Chapter 5559 | Platted Territory Road Improvement

Section 5559.01 | Maintenance of streets in newly platted territory.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Whenever any territory outside the limits of a municipal corporation having a planning commission or a platting commissioner, and within three miles of the corporate limits of such municipal corporation, has been platted into building lots and the plan of the streets approved by such commission or commissioner, and the plat of such addition has been regularly filed in the office of the county recorder, all streets in the newly platted territory shall be under the control and supervision of the board of county commissioners. The board may expend each year on the maintenance of the streets in such territory, until such time as the streets have been permanently improved or the territory has become a part of a municipal corporation, a sum equal to not more than fifty per cent of the moneys levied or collected during the year as taxes from such territory, for road or highway purposes.

Section 5559.02 | Grading, draining, and paving of platted lands outside of municipal corporations.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of county commissioners may, as provided in sections 5559.03 to 5559.16, inclusive, of the Revised Code, improve by grading, draining, paving, constructing storm sewers, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters, any road, street, alley, or portion thereof lying within or bounded on both sides by any platted lands, and situated outside a municipal corporation.

Section 5559.03 | Petition by owners.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When a petition is presented to the board of county commissioners asking for the improvement as provided by section 5559.02 of the Revised Code, and specifying the general character of the improvement desired, signed by at least fifty-one per cent of the land or lot owners, residents of such county, who are to be specially assessed for such improvement, the board shall, within thirty days after such petition is presented, go upon the line of the proposed improvement, and, after viewing it, determine whether the public convenience and welfare require that such improvement be made.

Section 5559.04 | Persons not to be counted.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In determining whether the required number of persons have signed the petition asking for a road improvement, necessary to give the board of county commissioners jurisdiction thereof, the following persons shall not be counted, either for or against the improvement:

(A) Owners of life and leasehold estates;

(B) Minors and other persons under legal disability, unless represented by legal guardians, in which case the action of such guardian shall be binding upon such persons;

(C) All tenants in common of any undivided estate, resident within the county, shall be counted as a unit, and if all are not united, either for or against the improvement, none of such tenants in common shall be counted in determining whether the requisite number of persons have signed such petition ;

No person signing a petition shall be permitted to withdraw therefrom unless the board finds that there was fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining his signature.

Section 5559.05 | County road improvement.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When the board of county commissioners has determined that any road, street, or alley, or portion thereof shall be improved as provided for in section 5559.02 to 5559.16, inclusive, of the Revised Code, such board shall, by a majority vote, determine the route and termini of such improvement, the kind and extent thereof, and at the same time order the county engineer to make such surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications as are required for such improvement.

Only such storm sewers may be included in plans as are needed solely for the drainage of the street to be improved and of the lots and lands to be specially assessed for the improvement. The board may order the engineer to make alternate surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications, providing therein for different width of roadway, different materials, or other similar variations, and approve any of such alternate surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications.

Section 5559.06 | Copies of plans - notice of hearing.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

Upon the completion of the surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications for an improvement under section 5559.02 of the Revised Code by the county engineer, the engineer shall transmit to the board of county commissioners copies of such surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications. The board shall then publish, in a newspaper of general circulation within the county, once a week for two consecutive weeks or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, a notice that such improvement is to be made and that copies of the surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications for it are on file in the office of the board for the inspection and examination of all persons interested. Such notice shall also state the time and place for hearing objections to the improvement.

In the event that land or property is to be taken for such improvement, such taking shall be in accordance with sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code.

Section 5559.08 | Resolution to proceed with improvement.

• Effective: January 1, 1966
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly

If, after determination of all claims for compensation and damages on account of land or property taken for an improvement under section 5559.02 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners is still satisfied that the public convenience and welfare require that such improvement be made, and that the cost will not be excessive, in view of the public utility thereof, such board shall order, by resolution, that it proceed with the improvement, and shall adopt the surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications therefor, as reported by the county engineer, or with such modifications as the board and engineer may agree upon.

If, in view of the amount of the compensation and damages allowed, or for any other just cause, such board is of the opinion that the improvement should not be made, the board shall so order.

Section 5559.09 | Assessing of costs.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The entire compensation, damages, and costs of the improvement, including the expense of engineering and inspection, shall be assessed against the real estate abutting upon an improvement under section 5559.02 of the Revised Code according to the benefits accruing to such real estate.

Section 5559.10 | Estimated assessment - notice - hearing.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

As soon as all questions of compensation and damages have been determined in a road improvement case, the county engineer shall make, upon actual view, an estimated assessment upon the real estate to be charged therewith, of the compensation, damages, and costs of an improvement as provided by section 5559.02 of the Revised Code. Such estimated assessment shall be according to the benefit which will result to the real estate. In making such assessment the engineer may take into consideration any previous special assessments made upon the real estate for road improvements. The schedule of such assessments shall be filed in the office of the board of county commissioners for the inspection of the persons interested. Before adopting the assessment, the board shall publish, once each week for two consecutive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, notice that such assessment has been made, is on file in the office of the board, and the date when objections will be heard to such assessment. If any owner of property affected thereby desires, the owner may file objections to said assessments, in writing, with the board before the time for hearing. If any objections are filed the board shall hear them and act as an equalizing board. It may change such assessments if, in its opinion, any change is necessary to make them just and equitable, and the board shall approve and confirm such assessments as reported by the engineer or modified by it. Such assessments, when so approved and confirmed, shall be a lien on the land chargeable therewith.

Section 5559.11 | Assessments - appeal.

• Effective: January 1, 1966
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly

All assessments, with interest accrued thereon, made under sections 5559.02 to 5559.16, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall be placed by the county auditor upon a special duplicate, to be collected as other taxes, and the principal shall be payable in not more than twenty semiannual installments, extending over a period of not more than ten years, as determined by the board of county commissioners. In the event that bonds are issued to pay the compensation, damages and costs incident to an improvement as provided by section 5559.02 of the Revised Code, the principal sum of such assessments shall be payable in such number of equal semiannual installments as will provide a fund for the redemption of the bonds so issued, and such assessments shall bear interest from the date of and at the same rate as the bonds, and the interest shall be collected in like manner as the principal of such assessments.

If any lands to be assessed are subject to a life estate, the assessments made thereon shall, upon application of the life tenant to the board, be apportioned between the owner of the life estate and the owner of the fee, in proportion to the value of their respective estate. Upon the filing of the application the board shall fix a date for hearing and cause notice of such hearing to be served on the owner of the fee in the manner provided by section 5559.06 of the Revised Code. Either party to such apportionment may appeal to the probate court from the decision of the board relating to the apportionment of such assessment, by giving the notice provided for in section 5563.02 of the Revised Code and filing the bond provided for. Such proceedings shall thereafter be had upon such appeal as are provided for in sections 5563.01 to 5563.17, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Section 5559.12 | Publication of notice for bids.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

After the board of county commissioners has decided to proceed with an improvement as provided by section 5559.02 of the Revised Code, it shall advertise for bids once, not later than two weeks prior to the date fixed for the letting of the contract, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. Such notice shall state that copies of the surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications for such improvement are on file in the office of the board, and the time within which bids will be received. The board shall award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder.

The contract shall be let upon the basis of lump sum bids, unless the board orders that it be let upon the basis of unit price bids, in which event it shall be let upon such basis. The bids received shall be opened at the time stated in the notice. The board may reject all bids.

Section 5559.13 | Conditions of bond.

• Effective: August 1, 1980
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 157 - 113th General Assembly

Before entering into a contract, the board of county commissioners shall require a bond indemnifying the county against the damages that may be suffered by failure to perform such contract according to the provisions thereof and in accordance with the specifications for an improvement as provided by section 5559.02 of the Revised Code, and also against damages for personal or other injuries resulting from any negligence or violation of law on the part of the contractor and shall ensure that the requirements of section 153.54 of the Revised Code are met.

Section 5559.14 | Payment on contract - estimates.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The payment of the cost of the construction of an improvement as provided by section 5559.02 of the Revised Code shall be made as the work progresses, upon estimates made by the county engineer. No payment on account of the contract for any improvement, shall, before the completion of such contract, exceed ninety per cent of the value of the work performed to the date of such payment, and, except as provided in this section and section 5559.15 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the value of the work performed shall be held until the final completion of the contract in accordance with the plans and specifications. In addition to the above payments on account of work performed, the engineer may also allow the contractor an estimate not to exceed ninety per cent of the value of material delivered on the site of the work, or at a railroad station or siding, or other point in the general vicinity thereof, but not yet incorporated therein, provided such material has been inspected and found to meet the specifications. When an estimate is allowed on account of material delivered on the site of the work or in the vicinity thereof, but not yet incorporated therein, such material shall become the property of the county, but in case it is stolen, destroyed, or damaged by casualty before being used, the contractor will be required to replace it at his own expense. When the retained percentage plus the difference between the contract price and estimates allowed exceeds by more than fifteen per cent the estimated cost of completing the work, as determined by the engineer, such engineer may allow the contractor an estimate equal to all or any part of such excess sum, retaining not less than the estimated cost of completing the work, as determined by him, plus fifteen per cent.

Section 5559.15 | County engineer shall superintend - allowance for extra work.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The improvement under section 5559.02 of the Revised Code shall be done under the general care and superintendence of the county engineer, and he shall see that the specifications are complied with by the contractor. Allowances for extra work, rendered necessary by unforeseen contingencies not contemplated by the contract, may be made, but only in the manner provided by section 5555.69 of the Revised Code. Where the plans for any improvement authorized by sections 5559.02 to 5559.16, inclusive, of the Revised Code, include the paving of a road, street, or alley in which there is a sanitary sewer, water, or gas main, such plans shall include the extension to the curb of all necessary and proper service connections with such sewer or main. After any improvement is laid under such sections, any future installation of mains or public utility lines shall, so far as possible, be made between the curb and property line.

No road, street, or alley improved under sections 5559.02 to 5559.16, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall, by reason of such improvement, become a county road. Any road, street, or alley defined and described in section 5559.02 of the Revised Code, and improved under section 5559.02 to 5559.16, inclusive, of the Revised Code, or otherwise, may at any time be repaired by the board of county commissioners in the manner provided with respect to the original improvement thereof.

Section 5559.16 | Certain powers supplementary.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The powers conferred by sections 5559.02 to 5559.15, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall be supplementary to those conferred by law upon boards of county commissioners, with respect to the improvement of public highways, and the authority of the board in such respect, under existing laws, shall be in no way altered or abridged by such sections.