City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. Welcome to the Yria City Council meeting for Monday, April 6th, 2026. We'll have a moment of reflective silence followed by the pledge of allegiance. But before we do that, I'm going to ask you to please turn your cell phones either off or to the silent position out of respect for council chambers. Thank you. Mr. Dhoni, would you lead us in the pledge, please?

Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Clerk, can we have roll call, please? Yes, Madam President. Mr. Sarah here. Mr. Van Warmer here. Mr. Armstrong here. Miss Rothgar here. Miss Davis here. Mr. Tolette here. Mr. Lipian here. Mr. Oswald here. Mr. Dhoni here. Mr. Schneider here. Miss Mitchell here.

All present. Thank you. Do we have any public hearings, Mr. Clerk? There are no public hearings. Can I have approval of the minutes, please? Move. Second. Moved by Mr. Sarah, second by Mrs. Davis. All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Motion carried. We'll have report remarks and reports from city officials. Mayor Brewbaker.

Yes. Thank you, Mad Chairwoman. So, last week I had sent out some updates on some economic development going on in the city, and I threw a little teaser out there about the Norfolk Southern. Some of you reached out to me to try to get early, uh, information on this. Uh, for the last 18 months, I've been working with Norfolk Southern and our Ohio delegation, uh, Senator Marino, Senator Husted, and Congressman Lada. In fact, last June, uh, there was something called a flyin where they fly in leaders from Northeast Ohio, in this case into DC. You go to the White House, you meet with senior members of President Trump's staff, and that was set up by Macaulay and associates. The next day I stayed over because McCaulay had gotten me individual meetings with those three individuals and I was able uh Megan Pew and the safety service director's office and assistant director Strozac put together packets for them that showed pictures and details and information of all seven of our railroad bridges that go through downtown. And those of you that have been around for a long time like me uh know the condition that those are in and known going all the way back when I started with the city over a decade plus ago. uh people have been trying to get North Folk Southern to do something with these bridges and I was able to meet with each one of those individuals, give them a packet, talk to them about the concern uh of not only just the safety of those bridges, but the issues with stuff falling down uh through the cracks at times, um the flooding of them and just quite frankly the aesthetics of those. And so I was able to meet with them and of course when you hear a politician talk cuz none of us have ever done this before you hear good things are going to happen and you know they'll take your your information but I had follow-up conversations with those individual staffs with Macaulay and with North Folk Southern throughout the fall. Um and in Jan late January I had a conference call with one of the engineers out of DC um talking about these bridges. In fact, I was supposed to be at the US Conference of Mayors at the end of January. Um, and then I was going to spend a half a day

meeting with this individual in DC, but unfortunately we had snow and both of my flights both days were cancelled. Uh, so I didn't have a chance to go. So, we had this call and they said they're working on some things. They would follow up with me. Well, last Tuesday we were on a z with engineer Schneider and I know he's here, safety service director Panowski and about seven members of the Norfolk Southern staff and they shared with us that um come early 2027, the plans have already been approved. Um they will go out to bid in late May is the early time frame under contract in June. um didn't get the procurement, but they will the east bridge railroad trussle will be completely removed and completely rebuilt um from the bridge overpass to the peers to the sidewalks to the walls. They wouldn't give me an estimate other than the fact that it is millions of dollars that they're going to invest. In fact, they will be removing the two sidewalk pillars, the east and west pillars completely. They will be removing four spans and dropping it down to two spans. Uh they will replace the center uh pier and it's going to move a little bit to the east which made our engineer extremely happy. Um and this project is scheduled to kick off in very early 2027 and will expend the entire year of 2027. Um at times uh they'll be down to one lane through there and there will come a time where that intersect or that bridge area will be completely shut down. They already have plans to reroute traffic. Um, and there'll be more follow-up meetings as we get closer to next year. Uh, but this is a process that's been hanging out there for a long time. Um, so the first phase will be remove the west pier. Second phase will be to move the east pier. Third phase will be to remove and move the middle pier. And then the last phase will be to change out the spans on top there and then replace the walls. They will not put railings up. That will be our responsibility. But we will work with them through the engineers's

office. We will provide the product to put the guard rails along the side so people just can't sprint through there and their people will install those. We will just supply that because sidewalks are technically our responsibility. Uh but it is very exciting to see this happening. And on top of that, they will be coming here to meet with me on May 6th and we'll be looking at the other six bridges in the city and they will kind of share what their plans are. Uh for those they did make me know that um the Washington Avenue bridge they're not really going to do much with that because they had some work a few years ago. Uh but when you look at Cedar Street, East Avenue, uh Kersted Lake uh West Avenue and then Chestnut Street, those are all major entry points into downtown and the aesthetics of them are extremely ugly. Uh so I'm excited that we were able to collaborate with our federal partners. I don't know which one pulled which string, so I will give all three of them credit. Uh but Norfolk Southern, you know, if you've tried to deal with them in the past, they pass you off to somebody. Um they don't return your emails, they don't return your calls, they have been very open, uh very straightforward with us on this. And to have that call last Tuesday to share with us what their plans are, uh was very exciting to us, particularly they're going to start with East Bridge, as you know, that is a main entry point to the hospital from the north. Um as well as another main entry point into our downtown area. So all these different things um just meeting with our federal partners and having conversations with them. In fact, Congressman Lada was here last fall and I showed him several of the bridges um as well. So it's exciting to know that Norfolk Southern is going to step up and do work that has been ongoing, as someone shared with me today, decades, and they're finally going to put money into um the city of Ayria and our bridges. So that's my my report for now. Um, I don't have anything else, but if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

That is very exciting. Mayor, any questions? Mr. Schneider, then Mr. Oswald. Thank you, Madam President. Through you, uh, to Mayor Brewbaker, when they do these projects, I've noticed in some of the other communities, you said that, well, first that we would have to take on the railing. Um, I've noticed in some of the other communities when they do these bridge overpass rebuilds, they put signage for the community on that. Is that something that, do you know, if that's something that we would also have to pay for? If so, it would probably be a good way finding for downtown as we enter into downtown through a lot of the bridges. Thank you.

We through you madam chairwoman, madam president, we have not had those discussions right now. The plans that we have that are still in the draft state, so I can't share those are really just drawings of the bridges, not any aesthetics look. It's it's white lines on white or black lines on white paper right now. There is no picture of what it will look like when it's done. But with uh engineer Schneider and myself and director Ponowski, we will continue to work with them on those ideas. Thank you, Mr. Osw. Through you, Madam President, can you or can you um fill us in a little bit about the Amtrak staff?

Yes. Through you, Madam uh President, uh the county is working um with Amtrak and Norfolk Southern to open up the transportation center. We're looking at the the goal is somewhere in 2028 and they will shift the Amtrak station. The goal is to shift the Amtrak station to the transportation center uh with collaboration with the county. I'm not sure where we're going to be involved in that. I know Councilman Lippy and I have had conversations about what could the city do with the what will be vacated Amtrak station, but we are in conversation with the county, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak on that.

Thank you. Are there any other questions for the mayor? Thank you. Law director's office, Miss Nedwick, welcome. Thank you. Are there any questions for the law director's office? Mr. Lian, thank you for you, Madam President. Not a question, but just a comment. I want to thank the law department for the fine work that they did regarding the beastro. I don't want to celebrate too early because there's an appeal window, but uh job very well done and high hopes that this will put an end to a consistent nuisance to the area. So, thank you for all your hard work on that and your whole team. Thank you, Mr. Lithian, finance director, Mr. Pleski.

Thank you, Madam President. So, we um have posted everything for the month of March. So, the first quarter of the year, cash in the general fund is down by $1.64 $64 million. However, we still have not received our reimbursement from the FBI. We have invoices that are supposedly pending authorization somewhere totaling about 942,000. That money was spent out of the general fund last year. So, we're still waiting on that, but as of right now, uh cash is down 1.64 million for the three first three months of the year.

Thank you. Any questions for the finance director? Thank you, Mr. Pleski. Police Chief Walsh. Good evening, Madame President. uh through you. I wanted to inform council as well as the community of three community events that the police department is involved in in the month of April. As you may be aware of, uh the month of April is autism awareness month and I wanted to highlight that the Yria Police Department is the first and the only law enforcement agency to institute a uh autism response program. Um it's a voluntary program that we have set up through the police department. It allows family with family me who have family members uh with that have that are on the autism spectrum dis have autism spectrum disorder or uh neurodeiverse uh issues and they can provide information to the police department that will allow us to uh respond to incidents especially alopments or when uh those type of individuals uh run away from home or leave leave the home without permission of their of their parents and allows us to be able to respond more effectively and have more information. So, we have an event scheduled April 18th. It's from 2 P to 4P at West Recreation Department. And again, it to give families opportunity to meet with police officers in a sensory friendly

environment. And our goal is to build trust uh improve communication and ensure that every member of the community feels understood and supported. So that's our first event. Again, it's uh autism awareness month and April 18th from 2 to 4 uh people can come meet police officers in a in a sensory friendly environment. The second event is in partnership with Parks and Wreck and Lorraine County Children's and Family First Council. It's on April 25th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and that is at the North Park Ice Arena. Uh both of our safety forces will be there. The police department will be there to uh talk about bike safety. The fire department will be there to talk about child seat uh safety. And there it's a it's a family fun day. There's going to be bounce houses, craft games, uh wellness demos, resources, and giveaways. So, it's a good opportunity for our family to come out and and have a good day at the park and meet our safety forces. And last certainly not least, the same day, April 25th from 10A to 2P is uh National Drug Takeback Day. We'll have officers set up in the lobby of the Alo Police Department and they will be there to take any type of uh old prescription medication from the community during that time. That's all I have. If you have any questions for me, I'd be more than happy to answer.

Thank you, Chief Welsh. Are there any questions for the chief? Thank you. Thank you, Fire Chief Vargo.

Any questions for the fire chief? Thank you, sir. Chief Engineer, Mr. Schneider. I got questions. [laughter] You're not getting away that easy. I have a really simple question, Mr. Schneider, thank you. Um, when are they going to start with the um, uh, residential resurfacing? Uh, we're still in the design phase. We're probably about halfway completed with the design as far as, uh, that goes. Uh, I believe every streets have been laid out and it's on paper. It's just a matter of putting all the data together now as far as what we're going to do. So, okay.

We're probably looking at three weeks before we bid at least three to six weeks. Are we getting bids back already? No. No, not yet. Okay. Okay. And Murray Ridge, uh I believe we have something going before council to We do. I'm just I'm wondering when that will start. Um well that we're still working that out with ODOT because there are a number of items they have to perform for us as well. So the plan is a bu to build it this year as of right now. So as long as it's this year. Thank you. Mr. Armstrong. Did I see Mr. Armstrong? You madam President. Engineer Sch Snider. Is there any update on the pocket part with the biddings?

Um, I believe it's going out to bid either this week or next week is what engineer McKillbs told me. Uh, through you, Madam President. Also, um, is there any new update on the finishing of the crosswalk from State Street to the height to the stadium? It was my understanding the uh I'm sorry, through you, Madam President. It's my understanding the uh the signs were in and they may have installed them already. I haven't been down there yet to verify, but it was getting really close. I do know the materials are in. It's just a matter of them setting them up now. Thank you, Mr. Snder. You may not know this. I thought with the pocket park, the bids were coming in extremely high. Is that what we're finding? Is that not true? No, Madam President. Um the uh the first time we bid it, we received no bids.

No bids. That's okay. So, we're rebidding it. So, we're going to try again. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Oswald. Thank you, Madam President. [clears throat] So, do you got an update on the FBI building? I I hear they're coming along with that. Uh to you, Madam President. Uh they are the first building that we're building right now. The uh the structural steel's up right now. Uh so they're they're they're moving forward. It's just takes time. Mr. Living

through you, Madam President. Do you have an update on the safe routes to school project this year? I do believe that is supposed to be bid out sorry through you madam president that is supposed to bid out either this week or next week as well. Um the uh we're doing some sidewalks on middle avenue too. So engineer Mckelps wants to build them both at the same times because they're pretty much the same type of project. Two birds one stone essentially. Yes. Smart. Thank you.

Oh Miss Davis. I'm sorry. Miss Davis through you madam chair to M Snider. Uh, last week I saw this little funny car running around town with antennas. Are they still like scanning the streets or or have you heard anything about it? We have pictures of this little car running around with antennas. [laughter] Do you madam president? Uh, they are not scanning any of streets anymore as far as the street scanning goes. Uh, but your Google Earth, they're always out there driving around all over the place. So, it could be Google Earth out there just updating their their scans themselves. Okay. Thank you.

Any other questions for Mr. Schneider? Before you go, I just want to say um as far as the FBI training facility, we've got to get some soundproofing up. And I know I'm beating a dead horse. I keep saying it over and over, but we've got to get that soundproofing going. So, thank you.

Thank you. Listen, I don't think I missed anyone. Okay. President's referrals and remantises. Number one to community development finance. Number two to finance. Number three to finance. Number four to finance. Number five to finance. Number six to finance utilities. Number seven, finance utilities. Number eight, finance utilities. Number nine, finance utilities. Number 10, finance utilities. Number 11, utilities. Items 12 through 13. Receive and place. Oh, receive and place on file in the clerk's office. Madame [clears throat] President, we did receive a referral that came in on Friday to the office in regards to submitting an application for annexation petition for approximately 65 acres. So, uh there was communication with the law director's office. Are looking to uh have that considered for Monday's meeting the 13th for community development.

Fine, Mr. Click. We'll refer that to community development. Thank you. Petitions and remotes from the lobby. There are none. Petitions and remantises from council members. There are none. Reports of standing and special committees. There are none. Resolutions. First reading. Sponsored by community development. A resolution and excuse me sponsored by community development finance. A resolution adopt a report of Larry Economic Development Committee. Mr. Snder.

Madam President, I ask that this resolution be passed in its first reading under suspension of rules. Second move moved by Mr. Snder, second by Mr. Tlette. Questions been called on the suspension. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. [clears throat] On the passage. All in favor say I. Opposed. Motion carried.

That is resolution 2026-12. Sponsored by finance, a resolution finding that the city as unfit for municipal use certain city property. Mr. Tolette. Madame President, I ask that this resolution be passed in its first reading under suspension of rules. Second. Second by Mrs. Davis. Are there any questions? Question on the suspension. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. On the passage, all in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. That's resolution 2026-13. That's all resolutions. First reading. Resolution second reading.

There are none. Resolutions third reading. There are none. Ordinances. First reading. [snorts]

Sponsored by finance. An ordinance authorizing a safety service director for the city of Ayri to dispose of city property that is unfit for municipal use. Mr. Tatlet. Madame President, I ask that this ordinance be passed in its first reading under suspension of rules. Second. Second by Mr. Schneider. Is there any further discussion? Question on the suspension. All in favor say I. I. Oppose.

On the passage, all in favor say I. I. Oppose. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-40 sponsored by finance. An ordinance authorizing the mayor to advertise for bids and enter into due to contract for the water treatment plant high service pump station early procurement and declaring an emergency. Mr. T. Madam President, I ask that this ordinance be passed in its first reading under suspension of rules and declared an emergency. Second second by Mr. Snder. Is there any questions? Question on the suspension. All in favor say I.

Oppose on the emergency. All in favor say I. I. Opposed on the passage. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-41. Sponsored by finance. It's an ordinance authorized the mayor to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the road diet on Oberlin Road from Middle Avenue to the city corporation limits. Mr. Tat. Madame President, I ask that this ordinance be passed in its first reading under suspension of rules. Second. Second by Mr. Snder. Any discussion? Question.

On the suspension, all in favor say I. Opposed. On the passage, all in favor say I. Opposed. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-42 sponsored by finance an ordinance authorized the mayor to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the 2026 street sweeping program for the city of Valyria. Mr. Tolette. Madame President, I ask that this ordinance be passed in its first reading under suspension of rules. Second. Second by Mr. Snider. Any discussion? Question on the suspension. All in favor say I. I. Opposed.

On the passage, all in favor say I. I. Oppose. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-43. Sponsored by finance. An ordinance authorize amending section 165.33A of the codified ordinances to add the position of engineering and training to the engineer department and assign a paygrade for the same and declaring an emergency. Mr. Tot. Madame President, I ask that this ordinance be passed in its first reading under suspension of rules and declared an emergency.

Second. Second by Mr. Schneider. Is there any discussion question on the suspension? All in favor say I. I oppose on the emergency. All in favor say I. Opposed. On the passage, all in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-44. [clears throat] Sponsored by finance. An ordinance amending section 165.33A of the LI codified ordinances to amend the position of operations analyst to the engineering department and assign a paygrade for the same and declaring an emergency.

Mr. Tolette, Madame President, I ask that this ordinance be passed in its first reading under suspension of rules and declared an emergency. Second. Second by Mrs. Davis on the suspend. Pardon me. Is there any discussion? Question on the suspension. All in favor say I. I. Opposed on the passage. All in pardon me. On the emergency. All in favor say I. I. Opposed on the passage. All in favor say I. I.

Opposed. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-45. Sponsored by utilities and finance. It's an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a water purchase agreement with the village of Sheffield, Ohio. Mrs. Davis. Madame President, I ask that this ordinance to be passed on its first reading under suspensions of rules. Second. Second by Mr. Armstrong. Is there any discussion? Question on the suspension. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. On the passage, all in favor say I. I.

Opposed. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-46 sponsored by finance an ordinance amending ordinance number 2026-34 known as the 2026 permanent appropriations ordinance to change funds in various accounts. Mr. Tot. Madame President, I ask that this ordinance be passed in its first reading under suspension of rules. Second. Second by Mr. Sarah, is there any further discussion? Question on the suspension. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. On the passage. All in favor say I.

I. Opposed. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-47.

That's all of ordinances. First reading. Ordinances second reading. There are none. Ordinances third reading. There are none.

Committee calls. utilities request um the council members committee members the mayor the law director's office the finance director's office safety service director's office on Wednesday April the 8th 2026 beginning at 6 pm joint CD finance request all committee members the mayor law director the finance director safety service director and the engineer on Monday, April 13th, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Finance request of all committee members, the mayor, the law director, the finance director, the safety service director, engineering on Monday, April 13, 2026, immediately filing the community, excuse me, community development finance and strategic plan to request all council members of the mayor, safety service director, finance director, law director on Monday, April 20th, 26y filing the full council meeting. That's all committee calls.

Mr. Mr. Clerk, there's a community development as well. Remember, we did the referral from the floor. That'll be Monday. So So the So that'll be immediately following. Oh, because we'll add it. Yeah, we'll add it to there. So we'll do that uh immediately following the joint CD then community development. Okay.

Thank you. Is there any miscellaneous or unfinished business, Mr. through you, Madam President. I just wanted to congratulate a selfless community servant, Councilman Armstrong, on I believe it was the 13th annual Easter egg roll. Um, I was there as a volunteer and there were endless troves of eggs Saturday, the day before Easter. It was a packed house. A lot of happy kids, more than I've ever seen at that event, and I've done it a couple years. I want to thank those who volunteered, specifically council members Gina Rothgary and Ed Dhoni. And I saw some other luminaries from the community including Greg Bansick. Job very well done.

Good job, Mr. Mr. Armstrong. Is there anything else, Mrs. Davis? If there is no other business to come before this council, I make a motion that we dismiss. Second. It's been moved and properly second. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. Good night everyone. Thank you for coming.