Ohio Rev. Code § 5521.12
The legislative authority of a municipal corporation may submit preliminary plans to the director of transportation for any project wherein co-operation between the municipal corporation and the state is contemplated ultimately under Chapter 5521. of the Revised Code. The director may give conditional approval to such project by the issuance of a letter of intent directed to the municipal corporation, and thereupon the municipal corporation may expend its own funds for detailed engineering plans and the acquisition of right-of-way for such project and shall be entitled to reimbursement therefor by the state in accordance with the conditions of such letter of intent upon the submission of satisfactory proof of the expenditure made, and that sufficient title has been acquired, and that such lands are necessary for the construction of the project. The reimbursement may be in the form of a credit against that portion of the cost of the project which is to be borne by the municipal corporation.
R.C. §5521.12