City Council - Regular Meeting

hearing and this is a public hearing to consider amendments to section 113304 the codified ordinances to allow the following conditionally permitted uses in a C1 zoning district. One, conference center, banquet facility, or meeting hall less than or equal to 5,000 square ft in size. two, restaurant with drive-in or drive-thru, and three, retail business less than or equal to 20,000 square feet in size. These amendments would make the three conditionally permitted uses available to all properties zoned C1. Uh, at this time, I guess first of all, I would ask um um Andrew Dutton to see if he can explain a little bit of the process that went through and where we are today for this public hearing. and then I'll ask if there's anybody that wishes to speak in favor of it and if there's anybody that wishes to speak in opposition. So, Mr. Dutton.

Uh, thank you, Mr. President. So, the original uh proposal that this stemmed from was a request to reszone properties on West Liberty Street from uh C1 local to C3 general commercial. Uh, council directed staff to instead create this zoning amendment which allows the three noted conditionally permitted uses in the C1 zoning district. So would be applicable to the subject properties on West Liberty as well as all the C1 zone properties. Um as a conditional use, these require uh review by the planning commission and a public hearing before they're established. Um and the planning commission reviewed these amendments at their February 12th meeting and unanimously recommended approval. Thank you.

Thank you. So at this time I'd ask, is there anybody wishes to speak in favor of the proposed amendment? Don't jump up. Okay. Is anybody wishes to speak in opposition to the proposed amendment? All right. Hearing none, the public hearing is closed. At this time, if you I'd like to call this April 13, 2026 council meeting to order. If you please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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.

Will the clerk please call the role? Simpson here. Coin here. Dalvo here. Hair here. Isabella here. Lamb here. Simmons here. Reading the minutes. Mr. President, Miss I move that the minutes from the meeting on March 23rd, 2026 as prepared and submitted by the clerk of council be approved. Second. Any discussion on the approval of the minutes? Will the clerk please call the role in adoption of the minutes? Coin. Yes. Dalvo. Yes. Hair. Yes. Isabella, yes. Lamb, yes. Simmons, yes. Simpson, yes. Motion passes 70.

Reports of standing committees. the finance committee met prior to council as it does every time. A lot of items were discussed and it'll be on the next council meeting. Uh health, safety, and sanitation. Mr. Simpson.

Thank you, Mr. President. Uh I asked our clerk of councel to check with uh the police chief, fire chief and and service director to potentially the first meeting in April or May or the second meeting in May which uh works for everybody's calendar to have a update from each of those individuals on what's going to be going on new and what's happening in in each of their departments. So it be prior to the finance meeting on the first or second finance meeting of May. Thank you. Thank you. Public properties, Miss Hair. Thank you, Mr. President. I have nothing to report and no meeting scheduled at this time.

Thank you. Special legislation, Mrs. Dalvo. Um thank you, Mr. President. Um at this time we are tentatively scheduling a meeting for the 27th of April regarding the new um ordinance or an update of the ordinance regarding uh the deer population. Um that will be dependent upon getting the information from the various parties that attended um a symposium down in Dublin, Ohio on April 8th. So, we'll be I'll be getting that information and um tenatively scheduling that meeting for the 27th prior to our regular scheduled finance meeting. Okay. Thank you. Streets and sidewalks, Mr. Isabella.

We had a meeting on April 7th prior to our uh board one and two uh meeting and we'll be having a follow-up from that meeting on April 20th at 5 p.m. Thank you. Water utilities, Mr. Simmons. Uh no meeting scheduled and nothing to report. Emerging technologies, Mr. Lamb. Thank you, Mr. President. I have no meetings scheduled and nothing to report.

Thank you. Requests for council action. We have several for finance. We have 2673 budget amendments. 2674 intracount mutual aid agreement with fire and EMS. 2675 increase PO 2026 258 Huntington National Bank for the IT department. 2676. Amend ordinance 2226 closing cost for 338 Foundry Street. 2677 amends salaries and benefits code 3107 updated municipal court job descriptions. 2678 purchase of a 2026 John Deere 624 Ptier uh wheel loader for the street department. 2679 cooperative purchase ODOT sodium chloride or rock salt. 2680 amend civil service rule 5B2 and three regarding lateral transfers. 2681 accept a donation Mana Youth Baseball Association. 2682 accept a donation for Manag Softball Association. 2683 bids for job number 1150 South Huntington Street Bridge Replacement. 2684 is removed because it was already on the agenda uh for tonight's meeting. 2685 fair market value estimates for North Huntington Street. 2686 engineering agreement with Wheeling and Lake Erie area railroad for State Street State Road. 2687 discussion city hall and police department needs assessment and facility study. Uh reports of municipal officers, Mayor Shields,

thank you, Council President. Just a couple announcements tonight. I want to start with America 250, some upcoming events, but I want to focus for a minute on this one this past Saturday at the library that focused on transportation. And I wanted to thank Barb Deser for all her work scheduling these. Wanted to thank Steve Hamley for a very engaging and uh wonderful presentation full house again. And then also our own Chad Simmons from council who kind of served as the MC again. So thank you for a great event. Um between now and our next council meeting, there's two more America 250 events that I want to tell you about. This Saturday, 4:18 at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Plaque dedication at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 210 North Drive, which is next to the Madina County Veteran Services Building, we'll be honoring all veterans from 19, I'm sorry, from 1776 to 2026 who have provided our country with 250 years of freedom. The following Saturday at starting at 9:00 am, we have a touch a truck event at the Manina Community Rec Center from 9:00 a.m. to 1 pm. The first hour is uh for those that have any sensory issues, it'll be a quiet hour. But then uh the full touch a truck is from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. And uh part of the America 250, we have um Huntington Bank is sponsoring the original Old Phoenix stage coach, and there'll be rides from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This past week, I was fortunate enough to um attend a veterans lunch. Local veterans and assisted living facilities were invited to a special spring lunchon at the Veterans Memorial Hall on Broadway. The lunchon event happens twice a year, once in spring and once in the fall. This gathering allows veterans from the facilities to enjoy the company of other veterans who have had their sim who have had similar experiences serving our country. At Thursday lunchon, over 50 veterans came from six Madina area assisted living facilities. Uh the volunteers who served the lunch were veterans from the four organizations that meet at the memorial hall on North Broadway. the American Legion Post 202, American Veterans 1 1990, Disabled

American Veterans Chapter 17772, and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 385. Just a really nice event. I think there's a picture there of the veterans. Um, and then finally, just a reminder, I know council will probably talk about this as well, but there'll be a nocost food distribution for city of Madina residents at the Madina County Fairgrounds Community Center on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. sponsored by the city of Madina in conjunction with Feeding Madina County. Volunteers from city council, the city administration, and as well as other Feeding Madina County volunteers will be present to help pack and load vehicles. those in need or those experienced food insecurity who are Madina residents are encouraged to attend the food drive on April 21st, 2026. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh Mr. Durham, director of finance. Thank you, Mr. President. I want to remind all residents that the city of Madina does have an income tax and the filing deadline we this meeting is live on Monday, April 13th. The filing deadline is Wednesday, April 15th. So, if you're watching this meeting, you haven't filed yet, you're procrastinating. Um, it's uh and we do have a tax and I remind all residents to file. Thank you, Mr. Huber Law Director. Thank you, Mr. President. I have no report. Thank you, Mr. Marshall, economic development director.

Thank you, M. Thank you, Mr. President. Just a couple items to note for council this evening. Um, we did get an official approval for our grant extension for the Yosenco site and I'll be meeting the um our consultant and contractor out there later this week to talk about what uh work needs to be finished so we can wrap that grant up and then get the property transferred over to the city. So, that's very exciting. And then um we're still waiting to hear from them on the Department of Development grant for the South Elmwood parking lot. And I did follow up with them again last week and they noted that um we should be hearing something maybe in the next week or so. So we'll keep council up to date uh as we get more information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Polei, service director.

Thank you, Mr. President. Um the yard waste program started on uh this past Monday, last Monday and we'll run through November. So I know folks were excited to put uh things out from their spring cleaning. Um on another note, Jared put that electric aggregation letter up. You as residents council probably received a letter. So our broker was able to secure a uh price for two years. It'll run through this June of 2026 through June of 2028. And the price is 9.65 65 cents per kilowatt hour. Now, it's not the greatest. We were at 7.37 cents, so it went up. Um, some of the factors that lead that led to uh the price increase is the um the war, believe it or not, that has an impact on pricing. Um, additionally, the uh data centers that are going on around the country, specifically in Indiana and um central Ohio, the power grid is taxed and uh it's just um a a big draw on the uh grid. So, there's also a few plants that are retiring and then there's a surge in capacity charge on top of it. So, we were able to get this pricing. Um, it's not the best, but it'll still um give the residents and the small businesses an opportunity for some savings.

Thank you, Mr. Fry. I'm going to start calling on you, director of communications. You have anything you want to add? Uh, nothing tonight, sir. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Patton, city engineer. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, just a notice that this week, Blake Avenue, we're scheduled to place the concrete pavement. Uh, it's going to be weather dependent. They're calling for rain, but uh all property owners will receive further information as we get closer to the day. Thanks. Thank you. Uh Mr. Worley, parks and recreation center director.

Thank you, Mr. President. Uh just a couple updates. As the weather's changing here, uh activities are starting to pick up and our parks. We recently turned the water on. Uh so all the restroom facilities are opened up and our uh sports associations are starting to ramp up as well. Uh so just be mindful that there'll be increased traffic at a variety of different parks, which is a great thing. Um secondly, the forestry department recently completed uh their tree planting project for the spring. Uh they installed approximately 100 trees uh throughout the town with a specific focus on some older trees and in Ward 2 on Harding Street. So if you drive down there, uh that's all replanted. Looks great. Appreciate the the guy's efforts there. And on another tree note, uh Thursday, April 23rd is Arbor Day. uh the mayor has designated it for the city. Uh we plan to do tree planting on April 22nd with the Kowanas uh who are graciously again donating uh this year 600 Norway spruce trees to be distributed to third graders uh across the uh community. Um so if you're free and want to join us for that um stop on down to Springrove Cemetery, 785 East Washington Street. Uh and those trees will be distributed on Thursday. Um and the third graders uh that win their appropriate cont or whatever contest that they have at their school uh will get to present that at the Kuanas lunchon.

Excuse me, Jans. And I think it might be on Tuesday the 21st. Tuesday the 21st. Correct. It's the same time as our food drive, unfortunately. So, but yeah, I just saw my Quana's newsletter and I I thought it was the 21st. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, Chief Walters, Fire Department. Thank you, Mr. President. I have no report. Mr. Dutton, planning and community development director.

Uh, thank you, Mr. President. Uh, community housing impact and preservation or CHIP program funds will soon be available to all residents of Madina County, including the cities of Madina, Brunswick, and Wadsworth. Uh, these funds assist low and moderate income homeowners with home rehabilitation and home repair assistance. A pre-application and more information is available at madina.orgplanning. org/planning/chip. Thank you. Thank you. Unfinished business, we have one. We have ordinance 3726. Mr. President, Mr. Hair, I move that ordinance 37-26 be put on the floor for a final reading and passage. Second.

Ordinance 3726, an ordinance amending section 113304, the zoning code of the codified ordinances of the city of Mid Ohio relative to the conditionally permitted uses. Mr. Dutton, you spoke about this earlier, but anything you want to add? I I have nothing to add. This is to add the um three separate uses as conditional uses in the C1 zoning district as discussed in the public hearing. Yep. Any further discussion? Clerk, please call the role. Dalvo, yes. Hair, yes. Isabella, yes. Lamb, yes. Simmons, yes. Simpson, yes. Coin, yes. Ordinance 3726 passes seven.

Introduction of visitors. The members of the public give admitted the opportunity to speak on any issue or concern which pertains to the city during the portion of the council agenda devoted to introduction of visitors. All comments shall be directed to the chair on a reasonable time limit approximately 5 minutes will be imposed. If there's a group, please appoint a spokesperson. Speakers should approach the rear microphone. State their name and address so it can be entered in the minutes. Members of the public will be afforded the opportunity to comment on other portions of the meeting is determined by the chair or by a vote of the majority of council members present. Is there anybody that wishes to address council this evening? Okay. Introduction and consideration of ordinances resolutions. At this time, I entertain a motion to suspend the rules requiring three readings on the following ordinances resolutions. Ordinance 5726, 5826, 5926, 6026, and 6126.

Mr. President, Mr. I move to suspend the rules requiring three readings on the following ordinances and resolutions. Second. Is there any discussion on the motion to suspend the rules? Will the clerk please call the role on the adoption of the motion? Hair, yes. Isabella, yes. Liam, yes. Simmons, yes. Simpson, yes. Coin, yes. Dalvo, yes. Motion passes 70. Ordinance 5726, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to advertise for competitive bids and award a contract to the successful bidder for job number 1151, US42 resurfacing and repealing ordinance number 16925 passed October 14th, 2025. Mr. President. M move to approve. Second discussion. Mr. Patton.

Thank you, Mr. President. Uh this is the uh project that will resurface US 42, which is North Court Street and South Court uh from uh just a little bit north of, excuse me, Homestead down to Lafayette. I would note we received notice late last week that we did need to increase the budget estimate by $42,000. Um, please remember this project is being paid for by through a $92,000 State of Ohio grant. Thank you. So, I guess uh Miss I'd entertain a motion to amend the ordinance to increase it to uh by 42,000. Okay, Mr. President, I move to amend the ordinance to include 42,000.

Second. Any discussion on the amendment? Will the clerk please call the role on the adoption of the amendment? Coin. Yes. The salvo. Yes. here. Yes. Isabella. Yes. Lamb. Yes. Simmons. Yes. Simpson. Yes. Amendment passes 70. Will the clerk please call the rolling adoption of your ordinance? Isabella. Yes. Lamb. Yes. Simmons. Yes. Simpson. Yes. Point. Yes. Salvo. Yes. Hair. Yes. Ordinance 5726 passes. Ordinance 5826. An ordinance authorizing the mayor to advertise for competitive bids and award a contract to the successful bidder for job number 1062, the Prospect Street Bridge Replacement Project. Mr. President, Mr. Hair, move to approve.

Second. Discussion. Mr. Patton. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, this project as it titled will replace the Prospect Street Bridge located just north of West Smith Road. Total project is $1.1 million. We do have a $754,000 ODOT municipal bridge grant to help pay for the costs. Thank you. There any further discussion on the ordinance? Will the clerk please call the role on adoption of the ordinance? Lamb, yes. Simmons, yes. Simpson, yes. Coin, yes. Salvo, yes. Hair, yes. Isabella, yes. Ordinance 5826 passes 70.

Ordinance 5926, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an LPA federal local project agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation ODOT for the state road project job number 1099. Mr. President, Miss Move to approve. Second. Discussion. Mr. Patton. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, this project, State Road, is a very expensive project approaching $5 million. Uh, we have secured several grants for it for in total. Uh, well, one's pending. Um, we would like to manage and bid this project on our own. To do that, we need to enter into this agreement with ODOT. Thank you. Any further discussion? Will the clerk please call the role on the adoption ordinance? Simmons, yes. Simpson, yes. Coin, yes. Dalvo, yes. Yes. Isabella, yes.

Liam, yes. Ordinance 5926 passes 70. Ordinance 6026, an ordinance amending sections 3102 B1 and 3105 of the salaries and benefits code of the city of Madan, Ohio relatives to the park department laborer positions. Mr. President, here move to approve. Second discussion, Mr. Worley.

Thank you, Mr. President. This ordinance converts two vacant part-time labor positions in the department to one full-time labor. During our peak season from April through October, the parks department has special events and association needs that often run seven days a week and we struggle to provide the adequate support for these activities uh on the weekends. Over the past few years, it's become even harder to um find part-time laborers to work 29 hours consistently in the department. So, this change will help us uh meet those needs. We did discuss this with council as part of the 2026 budget approval process um and it was also included in the uh teamsters uh contract. The civil service commission was also made aware of the conversion uh back at the beginning of March. Thank you.

Thank you. Any further discussion? Clerk, please call the role and adoption your ordinance. Simpson, yes. Coin, yes. Dalvo, yes. Hair, yes. Isabella, yes. Lamb, yes. Simmons, yes. Ordinance 6026 passes 70. Ordinance 6126, an ordinance amending ordinance number 21825 passed December 8th, 2025, amendments to the 2026 budget. Mr. President, move to approve. Second discussion, Mr. Durham. Thank you, Mr. President. There's unemployment um a number of passroughs of grants and so on and then some transfers related to the court project. Thank you. Any further discussion? Clerk, please call the role on adoption your ordinance. Coin, yes. Dalvo, yes. Hair, yes. Isabella, yes. Lamb, yes. Simmons, yes. Simpson.

Yes. Ordinance 6126 passes 70. Council comments. Mr. Simpson. Thank you, Mr. President. Just a couple things. Uh we know there's a lot of things going on in the world that makes everybody nervous. There's a lot of people being affected with the cost of this war. Uh health care costs have been gone up and eliminated for a lot of people. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Keep a military that's uh defending our country. Whether you agree with the war or not, keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Uh otherwise, just try to be kind to one another. We'll all get through this and uh we'll be a better place because of it. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Hair.

Ditto on Mr. Simpson. Be kind. Treat people with respect. If you don't agree with somebody, don't start a fight. Just walk away. Just walk away.

Mr. Simmons, uh just to echo what the mayor said, uh 21st we've got the feeding Madina County food drive. encourage everyone that can to help out. Uh we got a good response. It's a good team. It's a good effort. Uh the other thing uh I attended the meeting of the archives commission this week, this last week, and uh with a lot of the success of the America 250 programs, uh their attendance is up 46% year-over-year. strong candle light, strong um uh other events and a lot of the the 250 stuff has really increased our numbers. Uh they've got a hardworking commission and uh uh well staffed for dosent so they're doing a great job up at the engine house museum thanks to Paul Wood and Roger Smalling.

Thank you Mrs. Sal.

Um thank you Mr. President. Um, just to uh tag along with um Councilman Simpson and Councilman Hair, um, as having had a a husband and a son who both served, um, I I do hope that regardless of your thoughts on this conflict, um, we do keep our service members at the top of our list. Um, and then two other things. Um, being that it's midappril, I know that prom season is gearing up. So, I just want to remember and remind everybody, all the citizens to please be on the lookout for our young people as they um go on their excursions over the next several weeks. Um, they're going to be out and about around the town um and excited to be doing the things and possibly not paying as much attention as they should be. So, let's just all be aware of that. And then on a personal note, my mother turned 88 on the 9th of April. So, happy birthday, Mom.

Thanks, Mr. Isabella. Uh, I'd also like to, uh, you know, agree with the sentiments of my fellow council members. Uh, otherwise, I have no other, you know, items at Thank you, Mr. Lamb.

Um, I have two quick things. One is I spent, uh, a day, pretty much an entire day in Dublin, Ohio. um ODNR on a on a um a discussion about deer management um with the parks and recreation director. Um and it was fascinating to me because I have everybody has their own opinion on on a variety of issues. Um but I went away from it um thinking how fascinating it is to go to go and listen to something where you learn something where you never thought you probably would would learn anything. Um and so there were some great speakers, lots of good information. Um and it um further convinced me that we have the ability um with the by getting knowledge from from people that work on deer management um full-time. that we have the ability here in our community to create a a deer management plan that will be safe and effective and have good results. So, I was I was fortunate to be able to go there and spend some time with with the parks and rec director um and be introduced to other people and to listen to some discussions that I found absolutely not only informating informative but fascinating. Um, and one speaker in particular I'm particular I'm hoping to will come here and do the program that he did there because he went from the very beginning of this spa where we live in Ohio prior to Europeans coming and the ecology and the animal life and then the changes as we populated the area. And one of the most fascinating things I learned was that by 1900 there were no deer in Ohio. There was not one deer. So his discussion was

basically how did we get how did we get here? And he went from the beginning till now. And in 1900, there was no deer, but there were a few deer at at the Cleveland Zoo because and people flocked there to see deer because they had not seen deer.

Um, so it was educational and I think worthwhile because I think, you know, for me anyway, I'm I'm interested in how we are going to to put this together so that we have an effective we have an effective program. And I have one last comment and it's 100% personal, not typical of me, I don't think, too personal. Um, but I had a daughter. Uh, I have I had a student when I taught school at Elanovan when I taught sixth grade. And it's interesting to me because that daughter became my stepdaughter. And that I also had the mayor in that same class at the same time. Well, that daughter then got married and had a daughter and that daughter had a baby at about four o'clock today. And so about four o'clock I became a great grandfather. So, how old are you again?

No, I'm just kidding. 45. 45. I figured that. No, that thanks and congratulations on that. Thank you.

Um, I just want to follow up what Chad uh mentioned in the mayor regarding a feeding Madina County at the fairgrounds. Okay. I think we still have some city money available. Uh maybe even beyond this one thing because we did go to nursing homes and try to get some other groups involved to help uh make sure that you know nobody goes hungry in the city of Madina. And I think it's been working well. So yeah, if you could attend and help out on April 21st at 5, that'll be great. I think it's a worthy cause. Uh especially, you know, now with uh with things changing so much. I mean, there's there are pe people that are still food insecure, and we have to make sure that we don't uh let them go to bed hungry and and hopefully we do our part as a community to make sure that we serve those people and make sure that uh you know, not only do the parents, but the children um you know, get fed and get taken care of. So, with that, uh this council meeting is adjourned. Thank you.