By Julie D’Aloiso
Notes from Northfield Center work session and Trustee Meeting.
Approve entering into a contract with and creation of a Purchase Order, in the amount of $312,987.41, to be drawn from the 04-B-03 (Contracts) Fund, for Tri Mor Corporation, for completion of the Springwood and Natalie Road Reconstruction Project. Resolution PASSED
Approve a Purchase Order, in the amount of $160,000, to be drawn from the 10-A-15F (Fire-Other Expenses) Fund, payable to the North Hills Water District, for installation of the Natalie Fire Water Line. Resolution PASSED
Approve a contract with and Purchase Order, in the amount of $18,355.00, to be drawn from the 04-B-03 (Contracts) Fund, for Wolfscape, Inc., for lawn mowing and landscape planting and maintenance services for the Township for calendar year 2020. Resolution PASSED
Meijer Project
Potential Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Meijer roadway enhancements
The Trustees have decided to make this a separate work session – date and time to be announced. According to Zoning Inspector Don Saunders, “Meijer is in preliminary design phase working on the traffic design for both needed lane configurations for both RT 8 and 82. Meijer has requested the Township do a TIF for the area to help pay for the needed road work which is expected to be several millions of dollars. It is all so preliminary yet that nothing has been set yet other than both highways will need widening.”
Editor’s note: Here are the last plans that we have for the Meijer’s project. They have not released any new plans but according to Don Saunders: “The building is now 156 thousand square foot and faces Rt 82. JEDD requirements will determine the look of the building but it is too early for that yet.”
Summit County Small Business Grant Program
Summit County asked for contributions from Northfield Center. Northfield Center is not required to contribute and at this time as decided not to contribute. Local businesses can still apply. Click here for info about the Summit County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Grant Program.
Beacon Hills Park Project
On December 2nd, the Township was awarded a $114,885 NatureWorks Grant to enhance accessibility to and utilization of Beacon Hills Park. The park is located at the intersection of Beacon Hills Boulevard and Pleasant View Drive.
The Township’s Park and Recreation Committee will meet next Monday at 4:00 via WebEx conferencing software to specify the changes and solidify the plan and create a new schematic. Then they can share this finalized plan with ODNR (Ohio Department of Natural Resources) for approval.
Refuse collection contract with Kimble
Northfield Center is waiting to see which bid Sagamore Hills accepts (see the related Sagamore Hills Trustee meeting here).
Road Levy Renewal
Northfield Center will offer a Road Levy Renewal on the November ballot. At this time they do not need to go to the tax payers to increase taxes.
Sheriff Contract expires at the end of the year
Summit County Sheriff has indicated they cannot meet Northfield Center’s Budget. Northfield Center sent Requests for Proposal to Northfield Village, Macedonia and Sagamore Hills. None of the communities has given their decision. The deadline is April 24th.
If none of the communities are interested, Northfield Center will probably go month to month next year with Summit County Sheriff.
Northfield Center will need to bring in more money or reduce in 2022 or 2023 or they will go into the red. The trustees need to meet with the safety committee to see what the next steps are. They are trying to work within their budget so that they do not have to go back to the taxpayer. Northfield Center is currently paying the sheriff almost $900,000 a year and as a comparison, Sagamore’s budgets is 1.6 million and they have double the number of residents. The trustees talked about getting rid of the extra deputy but with the Meijer store coming in they will need the extra deputy. They did make a comment in the work session that they are currently policing the JEDD (Joint Economic Development District) and are not getting reimbursed.
Construction Projects Dunkin’ and Jiffy Lube
Construction projects are currently delayed because of the cornonavirus.
The Dunkin’ plans have not been finalized yet. Click here to see the preliminary plans for Dunkin’.
A Jiffy Lube is going in next to the new Dunkin’. According to Zoning Inspector Don Saunders, “The buildings are totally different. They will be separated by the common entrance drive which will be a right turn in and a right turn out drive only and their parking lots. They will both use the drive into the Giant Eagle parking lot to get to the light in order to be able to turn left to go west on Rt. 82. They will both share the underground detention system also. Jiffy Lube’s front of the building will face the shared entrance drive. There will be a 150 foot right turn lane added before the drive as a deceleration lane.”
