RELATED: Boston Heights Safety Center: Plans, Funding, & Future Impact
New and returning council members take office as Boston Heights continues park improvements, public works enhancements, and community engagement.
The Boston Heights Village Council is entering 2026 with a mix of new and returning members, a pair of long-serving council veterans stepping down, and a full agenda that includes a proposed Safety Center, redevelopment of key commercial sites, and ongoing investments in parks and public works.
New Era for Boston Heights Village Council
Recent elections brought both continuity and fresh perspectives to the Boston Heights Village Council.
Returning council member Bob Bartko has thanked residents for their continued trust and says he will keep listening to concerns, welcoming feedback, and working to represent the interests of all village residents.
Council member Sasha Chetyrkina-Miller, also returning for a four-year term, has emphasized transparency and community engagement. She has framed her role around asking how each decision will shape the village’s future, affect daily life, and protect the rural landscape, quiet neighborhoods, and quality of life that residents value.
Two new members, Chris Fenn and Susan Wells, are joining the council. Fenn has identified public safety as one of his top priorities and has expressed interest in working with village officials on a modern Safety Center that will meet current and future needs for police and fire, while maintaining a strong relationship with the Valley Fire District. Wells has said she is grateful for the opportunity to serve and looks forward to listening to residents and approaching the role with “heart, purpose, and respect.”
They join existing council leadership, including Council President Dave Maccarone and Councilmember Rich Lyon, to form the team that will guide Boston Heights through several major decisions in the coming years.
Honoring Longtime Council Service
Two longtime members of the Boston Heights Village Council are stepping down after years of service.
Ron Fenn has served on council since 2010 and previously worked as Zoning Inspector and volunteered with the Fire Department. Village officials have credited his commitment and leadership with leaving a lasting mark on Boston Heights.
Janet Miller is concluding five terms—20 years—on council. Over those two decades she has served on every committee and as President Pro Tempore. She has described her approach as serving from a citizen’s perspective, supplementing her work on council with ongoing education in public administration and municipal issues. Even as she leaves office, she has said she plans to stay informed, attend meetings, and remain visible in the community.
Their departures mark the end of an era and underscore the responsibility now facing the new and returning council members.
Safety Center and Village Identity
One of the most closely watched issues for the Boston Heights Village Council is a proposed Boston Heights Safety Center, a combined facility for police, fire, and village administrative functions.
Village officials have emphasized several key points about the project:
- The current police department operates from the basement of a more-than-100-year-old Village Hall. The space is cramped, outdated, and has been found lacking by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Some deficiencies are not easily fixable within the existing building.
- Without meaningful updates, the village risks losing its police department. If that happened, law enforcement duties would fall to the county sheriff’s office, likely meaning fewer patrols, higher costs, and a loss of the local, personal service residents are used to.
- The proposed Safety Center would connect a new police and village administration wing to the existing fire station, while providing needed upgrades to the fire facility. Concepts and floor plans have been developed with DS Architecture, which specializes in public safety buildings.
Officials have stated a target project budget of about $9 million. Funding is expected to come from a combination of:
- $1.7 million in grants already secured or expected:
- $850,000 from the Ohio Senate OTSCIF Capital Bill
- $850,000 anticipated from Congresswoman Emilia Sykes’ 2025 Community Funding Project
- Bonds to be repaid from regional income tax generated by businesses operating in the village
- Existing village funds and potential naming rights
At this time, officials say there are no plans to use property tax money for the project.
Nothing has been finalized. The council is still in the evaluation phase, reviewing feasibility, design details, and cost estimates. A public meeting is expected before any final council vote so residents can see the plans and financing details and ask questions.
This conversation is happening against a broader statewide backdrop: Ohio House Bill 331 created a pathway for dissolving villages that cannot sustain essential services like local policing. Losing a police department could eventually threaten a village’s independence. For Boston Heights, the Safety Center debate is not only about bricks and mortar, but also about maintaining its identity and control over its future.
Future of the Historic Village Hall
The proposed Safety Center also raises the question: what happens to the historic Village Hall?
The building, more than 100 years old, has become increasingly difficult to maintain. It has experienced issues such as frozen water pipes in winter. While officials have indicated there are no plans to tear it down, its long-term use is still to be decided.
Ideas that have been floated include repurposing the building as a community center or a small local shop. The Boston Heights Village Council is expected to take up that question more formally if and when administrative and police functions move to a new facility, with opportunities for resident input.
Commercial Redevelopment: Norwood Inn and Bass Pro Shops
The council will also be heavily involved in decisions around commercial redevelopment and new business projects:
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Former Norwood Inn Site
A prominent commercial property in the village—the former Norwood Inn site—is being readied for a fresh start. Plans are moving forward, with details to be announced as they are finalized. Redevelopment there is expected to bring new business activity and strengthen the commercial corridor, with the council overseeing approvals and ensuring the project fits community goals. -
Bass Pro Shops Near Costco
The village remains optimistic that Bass Pro Shops will move ahead with building one of its signature outdoor retail destinations next to Costco on Bass Pro Drive. While no official opening date has been set, discussions have been described as encouraging, and the project is seen as having strong momentum. If it comes to fruition, it would be a major regional draw and a significant contributor to the village’s income-tax base—key to funding long-term infrastructure and facilities without relying on increases in property taxes.
These projects, guided and reviewed by the Boston Heights Village Council, will shape both revenue and the character of the village’s business district for years to come.
Parks, Recreation, and Quality of Life
The council also continues to oversee investments in parks and recreation, particularly at Matthews-Thomas Park.
Recent and ongoing improvements include:
- Installation of a fountain and dual aerators in the pond, which has improved pond health and reduced algae.
- Clearing overgrown trees and brush, which has opened up views, brightened the park, and improved safety.
- A remodeled pavilion that has become a more welcoming space for gatherings and events.
- Guided nature walks that have drawn strong participation and helped residents see the park in new ways.
Looking ahead, village plans call for:
- Outdoor wind chimes along sections of the trail system to create a calming and distinctive park atmosphere.
- Deck and boardwalk-style pathways around portions of the pond to provide safer, more scenic access.
- Continued trail expansion to further connect and complete the local trail network.
Responding to resident requests for more opportunities to stay active close to home, the village has also added eight new pickleball courts. The courts quickly saw heavy use and have become a reliable outlet for exercise and friendly competition.
Public Works, Cemetery, and Community Traditions
The former Road Department is now officially the Boston Heights Public Works Department, reflecting its broad range of responsibilities, including:
- Road maintenance and repair
- Leaf, brush, and branch collection
- Snow removal and seasonal services
- Stormwater infrastructure maintenance
- Parks and recreation maintenance
- Cemetery operations
At Fairview Cemetery, located next to Village Hall, Public Works staff and a dedicated group of volunteers work together to keep the grounds well maintained. The cemetery includes the Garden of Angels, a section devoted to infants, where a memorial has been rebuilt with funds raised by volunteers.
Volunteers also:
- Decorate the cemetery’s 100-year-old fence, the Fire Station, and the Olde Eight Road Turnpike bridge for the holidays
- Host the Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Matthews-Thomas Park
- Organize the Craft Show and Soup Sale each November at the Fire Station
- Sponsor raffle baskets at the Fall Festival
Plots at Fairview Cemetery are available to village residents; anyone with questions can contact Village Hall for more information.
Community traditions continue elsewhere as well, including the Valley Fire District Steak Fry, which has returned as a popular gathering and fundraiser supporting first responders.
Seasonal Safety and Senior Support
As winter continues, residents are reminded of the village’s snow parking ban, which automatically takes effect when three inches of snow have fallen. Keeping vehicles off public streets during these conditions allows plows and salt trucks to clear roads more effectively and ensures emergency responders can get through quickly when needed.
Seniors in the area can continue to benefit from the Macedonia Senior Center doorstep meal delivery program, which offers fresh-prepared meals delivered to homes on designated days, with a modest per-meal cost and simple registration.
These day-to-day services, while less visible than major construction projects, are an essential part of what the Boston Heights Village Council and village departments oversee.
Looking Ahead
Between leadership changes and a packed list of priorities, the Boston Heights Village Council will be central to shaping the village’s next chapter. Key items on the horizon include:
- The decision on whether and how to move forward with the Boston Heights Safety Center
- Determining a new role for the historic Village Hall
- Guiding redevelopment at the former Norwood Inn site
- Ongoing conversations surrounding the potential Bass Pro Shops development next to Costco
- Continued investments in Matthews-Thomas Park, public works, Fairview Cemetery, and community events
Residents can stay informed by attending council meetings and visiting villageofbostonheights.com for updates on projects, services, and public discussions.
