Macedonia City Council approves the purchase of a new gas-powered service vehicle, greenlights major 2026 road resurfacing projects, and outlines a comprehensive spring maintenance schedule for city parks and infrastructure.
MACEDONIA, Ohio – In a proactive move to modernize the city’s fleet, the Macedonia City Council moved to replace a failing heavy-duty plow truck with a more efficient gasoline-powered model during its latest session. The council emphasized that the switch from diesel to gas for the new service department vehicle would reduce long-term maintenance costs and eliminate issues related to complex emission systems that had recently sidelined older equipment.
Spring Maintenance and Infrastructure
The Macedonia City Council meeting established key dates for spring maintenance, announcing a one-time citywide leaf sweep and the opening of the residential brush pile starting Monday, March 30. Additionally, the council authorized the $119,000 purchase of a Ram 4500 multi-use truck and awarded over $824,000 in paving contracts to Ronyak Paving Inc. for the 2026 Road Program and Shepard Road.
Spring Cleanup: Leaves and Brush Pile Guidelines
Service Director Wilson announced a surge in maintenance activity to meet resident demand. The city will conduct a comprehensive, one-time leaf sweep of all streets beginning March 30.
- Leaf Collection: Residents are encouraged to get any remaining leaves out to the curb by the weekend of March 28-29.
- Brush Pile Access: The brush pile at 9000 Valley View Road also opens Monday, March 30.
- Rules for Disposal: This service is for residents only, and a valid ID is required. Commercial landscapers are strictly prohibited from dropping off debris. The pile accepts sticks and branches, but no leaves or grass clippings.
Department Reports: Parks, Finance, and IT
City department heads provided updates on upcoming seasonal changes and administrative improvements:
Parks and Recreation
Lori May, filling in for Peter, reported that spring and summer registration is now open on the MacRec website.
- Facilities: The wooded trails at Longwood Park are currently closed for maintenance for approximately two to three weeks. Additionally, the park restrooms are receiving a facelift, including painted floors and new stall dividers.
- Seniors: The summer senior bus trip guide is expected to be released by April 29.
- Trail Maintenance: Mayor Molnar noted that a pile of asphalt grindings will be used to exhaustively resurface city trails by mid-summer, noting there are no EPA violations associated with the material.
Finance and Technology
- Tax Refunds: Finance Director Collins reminded residents that the municipal income tax refund program has begun, with a deadline of July 15.
- Infrastructure: The IT Department successfully added a 10-gig backplane to the server network to increase data transfer speeds and handled 37 help desk tickets over the weekend.
Building Department
Assistant Commissioner Allen announced the hiring of Julianne, a new administrative assistant with nine years of government experience. In business news, a partial Certificate of Occupancy was granted to Beauty and Wellness at 8909 North Freeway as they begin their second phase of renovations.
Service Department Upgrades and Fleet Management
The council moved to retire a 12-year-old diesel plow truck that faced over $30,000 in repairs. Instead of investing in the failing vehicle, the city opted for a new Ram 4500 through the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program.
- Vehicle Efficiency: The new truck features a gasoline engine, bypassing the costly Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) systems that led to the previous truck’s mechanical failure.
- Budget Neutrality: Finance Director John Miller noted that leftover funds from previous equipment packages covered the cost, ensuring no negative impact on the current budget.
Infrastructure Success and Shepard Road Paving
The city achieved significant cost savings on its 2026 Road Program by leveraging a combined bidding strategy. Ronyak Paving Inc. secured the contract for both the citywide program and the specific resurfacing of Shepard Road.
The engineer’s estimate for the Shepard Road portion was initially $1.4 million, but the bid came in at approximately $824,000. Mayor Nicholas Molnar noted this was “fortuitous,” as the contractor’s presence for the general road program allowed them to bid more competitively.
Public Safety: Police Technology and the “Avenue Fire”
The Macedonia Police Department received authorization to dispose of its retired WatchGuard in-car camera systems via public auction. These units have been replaced by a new Axon camera fleet.
Mayor Molnar and Fire Chief Ripley also provided a debrief on a major fire at “The Avenue” (Avenue Care and Rehabilitation Center).
- Life Safety: 93 residents were successfully evacuated with zero fatalities.
- Mutual Aid: The response involved a massive “team effort” including agencies from Sagamore Hills, Northfield Village, Twinsburg, and Stow.
- Investigation: The State Fire Marshal ruled the fire accidental; a specific cause is still under investigation.
RELATED: Macedonia mayor rushes to help during fire at care and rehab center
Sean Washington Investigation
Mayor Molnar addressed a recent press release from the Summit County Prosecutor regarding Sean Washington, 27, of Macedonia. Washington was sentenced on March 23, 2026, for a wide array of felonies, including child sexual abuse, bestiality, and the manufacturing of explosives.
- Police Commendation: The mayor credited the Macedonia Police Department for “dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s” during a lengthy investigation into Washington’s “crime wave.”
- Public Safety: Molnar emphasized that the department’s hard work ensured a dangerous individual would remain behind bars for at least the next decade, stating that keeping the community safe is the city’s top priority.
- Justice Served: While the mayor personally expressed a desire for a longer sentence given the “absolutely horrible” nature of the crimes, he thanked the officers for their persistence in bringing the case to a successful conclusion.
RELATED: Macedonia Man Sean Washington Sentenced for Felony Crimes
Local Business Engagement and Donations
The council formally accepted two generous donations:
- Plastic Process Equipment, Inc.: A $1,500 donation to the City’s Fire Department Fund.
- Michael Carnahan: A $100 donation to support the Macedonia Senior Center meal program.
Additionally, Culver’s donated 500 gift cards for free ice cream cones. These will be distributed by police officers to local children seen practicing safety, such as wearing helmets while riding bikes or scooters.
