Council Also Hears Updates on the Service Building, Leaf Pickup and Hotel Projects, Plus a Clean Audit for the Finance Department
Macedonia City Council took two big steps toward tearing down problem properties Thursday night. Members passed a resolution to seek bids for demolishing the Key Inn. They also started the legal process to demolish a vacant house at 8246 Fairlane Drive. Two other ordinances were held for changes.
The Oct. 8 meeting began at 7:30 p.m. Council approved the Sept. 24 minutes, and no one spoke during public comment.
Key Inn Demolition Heads to Bidding
Council passed Resolution 66 on first, second and third readings by title. It authorizes the building commissioner to prepare plans, bids and specifications. It also allows the mayor to advertise for bids to demolish the Key Inn at 311 E. Highland Road. The vote follows council’s earlier approval of the demolition, which we covered in Macedonia Approves Hotel Demolition, Advances Drive Through Law.
Mayor Nicholas Molnar said the city is nearing the finish line after a long road. He said the city is legally there, though other steps remain. He urged council to support the move.
During the work session, city officials said passing the resolution could help with grant applications. City departments have been working to secure grant money. The cost is expected to be placed on the tax duplicate, so the city would be repaid over time. Officials noted there is always a chance the city does not recover its full share.
Fairlane Drive House Gets Demolition Notice
Council voted to determine that an emergency exists and to authorize a notice under Codified Ordinance 1385.11. The notice states the city’s intent to demolish the buildings on the property at 8246 Fairlane Drive. The motion carried.
Building Commissioner Nino Monaco told council the house has been a problem for as long as he has been with the city. He said the tenant moved out about a year ago and the electricity was shut off. A sump pump in the basement no longer works, so the basement is filling with water.
Monaco said a strong odor made it hard to enter the home. The fire department supplied a drone, which allowed staff to take photos inside. He called the conditions very bad. Neighbors on both sides have complained that the smell keeps them off their decks.
The city has tried to reach the owner without any response. It has also been mowing the grass, so it already has money invested in the property.
Three Estimates Collected
Monaco shared three demolition estimates: $9,200, $15,000 and $18,643. He recommended the lowest bidder, which has already torn down several properties in the city.
Law Director Mark Guidetti said the motion only authorizes the statutory notice. The notice will go to the owner and to the lender, since a mortgage exists. Council would then return after at least 30 days to authorize the demolition.
Drive Through Bypass Lane Ordinance Held
Ordinance 48 would amend Section 1171.08 to require a separate bypass lane next to drive through lanes. It would be known as “Megan’s Way Out.” The draft calls for a bypass lane at least 10 feet wide. The Planning Commission recommended approval Sept. 23 after expanding the definition of a drive through facility, as we reported in Macedonia Denies 7-Eleven Training Center, Backs Drive Through Law.
In the work session, council discussed amending the ordinance to grandfather existing businesses. Members said they do not want to cause problems for current owners. Guidetti said five other communities have passed or are considering similar rules. Three include some retroactivity. One triggers the rules when a renovation equals 50% of a property’s tax value.
Members asked what should count as a trigger. They suggested changes to the drive through or work needing Planning Commission approval. They also wanted to make sure simple repaving does not count as a major renovation, since the city wants owners to keep paving.
Guidetti will draft amended language and email it to council. Council agreed to skip the third reading and amend the ordinance at the next meeting. Molnar said he has spoken with the family, who want to attend when the vote happens. He will tell them once council is ready.
Contractor Permit Ordinance Held for Clearer Wording
Ordinance 61 updates the homeowner exemption in Section 1361.13. It requires a homeowner to file an affidavit with the building commissioner describing the work. It also requires anyone employed in the residential construction trade to follow contractor registration rules.
Council members said the affidavit is fine. Their concern was the wording of the code itself. One member said it could be read as barring a relative who is an engineer from helping with electrical work. Members said they understand the intent, but want the language to be obvious to anyone reading it.
Monaco said the work happens in two steps. Council passes the legislation first, and then the city develops the form. He said five or six other cities are doing something similar. Guidetti agreed to take another pass at the language, and council held the ordinance.
Mayor Highlights Service Building Progress
The mayor said the new service building is moving quickly. The target completion date is Dec. 26, 2026, less than a year after work began. Drywall is going up, and outdoor work is nearly done thanks to good weather.
Molnar also thanked the Human Resources director for the city’s breast cancer awareness effort. A table in the hallway sells shirts and pens on the honor system. Proceeds support cancer research or other health causes.
He reminded residents that political signs must sit outside the right of way and need the property owner’s permission. The city pulls signs that violate the rules. Residents with questions can call the building department.
The mayor said the veterans group delivered a diorama of the concept for Veterans Park. It sits at City Hall near the court office. He also praised Fall Fest and the safety forces night held the evening before.
Trick or treat is Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. He closed by asking drivers to put down their phones.
Committee and Department Reports
The Parks and Recreation Commission meets Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. in a public meeting. The city is still taking applications for an open spot, and the mayor said about 15 people have applied. He plans to make a choice by the first meeting in November. The Finance Committee will meet before the Nov. 12 council meeting.
Service Director Daniel Wilson said leaf collection starts Oct. 13. Residents should put leaves on the tree lawn, not in the street or ditch. Zone details are on the city website. Christmas lights will also start going up then. He said the department is hiring an administrator for the new building.
City Engineer Joe Gigliotti said the Ohio Department of Transportation is finishing the widening of the last leg of the Highland and Valley View intersection. Full resurfacing is scheduled for the weeks of Oct. 19 and Oct. 26. Drivers should expect delays.
Parks, Finance and Fire Updates
Parks and Recreation Director Peter Eckendorf thanked sponsors and the service department for the Sept. 26 Fall Fest. Haunted Manor returns Oct. 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. as a trunk or treat event. Signing up is free for individuals and businesses.
Finance Director John Veres said his team is preparing a year end amendment. The first clean payroll will come next Friday, and it will allow accurate projections for the 2027 budget. He expects to have that ready for the Nov. 12 finance meeting. The mayor congratulated the department on a clean audit. Veres said it took extra time because three months of records had to be rebuilt.
Fire Chief Brian Ripley said the Public Safety Open House was a huge success. It is held during National Fire Prevention Week. He encouraged families to practice home safety drills. Santa will visit Macedonia Dec. 7, 8 and 9, and Northfield Center Township Dec. 10.
Hotel and Housing Projects Move Along
Monaco gave an update on three hotels. A Fairfield Inn is proposed at the site of the existing Knights Inn Macedonia at 240 E. Highland Road. Plans call for demolishing one of the buildings there. The project has been before the Planning Commission, which raised concerns about two proposed driveways on Highland Road. The commission felt they sit too close to the bridge, so the developer is looking for another solution. We covered the earlier discussion in Citizens Bank Makes First Pitch for Macedonia Commons Branch as Planning Commission Also Weighs Fairfield Inn Access.
A Holiday Inn is under construction, and crews are installing the monument sign. A third hotel changed hands, and the new owner has improved the landscaping.
Monaco also said a 54 unit development is filling up, with about 40 units spoken for. Another housing development has six or seven homes under construction and 12 to 14 sold. Its second phase is about to start.
Correspondence Praises Fire Crews
The clerk read two pieces of correspondence. One was an email from a person helping at a freshman football game last Thursday, where a player suffered a significant injury. The writer praised Macedonia firefighters and medics for keeping the player and parents calm. The other was a thank you card from the Longwood YMCA preschool program for a safety visit by the fire department.
A council member also reminded residents that October is breast cancer awareness month. Screenings are available at the Cleveland Clinic facility in Macedonia, and the member urged yearly tests.
Council adjourned after a motion and a second.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What did Macedonia City Council decide about the Key Inn?
Council passed Resolution 66, which lets the city prepare plans and advertise for bids to demolish the Key Inn.
2. What happens next with the Fairlane Drive house?
The city will send a statutory notice to the owner and the lender. Council can return after at least 30 days to authorize demolition.
3. Why were Ordinances 48 and 61 held?
Council wants to change the wording. Ordinance 48 may grandfather existing businesses, and Ordinance 61 needs clearer language about who can do work.
4. Where is the proposed Fairfield Inn in Macedonia?
It is planned at the site of the existing Knights Inn at 240 E. Highland Road. The Planning Commission has raised concerns about the proposed driveways.
5. When is trick or treat in Macedonia?
Trick or treat is Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. Haunted Manor, a trunk or treat event, is Oct. 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
