Starting a business in Macedonia? Start here!
MACEDONIA, Ohio – The first Macedonia City Council meeting of 2026 was packed with important decisions and updates, including leadership elections, new pet ordinances, a review of short-term rental regulations, ongoing efforts to address abandoned properties, and a comprehensive update on the city’s road conditions and improvement plans.
Proclamation Honors Vini Ventura’s Service
Summit County Council Representative Rita Darrow presented a heartfelt proclamation honoring outgoing Councilman Vini Ventura for his dedicated service to Macedonia and the Nordonia Hills community. Ventura was recognized for his leadership on multiple committees, his law enforcement career, and his extensive community volunteer work. Ventura expressed gratitude, crediting his family, colleagues, and residents for their support during his tenure.
New “Six-Pet” Limit Proposed
Council discussed amending Ordinance 85-2025 to replace the existing three-dog limit and proposed three-cat limit with a combined total of six pets (dogs and cats). This change aims to address neighborhood concerns about excessive animals while aligning with health recommendations and practices in nearby cities. The ordinance remains on first reading to gather more community feedback.
Short-Term Rental Ban Under Review
Ordinance 86-2025, which would ban short-term rentals such as Airbnbs, was introduced but remains under review. Council members emphasized the need for further research and resident input before proceeding, aiming to protect neighborhood character.
Addressing Abandoned Properties
Council discussed ongoing legal efforts to resolve issues with the Key Inn at 311 East Highland and an abandoned gas station. Both properties are condemned and have been sources of community concern due to their deteriorated conditions and unauthorized access. The city is pursuing court actions to either rehabilitate or remove these eyesores. Police continue to monitor the sites to prevent trespassing.
2026 Road Program: Progress and Plans
The city’s annual road improvement program continues to make strides in maintaining and enhancing Macedonia’s infrastructure. Key highlights from the presentation include:
-
Pavement Condition Rating (PCR) System: Developed by the Ohio Department of Transportation, the PCR scale ranges from 0 (very poor) to 100 (perfect pavement). It provides a uniform method to assess road conditions based on visual inspections of pavement distress.
-
Current Pavement Conditions: As of November 2025, 63% of Macedonia’s roads are rated “Very Good,” 12% “Good,” and 23% “Fair.” Only 2% fall into the “Fair to Poor” or worse categories, a significant improvement from 2015 when only 15% were “Very Good” and 16% were “Poor” or “Very Poor.”
-
Investment Over Time: Since 2015, Macedonia has invested over $21.6 million in road construction, resurfacing 86.2 lane miles—more than half of the city’s total 135 lane miles. The proposed 2026 budget allocates $1.75 million to resurface approximately 6.6 lane miles.
-
2026 Road Projects: Roads slated for paving this year include Vernon, Harper, Cherry, South China, Firestone, and North Spring Hill. Shepard Road resurfacing, a joint project with Twinsburg, will cover the stretch from Route 82 to the I-480 bridge, funded by a 0% interest loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission.
Council praised the progress made since the passage of Issue 3 in 2017, which has funded much of the road work, and emphasized the importance of preventative maintenance like crack sealing and rejuvenator spray to extend road life and reduce costs.
