The city of Toledo and Imagination Station are hoping to get the science center reopened as soon as possible after a waterline break caused it to temporarily close.
“Hopefully we can have it back up and running by the end of next week, but it is very hard to pinpoint a date, just because the actual line that’s being laid, the one that broke, is 20 feet down in the ground,” Megan Robson, the city’s public service director, said at an agenda review meeting for Toledo City Council Tuesday.
The city contracted with Kokosing Construction Co. Inc. because it had the lowest bid and could begin work immediately. The city, which is the property owner of the downtown science center, is responsible for fixing the line and is asking the council to approve an expenditure of $350,000 for the repair.
The way the lease agreement is structured, Imagination Station covers all operational and capital expenses. The city is responsible for maintenance and repairs. When asked by Councilman George Sarantou how much the science center pays the city to lease the building, Ms. Robson said she would email them the exact terms of the lease.
The Blade has called Ms. Robson and Sutton Reekes, a spokesperson for the Imagination Station, about how much the science center pays, but have not yet heard back.
In terms of insurance, Ms. Robson said the department is working with the city’s law department to provide information.
“This was not an expected expense for us,” Ms. Robson said at the meeting. “However, we do have capital dollars available, so that’s why we’re recommending that it be sourced from the Capital Improvement Fund dollars so that we could move forward with the replacement.”
The city contracted with Kokosing about a week after the break was discovered on Jan. 22 without the council’s approval. Mr. Robson said the department followed the emergency procurement guidelines and received four bids. She told The Blade on Monday that councilmen were also made aware of the emergency nature of the break.
The city’s Department of Public Utilities is working with Kokosing as they repair the line.
“We have a support role,” said Doug Stephens, the city’s director of public utilities. “But we’re taking an active interest in what goes on, and it’s a 10-inch line, that’s a large line. It’s not easy to fix. It’s not easy to fix when you’re digging next to a building.”
Ms. Reekes told The Blade on Monday the cause was believed to be cold weather. On Tuesday, Mr. Stephens said he believes it could have been due to the age of the line. The building dates back to 1984 when it was the Portside Festival Marketplace.
Ms. Robson said the city is not aware of any damage to other buildings or lines, but crews are monitoring for additional damage.
The waterline break caused substantial leaking in the basement and above the parking garage. Ms. Reekes said Monday that the Eat It Up and traveling exhibits sustained minimal damage.
Toledo City Council will meet again on Feb. 11 to vote on allocating money to repair the Imagination Station with hopes to reopen soon after.
In other business, the Commission for Urban Beautification provided an update on a multi-million dollar federal grant that will help the city plant 10,000 trees over a five year period.
In April, 2024, the city received a $6.1 million Re-Tree grant from the Urban and Community Forestry Program to plant and maintain trees in disadvantaged communities. The city’s plan is to plant 900 street trees this spring and another 1,000 in the fall on vacant lots and residential sites, as it continues communication with an outside consultant.
The three main objectives over the next four years include planting 10,738 trees in the area to restore and expand the urban forest; train 56 students to become future arborists and urban forestry professionals through a planned workforce development program; and educate residents and 1,600 students about the benefits of trees to increase awareness and active participation and to support urban forestry stewardship.
The council previously disagreed on the $100,000 allocation to hire a consultant, arguing that the city’s communications department could handle the implementation of the project. However, part of the requirements for the grant was to hire a communications consultant, and it was a one-time payment over the life of the grant.
First Published February 5, 2025, 12:16 a.m.
