GIRARD — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is mandating a study be done on the Girard Upper Lake dam’s condition. On Monday, city council responded to the directive.

Council members approved a first reading for Verdantas LLC of St. Clairsville for professional engineering services for a Phase I study on the dam at a cost not to exceed $195,400.

Safety / Service Director Jerry Lambert said one advantage to having the study done is the city qualifies for a 65 percent grant from ODNR to help with the engineering study. The city’s share will be $68,000.

Lambert said the study will look at the stability of the dam and a need for an emergency spillway.

Councilwoman-at-Large Lily Martuccio asked if the Army Corps of Engineers can be contacted to assist with any needed project at the dam because it is a water-related project.

Officials said $24,000 is spent annually on mowing of the lawn and maintenance of the lake and dam properties, which are owned by the city.

Council also gave first reading to proceeding with the 2023 summer street paving and entering into a contract with Lindy Paving Inc. of New Galilee, Pa., at a cost of $317,253.

Streets proposed for paving are sections of Pawnee Court, Beaver, Patricia, Washington, Powers, Hazel, Elruth, Kline, St. Clair, Ward, Iowa, Mosier, Ohio, Fremont, South Lorain and Amhurst.

Officials also are reviewing the need for a salt barn to store equipment, materials and vehicles. Lambert said officials have been reviewing whether to get a 60-foot or 100-foot salt barn with a 60-foot structure costing approximately $300,000 for the structure, design and materials and a 100-foot structure costing $400,000 for the structure, design and materials.

He said officials also have been reviewing what to do with the $565,000 remaining in American Rescue Plan funds.

Lambert said $115,000 to $250,000 can be for the salt barn or street paving.

A discussion on $100,000 for recreational needs also took place.

Council gave first reading to Clearspan Structures of Glasonbury, Conn., for a 40-by-100 foot salt barn at $85,044 for the structure and $60,929 for the materials.

Council also approved a motion to enter into a settlement agreement with the property owners at 25 W. Liberty St., the site of the former Ben Franklin Building.

Law Director Brian Kren said the city had planned to have the structure at the site demolished if work was not done to make it safe.

He said the property owners, who had filed an injunction against the demolition, have made improvements and enhancements that were inspected by the city’s building inspector such as replacing the roof and fixing walls.

He said there has been work at the property that meets the recent inspections.

A building next to 25 W. Liberty St. was torn down.