Cleveland Heights hires engineering firm to review recommendation to remove Horseshoe Lake dam


CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio – The city hired its engineering firm to conduct a peer review of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s recommendation to remove the Horseshoe Lake dam and restore the creek Doan in his previous natural state.

Gannett Fleming Engineers and Architects, based in Camp Hill, Pa., With an office in Fairlawn, agreed last month to do the appraisal for $ 9,000. It is expected to complete the initial review within two weeks of notice from the city to proceed.

From there, Gannett Fleming will participate in a virtual meeting with city officials to present his findings and answer questions, with written comments to be provided within two weeks of that, in accordance with a “scope of service” agreement. .

Meanwhile, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District CEO Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells sent an update to Cleveland Heights council last week, also asking the city “to consider its agree with our recommended approach by November 8 “.

On September 27, Shaker Heights City Council approved its “resolution to agree” with the NEORSD recommendations, also requested by Cleveland Heights Council, as the two cities lease the designated park to the City of Cleveland.

Cleveland Heights council last month decided to seek a ‘second opinion’ on the $ 28.3 million proposal to remove the lake and dam, as well as keep Lower Shaker Lake intact with a re-fortified dam. and dredging – at no cost to both cities.

“We are confident in our recommendation to the cities of Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights to restore Doan Creek by removing the Horseshoe Lake Dam,” said Dreyfuss-Wells.

Gannett Fleming’s peer review is likely to include “hydrological and hydraulic analyzes and an assessment of technical alternatives to address identified deficiencies, and that the assessments may also take into account geotechnical, environmental and economic considerations,” says the summary of the scope of services.

At the same time, additional services that are not part of the initial review but could be added at the request of Cleveland Heights officials would include “site visits and in-person meetings (which) should not be necessary and are not included in the scope of services, ”said officials at Gannett Fleming.

Regarding the requested deadline of November 8, Dreyfuss-Wells said, “We believe this proposed timeline allows Cleveland Heights to assess Gannett Fleming’s review while subsequently demonstrating unity to communities and proposing consultants before the Request for Proposal (RFP) deadline. “

Cleveland Heights City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil informed council of the choice on September 24, the same day NEORSD issued its tender for the Horseshoe Dam removal project to landscape architects and architects. interested civil engineering companies.

Tenders for the Regional Sewerage District are expected Nov. 12, and asking Cleveland Heights council to approve the recommendation before that “also moves the process of resolving public safety concerns forward as quickly as possible.”

With consultant interviews scheduled for the week of December 13, Cleveland Heights was also asked to choose two city employees to sit on the review / scoring committee evaluating the proposals and to attend a pre-proposal meeting. scheduled for Wednesday October 6. .

“We also invite Cleveland Heights to nominate up to six other people who do not tag members who observe the interviews with the consultants,” added Dreyfuss-Wells, noting that Shaker Heights is being asked to do the same – both cities of ‘by December 1.

Dreyfuss-Wells noted that Gannett Fleming will likely review a multi-year, $ 10 million study known as the Chagrin River and Lake Erie Direct Tributary Stormwater Master Plan (“SWMP CHALET”).

“We appreciate the need for your process,” she wrote. “As you know, the Horseshoe Lake Dam is in a state of active failure and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has ordered cities to drain the lake. The lake will still fill up under some wet weather conditions.

“The possible uncontrolled breach of the dam and the consequent threat to public health, safety, well-being and property requires the responsible parties to find a solution as quickly as possible,” Dreyfuss-Wells continued.

“For this reason, we are doing the RFP at the same time as the city review. “

Read more of the Sun Press.

About Mark A. Tomlin

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