil and grass seed. Rosa encouraged residents to water new grass growth during the summer months but said it is not required. Road repairs will also be made where necessary, though Rosa said most of the Coe Street work will be in the public right of way rather than the roadway itself. Rosa said she did not have the pre-construction start dates available at the meeting but expected to have them after a scheduling call Tuesday. She said mid-July was her general expectation for the project's start. Rumpke municipal and public sector specialist Blake Austin reminded council that bulk pickup week is June 15-19. He asked residents to limit items to five per household, wrap all upholstered furniture in plastic, ensure refrigerators have Freon removed before curbside placement and keep hazardous materials and car batteries out of the pickup. Austin also emphasized a company-wide push to keep lithium-ion batteries and batteries generally out of trash and recycling streams, warning they pose fire and explosion risks at landfills and processing facilities. He directed residents to the Ottawa-Seneca-Sandusky Solid Waste District's hazardous materials drop-off events at recycleoss.org. In legislation, council approved four ordinances Monday by unanimous 7-0 votes, each with the three-reading rule suspended for immediate passage. Ordinance 26-36 authorized the mayor to enter into permanent stormwater easements with various property owners for infrastructure maintenance purposes. Ordinance 26-39 authorized the city to accept an easement from Tiffin RA, LLC for public use of sidewalks on Wentz Street. Councilmember John Hays said the company is awaiting permits before work begins, which he cited as the reason for the suspension. Ordinance 26-40 amended the city pay ordinance to establish compensation for an Assistant Director of Law intern position, an item Director of Law Zachary Fowler said is part-time and covered within the existing budget. Ordinance 26-42 amended the 2026 budget to appropriate $10,769.95 to the street maintenance department from insurance claim reimbursements and $50 from a donation to the Tiffin Police Department. Mayor Lee Wilkinson also reminded the public of a town hall meeting set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library. The next city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, June 15 at city hall, 51 E. Market St.