Northfield Center Township trustees approved three spending resolutions and authorized an energy grant agreement at a special meeting April 21, while also discussing a possible lodging tax on short-term rentals and a new trail connection with Summit County Metro Parks.
Road Maintenance: Crack Sealing Approved
Trustees approved up to $22,000 for crack-sealing materials from Crafco Inc., split between two road funds. The work targets the more than 20 miles of township roads, with priority given to roads paved last year that are being prepared for a protective aggregate coating — similar to work done on Honeydale Road. Crack sealing is being done first because the coating does not bond well over unsealed cracks.
Work is expected to begin in mid-May, with two crews running. Each operation requires approximately five workers to blow out cracks, apply sealant, and manage traffic.
Beacon Hill Park Basketball Court
Trustees unanimously approved $8,488 to Site Technology Inc. for resurfacing and striping the basketball court at Beacon Hill Park. The same contractor will repair approximately 50 lineal feet of cracks in the adjacent tennis and pickleball courts at no additional cost, as part of completing the basketball court work.
The tennis courts are seven years old and have developed approximately 40 surface cracks, allowing water to penetrate and widen over time. The courts are closed in winter to reduce weather wear. Officials expect the resurfacing to extend court life by seven to eight years. Color selection will be determined before work begins.
The pickleball courts have drawn significant community use, with players from Hudson, Independence, Brecksville, and other surrounding communities. Officials noted the parking lot regularly fills on the first warm days of spring.
Cybersecurity Training Agreement
Trustees approved an agreement with the Ohio Cyber Range Institute for state-funded cybersecurity training. The program is funded through federal and state grants, with no direct cost to the township for the training itself. The township’s IT contractor will complete the most extensive portion of the training and may bill hourly for that time.
Officials cited a cybersecurity breach in Sagamore that resulted in close to $2 million in potential losses as a cautionary example. Completing the training is required to maintain eligibility for certain federal grants. Township systems including the copier network have already been upgraded, and officials are working to transition to a .gov email domain.
NOPEC Grant Agreement Authorized
Trustees authorized the Director of Services to sign the 2026 NOPEC Energize Community Grant Agreement. Funds covering two years of the program will be directed toward LED lighting improvements in the township’s cold storage building and a new light pole and electrical connection near the fuel station. Total estimated cost is approximately $6,500, reimbursed after work is completed and approved.
Potential Short-Term Rental Bed Tax
Trustees discussed the possibility of adopting a lodging tax on short-term rentals such as Airbnb properties. Three other Summit County townships — Bath, Copley, and Springfield — already collect a 3% lodging tax in addition to the county’s 5.5%. Ohio Revised Code allows townships to levy up to 3%.
The township has no hotels. All potential lodging tax revenue would come from short-term rental properties, which officials noted are difficult to track because many operate without registering with the township as required by zoning code. The fiscal officer’s office would handle collection. Trustees said they would research the collection mechanism further before pursuing a formal resolution.
Metro Parks Trail Proposal
Trustees reviewed preliminary proposals from Summit County Metro Parks for a trail connecting Northfield Center Township’s conservation land to Brandywine Falls and other Metro Parks access points. The proposed route would run along the 271 corridor, with potential parking at a nearby shopping center and a smaller lot near Old 8 Road.
The project faces several hurdles: some parcels along the route are privately owned, wetlands are present in portions of the corridor, and a bridge crossing would be needed near Route 271. The JEDD Conservancy District, which owns a significant portion of the land, has expressed support. The township and Metro Parks have been working toward the proposal for about two years.
If completed, Metro Parks would maintain the trail. Officials said the project remains multiple years away, pending grant funding, engineering, and easement agreements.
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