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MONROE — The city of Monroe has decided to hire a West Chester Twp. civil engineering and land surveying firm to assist it in the bidding process to contract with companies to make between $5 million to $6 million in public improvements for the Cincinnati Premium Outlet mall.

City Council voted 6-0 Tuesday night, July 22, to approve an emergency resolution to authorize City Manager William Brock to advertise and receive bids for the public improvements related to the project along Interstate 75 and Ohio 63.

It also approved entering into an agreement with Kleingers & Associates for professional bidding services at a cost of $4,400. Mayor Robert Routson was absent.

The city will pay for the bidding services and public improvements with tax increment financing funds, Brock said. The city is responsible for the completion of the public improvements associated with the mall project, which include water main and roadway work.

All of the improvements are scheduled to be completed before the grand opening of the mall next year, Brock said.

Under the agreement with the city, he said Kleingers will be responsible for preparing bid specifications for the project and assisting the city in the bidding process.

In other business, council approved a motion by a 4-2 vote to authorize Brock and the city's law director, K. Philip Callahan, to prepare ballot language for a vote during its Aug. 12 meeting. The issue which would give Monroe voters the opportunity in November to decide if they would support alcohol sales within the city for public festivals.

Council rejected an ordinance by a 3-2 vote on May 13 to amend a section of the community's codified ordinances to provide for the sale of alcoholic beverages at the municipal park during special events — like its Fourth of July festival — to approval of council. Four votes were needed to pass the ordinance.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.