The Garrettsville Village Council held its regular meeting on October 9, 2024, with all council members present: Deb Wordell, Tom Hardesty, John Chambers, Sheri Johnson, Richard Beatty, and Jeff Kaiser. Also in attendance were Assistant Fiscal Officer Tara Beatty, Fiscal Officer Donna Love, Solicitor William Mason, and Mayor Rick Patrick. Representing the Garrettsville Police Department were Police Chief Tim Christopher, Sergeant Keith Whan, School Resource Officer Emily Ahrens, and Sergeant Timothy Vecchio.
The council approved the minutes from the prior meeting. Councilman Beatty presented a review of income tax receipts, noting a 4.6% year-over-year increase in revenue. A motion to approve the payment of the village’s bills was made by Beatty, seconded by Johnson, and passed unanimously.
Two ordinances were brought forward for discussion:
ORD 2024-31: This ordinance would amend regulations regarding the maximum height of grass within the village. Police Chief Christopher raised concerns that the existing ordinance was too vague, leading to uneven enforcement. As currently written, the ordinance would apply to all properties, including undeveloped parcels. Chief Christopher explained that many parcels, particularly undeveloped ones, often exceed the six-inch grass height limit. He cited an example on Freedom Street where one parcel is developed, and another, undeveloped parcel is adjacent. The ordinance as written would apply to both, which raised concerns.
Councilman Hardesty expressed interest in tabling the ordinance to allow time to clarify the distinction between developed and undeveloped properties. He proposed adding language that differentiates between the two to create a more practical and enforceable policy. Christopher added that enforcing the ordinance on backyards, which are not in plain view, would likely require law enforcement to trespass on private property. Hardesty referenced a maintenance ordinance that limits enforcement to areas “visible from the curbside,” which might provide a solution. Councilwoman Wordell asked if the ordinance would include ditches, to which Hardesty clarified that ditches within the village right-of-way are mowed by the village if the homeowner does not maintain them.
ORD 2024-32: The second piece of legislation, introduced as an emergency measure, was a modification to the police department’s payroll appropriation. Fiscal Officer Donna Love explained that the current budget allocation was insufficient to cover the department’s payroll through the end of the year, a shortfall resulting from recent pay raises. Love calculated the shortfall by multiplying the department’s most recent payroll by five, accounting for the remaining pay periods in 2024. Wordell questioned the calculations but ultimately accepted Love’s explanation. The ordinance was approved and enacted by the council.
Troy Rhodes, a liaison from FirstEnergy, addressed the council regarding storm preparedness and restoration protocols. He explained that during major storms, priority is given to critical infrastructure such as hospitals, followed by areas with the highest number of affected customers. Rhodes also reminded council members that FirstEnergy communicates closely with the Portage County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and local authorities during storm events. In terms of infrastructure, Rhodes noted that Garrettsville has 285 streetlights, which are replaced on an as-needed basis. Councilman Hardesty mentioned that the village is already benefiting from the Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP) but expressed interest in exploring the replacement of existing lights with LED options. Rhodes cautioned that transitioning to LED lights could increase the village’s energy costs under the current program, and recommended replacing streetlights with LEDs only when the existing lights fail.
Laura Esposito, owner of Black Boar and president of the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce, raised two issues. First, she could not locate ordinances related to Garrettsville’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) on the village’s website. Secondly, Esposito inquired about zoning regulations after being contacted by Zoning Inspector Larry Beatty regarding her recent occupancy change request for 8120 Main Street. She said she was told there might be an issue with using the word “gun” in the business’s name. Mayor Patrick recommended Esposito attend the Planning Commission meeting for a more in-depth discussion, as the council did not have the relevant ordinances available during the meeting.
Fiscal Officer Donna Love informed the council that Ohio Health Benefits had contacted her regarding the village’s health insurance plan for 2025. Love reported that premiums are expected to increase and the council will need to decide whether to shop for new plans or adjust employee contributions. She clarified that changing the insurance agency handling the plan would not result in cost savings, as all agencies must price plans equivalently.
Councilwoman Wordell read a statement regarding the Ohio State Auditor’s recent findings on the village’s finances for the years 2020-2022. The report identified issues related to late payments, which had already been corrected by the village. Wordell accepted responsibility for the findings but said that Fiscal Officer Love should not have been included in the Auditor’s press release as she was not the fiscal officer at the time and had nothing to do with the filing. The council expressed support for Wordell, acknowledging her professionalism.
Councilman Hardesty addressed the Officer Ahrens about a social media post which was seen as critical of the village. Ahrens declined to comment on the post without legal representation. Hardesty voiced his disappointment with poor judgement shown in making the post. Beatty, Moore, and Patrick also expressed disappointment, but Beatty did acknowledge Ahrens’ right to freedom of speech, though he characterized the post as unfortunate.
Councilman Chambers provided an update on the tornado sirens discussed at the prior council meeting. After investigating options, he presented the council with an oral quote for a new siren at $30,000 or two refurbished sirens for $22,000. The refurbished sirens had previously been used on a golf course and were in good condition. Each siren would cover about a quarter-mile radius, and if purchased, one would be installed at the Industrial Drive standpipe and the other at the water tower on Park Avenue. If the village opts for only one siren, it would be installed on Park Avenue, providing central coverage for the village. Chambers noted that the quote for the refurbished sirens is valid for 90 days, leaving the council with a deadline to make a decision at the next meeting.
Mayor Patrick shared details about the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Tom Collins Trail, which was attended by about 60 people. Patrick praised the work done on the trail, noting that it turned out well and would be easy for the village to maintain moving forward. Hardesty was also complimentary of the trail, appreciating how it was designed to be easy for the village to maintain.
The next Garrettsville Village Council meeting is scheduled for November 13 at 7:00pm and will be held in the basement of Village Hall to accommodate the Christmas Walk craft show.
