Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 6131.09 – Preliminary report by county engineer

(A) Upon receiving the notice required under division (A) of section 6131.07 of the Revised Code, the county engineer shall prepare a preliminary report on the proposed improvement, which shall include all of the following:
1. (1) A preliminary estimate of the cost of the proposed improvement;
2. (2) Comments on the feasibility of the project;
3. (3) A statement of the engineer's opinion as to whether benefits from the project are likely to exceed the estimated cost;
4. (4) A list of factors apparent to the engineer, both favorable and unfavorable to the proposed improvement.
(B) In addition to reporting on the improvement as petitioned, the engineer may submit alternate proposals to accomplish the intent of the petition.
(C) The county commissioners may require the county engineer to file any additional preliminary reports that in the opinion of the board will serve as a guide to the board and the petitioners in deciding whether to proceed with the proposed improvement.
(D) The costs incurred by the engineer in making preliminary reports may be paid from the bond of the petitioners if the petition is dismissed at the first hearing, and any amount in excess of the bond shall be paid from county funds. If the engineer's costs are not paid from the petitioners' bond, they shall be paid from county funds.