The board of county commissioners may by resolution adopted by a unanimous vote find that the public convenience and welfare require the improving of any public road or part thereof by grading, draining, paving, straightening, or widening such road and constructing or reconstructing any bridges and culverts necessary for such improvement. The resolution shall fix the route and termini of such improvement, and shall apportion the cost thereof, which apportionment may be made upon different bases for various portions of any road to be improved. Such cost shall be apportioned and paid in any one of the methods provided by section 5555.41 of the Revised Code.

The board shall in said resolution order the county engineer to prepare the necessary surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates of cost, and specifications for the improvement, together with an estimated assessment, based upon the estimates of cost, upon the real estate to be charged therewith, of such part of the estimated damages and expenses of such improvement as are to be specially assessed. Such estimated assessment shall be according to the benefits which will result to such real estate. In making such estimated assessment, the engineer may take into consideration and previous special assessment made upon such real estate for road improvements.

The board may order the engineer to make alternate surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications, providing therein for different widths of roadway, different materials, or other similar variations. The engineer may, without instructions from the board, prepare and submit to the board alternate surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications, providing therein for different widths of roadway, different materials, or other similar variations.

If alternate surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications are approved by the board of county commissioners or submitted by the engineer on his own motion, the board of county commissioners and the engineer acting together shall constitute a board for the selection of the particular plan, profile, cross sections, estimate, and specifications to be used and shall, after the opening of bids, determine by a majority vote of such board which of said surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications shall be finally adopted for the improvement.

After the passage of the resolution provided for in this section, all subsequent proceedings of the board of county commissioners with respect to said improvement may be had by a majority vote.

Effective Date: 10-01-1953 .