Garrettsville – At the June 8, 2022 council meeting, a public hearing was held for the purpose of obtaining public input on Ordinance 2022-19, which approves and adopts a permanent budget for the village of Garrettsville in 2023. Nobody present at the hearing had any comment, and the public hearing was closed shortly after. Following the public hearing, the regular council meeting was called to order by Mayor Rick Patrick.
Minutes of the May 11, 2022, meeting were reviewed and approved without correction or modification, and the financial reports, and income tax receipts were also accepted. Patrick shared that income tax collection appears to be ahead of 2021 by about $75,000.
Ordinance 2022-19, the 2023 budget ordinance, was approved on its second reading.
Ordinance 2022-24, which amends the various sections of chapter 1171 of the village’s codified ordinances as they relate to the minimum side-yard widths in R-2 zoned districts. At some point in the past the minimum side-yard width was reduced to five feet (from ten feet). The proposed change would return it to the ten-foot measurement. This has become necessary to allow space for equipment, and sewer/water line easements and right-of-way. The ordinance will receive a second reading at the July council meeting.
Ordinance 2022-25 accepted the low bid of $221,761.00 from Woodford Excavating, LLC for the North Street storm sewer improvements project. A related resolution, number 2022-26, was also approved. The resolution authorized the expenditure of $221,761.00 from village fund 2151 (the local fiscal recovery fund) to pay for the North Street Storm Sewer Improvement Project.
Ordinance 2022-27, which accepts a temporary construction easement on the property of Rachel and Jeremy Nieves, received a first reading. Council president Tom Hardesty will be setting up a meeting between the Nieves, and Woodford Excavating to ensure both parties understand the scope of the project, and the impact during/remediation after the project is completed. The ordinance will receive a second reading in July.
Round Table Wrap-up
Council president Tom Hardesty shared that he will be reapplying for grant money for the completion of a restroom/storage facility at Hardesty Park. The prior application had been turned down due to a lack of available funding.
Mayor Rick Patrick asked about the possibility of installing a memorial plaque for late-councilman Tom Collins at the site of the soon-to-be-installed EV Charge station in the clocktower municipal lot on Maple Avenue. The council agreed with the idea.
Hardesty and Patrick informed the rest of council that both columbariums would be installed in Park Cemetery over the summer. Originally, only one would be installed this year, however, Portage Granite and Monument received the second early. The second columbarium will be invoiced against a purchase order issued in 2023. The cemetery board will be meeting this week to set the prices of units in the columbarium. Each columbarium structure can accommodate 96 urns and feature black faceplates for engraving. At the June 9, 2021 meeting, Larry Conti of Portage Monument and Granite had recommended price-points for unit sales (ranging from $450-$1,000/ea.) and suggested the board and council consider pre-sale or volume discount (family-suites anyone?) to secure sales.
Councilperson Tara Beatty asked if anything could be done to improve road safety at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Center Street. The Garrettsville Police Department was asked to monitor the intersection and make suggestions for improved cautionary signage (eg: “Cross-traffic does not stop” signs below the existing stop signs).
Councilperson Mark Brady inquired about the installation of the bike racks purchased by the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary. Patrick will talk to the Street Department to get the installation of the racks on their schedule.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.
