Garrettsville’s Village Council convened on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. in the basement of Village Hall, with their regular chambers occupied by the James A. Garfield Historical Society’s Christmas Walk Craft Show. Council members present included Deb Wordell, John Chambers, Sheri Johnson, Council President Tom Hardesty, Richard Beatty, and Jeff Kaiser. Mayor Rick Patrick, Fiscal Officer Donna Love, Solicitor Bill Mason, and Police Sergeants Tim Vecchio and Keith Whan were also in attendance.
Council President Tom Hardesty opened a public hearing to gather community input on Ordinance 2024-31, which seeks to amend Section 555.02(A) of the village ordinances concerning the maximum allowable height for grass and weeds. In it’s currently proposed state the amendment would set a limit for grass and weed growth to a maximum of 10 inches on private and adjacent public right-of-way properties, with exceptions for trees, shrubbery, and ornamental plants that do not obstruct visibility and create safety hazards. Although no residents attended the hearing to comment, Hardesty said it was council’s intention to table the ordinance to refine it further, particularly to clarify exemption criteria (one example given was for agricultural land). Council plans to revisit the measure closer to spring 2025.
The regular council meeting followed, led by Mayor Patrick. Council reviewed and approved the Oct. 9 meeting minutes, following a motion by Richard Beatty, seconded by Jeff Kaiser. The council then examined financial reports and recent expenses, including a $246 payment from the sewer fund noted by Kaiser. This expense covered calibration of the scale used to weigh aggregated sludge sold from the village’s wastewater treatment plant.
Council subsequently approved a motion to pay outstanding bills, proposed by Beatty and seconded by Deb Wordell.
The council discussed several legislative items, including Ordinance 2024-31 and two newly introduced resolutions:
ORD 2024-31 (Grass and Weeds Ordinance) – After the public hearing, without public comment, the ordinance was tabled to allow for modifications, which will clarify the language and establish exemptions for certain property uses.
RES 2024-33 – This resolution authorizes the village’s annual agreement with the Portage County Public Defender to provide legal services for Garrettsville’s indigent residents. Richard Beatty noted the cost of $150 per use and asked if the village is able to recoup a percentage of that by billing the recipient of the services. Solicitor Mason explained that if a person is designated as indigent, they are not required to pay back any portion of this fee. He added that if it was possible, the money would probably go back to the county fund anyway. The resolution, was passed.
RES 2024-34 – A proposed amendment to Section 6.4 of the Village Employee Handbook regarding Continuing Education Unit (CEU) reimbursements was also presented on first reading. The amendment would allow all village employees, not only Board of Public Affairs (BPA) staff, to be reimbursed for required training and certifications necessary to maintain their job qualifications. The revised Section 6.4 states that the village will cover up to $1,000 annually per employee if training results in college credit. Specifically, the ordinance mandates review and approval from the BPA for water and wastewater positions, with other positions requiring mayoral approval. Wordell raised a question about Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training costs, asking if there was a stipulation that employees who receive CDL funding commit to working within the village for a period. Council had previously set a one-year service period for CDL training, if an employee leaves prior to that, they would be responsible for reimbursing the village. Council suspended rules to pass the resolution on first reading.
Sergeant Whan requested council approval to end Officer Grant Reneker’s probationary period, commending his strong performance. Council approved the motion, promoting Reneker to full-time status.
Additionally, council discussed plans to replace the 2018 Tahoe K9 vehicle with a 2025 model. Due to delivery constraints, the council reviewed options from Ganley in Aurora and Preston Chevrolet in Burton, with the latter offering a May 2025 delivery timeline over state bid pricing. Council agreed to proceed with Preston Chevrolet, citing that 2025 budget allowances include up to $75,000 for a new police vehicle. Existing equipment from the 2018 Tahoe will be repurposed to save on costs. An estimated $14,000 of the cost can be allocated from the drug and alcohol fund, with the other $14,000 already encumbered through the purchase of a new breathalyzer machine. Whan noted that the current unit is outdated (and was called “a museum piece); which due to age, the results are inadmissible in court, posing logistical challenges for officers needing to transport OVI arrests to other jurisdictions for testing.
Councilwoman Wordell requested a preview of the proposed 2025 budget prior to the next meeting to ensure time to look things over prior to the December meeting. Fiscal Officer Love offered to meet with Wordell to discuss budget details. Council brainstormed potential projects for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, including storm sewer repairs for a failing line near Fox Hollow, where a homeowner’s dog recently fell into a hole that may have been caused by erosion. Additionally, improvements to Tom Hardesty Park’s driveway entrance were suggested as a potential ARPA project, along with a drainage solution and paving at the Bill Phelps Park on South Street.
Councilman John Chambers reminded members that the deadline for the tornado siren bid is approaching, with plans to install additional siren coverage across the village in the new year. Council authorized John Chambers to finalize a quote for two new tornado sirens to be installed at the Industrial Drive standpipe and the Center Street sewage pump station. Hardesty and Chambers passed around a map showing the effective radius (about a half mile each). The placement would, when combined with the existing fire department siren, cover almost the entire village. Council approved the purchase at $20,266.86 and agreed to proceed once the final quote is confirmed. The hope is that the vendor will agree to take payment at the start of the 2025 fiscal year.
Discussions also included the potential acquisition of a half-acre cemetery plot owned by the Ruth Sheehan. The cemetery committee expressed interest in the portion of an “L-shaped” plot adjacent to the village cemetery expansion area behind Park Cemetery. The property contains three family graves, which would be added to the village’s record of plots if it becomes part of Park Cemetery. Hardesty proposed a $1,000 offer for the land, which, if accepted, will be paid from the cemetery fund. Solicitor Mason will prepare a contract pending acceptance of Hardesty’s offer.
Mayor Patrick invited council members and residents to attend the village’s annual Clocktower Lighting on Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. He also acknowledged volunteer Jackie Rinearson for donating Christmas lights and expressed appreciation for staff efforts in decorating for the season. Council members noted the holiday decorations and ongoing Christmas Walk as positive additions to the community. Council also approved scheduling for the “Shop with a Hero” event on Dec. 7.
A substantial watermain break occurred at Water Street and Maple Avenue on November 13th, with the water department and road crew replacing a five-foot section of pipe that had split along the bottom, causing a low-pressure event in the system. The break was isolated and affected residents were advised on what precautions to take. The break also damaged the road, which has been temporarily repaired. A lack of water pressure on the second floor of the JAG elementary and high school (which sit at about the height of the village water towers), and in the kitchen necessitated the closure of the schools for the day. Both village water pumps were run overnight on the 13th to recharge the system pressure.
The Windham Street Water Main project is nearly complete, with the trenches paved and the old main isolated and abandoned. Water Superintendent Jeff Sheehan had shared at the Board of Public Affairs meeting prior to the council meeting, that work should be 100% complete within the next two weeks.
After an executive session to discuss personnel matters, the meeting adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for December 11 at 7:00pm.
