Garrettsville Village Council approved a water rate increase, renewed the village’s downtown Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area and advanced several infrastructure and planning measures during its June 10 meeting.
Council members Tom Hardesty, Frederic Ahrens, Sheri Johnson, John Brachna, Richard Beatty and Jeff Kaiser were present. Mayor Rick Patrick, Fiscal Officer Donna Love and Solicitor Bill Mason also attended.
Council enacted Ordinance 2026-11, which amends the village’s water rate structure. The ordinance increases the previously scheduled annual water rate adjustment from 2% to 5% beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and continuing annually for the following four years. After that period, the rate will return to a 2% annual increase.
The ordinance followed a review by Arcadis U.S., the village’s engineering consultant, which found the existing scheduled increases were not sufficient to generate needed revenue and maintain carryover balances in the village water funds. The Garrettsville Board of Public Affairs recommended the increase.
During the public hearing, a resident asked about the need for the increase. Hardesty, Love and Board of Public Affairs member Ben Coll explained the factors leading to the recommendation. The change is expected to add about $1.25 per month to the average water bill.
Council also enacted Ordinance 2026-14 on second reading, approving the continued operation of Garrettsville’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, in specified public areas of downtown. The ordinance was declared an emergency measure.
The village first approved the DORA in 2021. Under Ohio law, a municipality must review a DORA after five years and approve its continued operation by ordinance. The legislation authorizes the fiscal officer to forward the ordinance to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control and the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Investigative Unit.
Council heard the first reading of Ordinance 2026-16, which would impose a 12-month moratorium on accepting zoning applications for data centers in the village. Hardesty moved to schedule a public hearing on the ordinance’s second reading.
The proposed moratorium would temporarily prevent the village from accepting, processing or approving new applications, permits, licenses, variances or zoning applications for data centers. The ordinance defines data centers as physical facilities housing computers or networking equipment used for data processing, storage or transmission.
The legislation says council wants time to review the potential effects of data centers and whether village zoning and business regulations adequately address issues including energy and water consumption, land use, building appearance, lighting, noise, location and environmental impact.
Council enacted Resolution 2026-17 on first reading, adopting the Portage County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan as the village’s official hazard mitigation plan. The resolution was declared an emergency measure to help ensure the village remains eligible for certain FEMA assistance and grant funding.
Council also heard the first reading of Ordinance 2026-18, which would approve and adopt the village’s permanent 2027 budget. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for July 8.
Ordinance 2026-19 was enacted on first reading after council amended the total cost from $75,000 to $75,500. The ordinance authorizes the mayor to enter into a task order with Arcadis U.S. for professional services related to the Freedom/South streets water main replacement project. The work includes preparation of detailed design documents.
Council approved the May 13 meeting minutes as presented and reviewed May financial reports and income tax receipts.
Love said income tax receipts are down, noting the village has not received some 2025 tax returns and is about 700 returns behind. Brachna said receipts are down 2% from last year and 5% from 2024. Hardesty said the decrease does not necessarily mean money was not withheld, but could reflect taxpayers not yet filing returns.
Hardesty also said the village received notice that it was awarded a park grant he applied for several years ago for cemetery-related work.
During review of bills paid, Brachna questioned a $4,926 charge from Scotchman Electric. The charge was related to an underground power line that was struck while ODOT’s contractor was working on the Main Street catch basins as part of the repaving project. It was determined that the line had not been installed at a proper depth by the contractor several years ago, so the village was responsible for the repair.
Council also reviewed an application from Esler Heyd for placement of farmland in an agricultural district. The item was described as a reapplication for existing placement.
Village officials discussed roof options for village hall after receiving quotes from two companies. Patrick asked whether council wanted to pursue a metal roof or shingles.
Country Repairs LLC submitted three estimates: $16,500 for a 30-year CertainTeed shingle roof, $34,800 for a 26-gauge standing seam metal roof and $31,900 for a ProVia metal shingle roof. Heritage Roofing Company submitted estimates of $19,540.23 for a standing seam metal roofing system and $12,250 for a GAF lifetime roofing system. Both companies’ proposals included tear-off, underlayment, flashing, ventilation and cleanup, with decking replacement priced separately where needed.
Beatty said steel has a longer product life, and Hardesty said a metal roof would be easier to maintain. Brachna suggested getting a quote for metal roofing designed to look like shingles. Beatty asked whether he should seek more information from the companies.
Council also discussed the Portage Park District’s Community Parks and Trails Grant program. Brachna said the program offers grants from $1,000 to $25,000 for qualifying projects, and Beatty said restrooms are eligible under the program. Council discussed Hardesty Park as a potential project site and asked Beatty and Brachna to pursue the grant.
During public participation, Tim Christopher asked to postpone discussion of a proposal from the previous month involving the promotion of patrol officer Emily Ahrens until Lt. Whan could attend. Patrick asked council if they wanted to make a motion to fill the sergeant position with Ahrens. No motion was made.
In roundtable discussion, Brachna said he contacted ODOT about how to request a traffic study for a potential roundabout at the intersection of Main, Windham, Center and Water streets. He said ODOT recommended several companies and that an engineering study would be needed, public input in the study was not required. Brachna said the area has been designated as a pedestrian safety improvement area and may qualify for an ODOT Highway Safety Improvement Program grant.
Hardesty revisited capital improvement planning and said he wants to move further on street and park improvements. For 2027, he recommended work on French and Harris streets. He said he would like to add curbs and gutters in selected areas and connect them to existing catch basins, with curbing this year and paving next year. He estimated curbing at about $50 per foot per side based on historical knowledge.
Hardesty also said drainage improvements are needed near the softball field, which sits below the abandoned tennis courts. He said much of the work could be done by the village and said he would like to eventually convert the old courts into additional pickleball courts after drainage problems are addressed. He said Maple Avenue, South Park and North Gate paving is expected around mid-July.
Mayor Patrick said businesses have responded positively to a village letter communicating upcoming events. He also said ODOT hopes to finish work on state Routes 82 and 88 by June 15-17. He noted that Summerfest is scheduled for the end of the month. Patrick said the Memorial Day observance went well, but attendance was weak, and said he would like to see what the village can do to increase attendance in the future. He also mentioned that the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce is holding a ribbon-cutting for its Buckeye Block Amphitheater at 5:00 p.m. on June 18.
Beatty said a resident contacted him about branches at Baptist Cemetery. He also voiced support for Hardesty’s plan for pickleball at Phelps Park. Johnson said she opposed adding more pickleball courts when the village has other pressing needs, including sidewalks and the village hall roof.
Kaiser said data centers were a major topic at regional planning discussions. Beatty thanked Mason for preparing the data center moratorium legislation.
Council adjourned after completing its regular business.
