Township’s Large Limb Pickup Starts Jan. 18
By Emily Chesnic
The Northfield Center Township Trustees now are collecting request for proposals from design/build contractors – moving along the process to construct a new safety building, with the construction project to commence this spring.
At the Jan. 11 regular meeting, Trustee Russ Mazzola said things are going well in the process, with it looking “favorable” to have a groundbreaking for the project in the next 90 days.
At the end of 2020, the trustees solicited for and reviewed request for qualifications, receiving 12 responses, he said. Of those 12, the trustees issued a request for proposals from five of those firms, with there being a Feb. 1 deadline to submit the proposals.
Mazzola is hopeful the firms will conduct site visits and submit proposals soon so the trustees can review them, conduct interviews, and select a firm for the project next month.
“Keep in mind, this is big endeavor for the township,” he said. “There are a lot of moving parts.”
Mazzola said it is an exciting time, as the project will provide the township with a structure to house the fire station and administrative offices, as well as an office for police services.
The township has been following a timeline to construct the new safety building at the site of Northfield Center’s service yard, between West and East Highland roads, just off Olde Eight Road. The new building will take the place of the fire station on Route 82 and the current Town Hall off Brandywine Road.
At a special meeting on Nov. 23, 2020, the trustees unanimously approved a preliminary sketch of the multi-purpose facility presented by criteria architect, Thrasher Group, of Canton, and authorized the request for qualifications for a design/build contractor for the project.
In the summer, the trustees selected Thrasher to come up with the initial sketch of the safety building, considering the needs and wants of Northfield Center officials and the Macedonia Fire Department and Summit County Sheriff’s Office, which provide the township with its safety services.
The sketch shows the building will be about 11,000 square foot in size, with the township planning to spend about $1.25 million on the project.
Large Limb Collection
Beginning Jan. 18, Northfield Center Township will provide a leaf limb pickup – only collecting limbs that came down during snowstorm events in December.
This collection will take place secondary to snow and ice removal in the township.
The township considers a large limb being at least 3 inches in diameter and at least 5 feet in length.
Service Director Rick Youel asks residents to bundle up any branches or limbs under the size requirements for normal trash pickup.
He said the limb collection is only intended to clean up accumulated debris from storm damage in the township. It is not for cleaning up all yard waste. Leaves, other trimmings, mulch, and dirt are items that will not be collected.
Those who have appropriate branches are asked to place the intact limbs side by side and about 2 feet away from the edge of the road.
Youel said the limbs, which should not be stacked, must be placed perpendicular to the road and over ditches.
Fire Department Report
The Macedonia Fire Department responded to 689 calls in Northfield Center Township in 2020. The call volume increased by 48 calls, compared to 2019, said Fire Chief Brian Ripley.
The department responded to two structure fires in the township already this month, including an occupied home, with there being no injuries reported, he said.
The fire department is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2021, and Ripley is hopeful a community event can take place this year to recognize the milestone.
Other Meeting News:
• The trustees authorized a purchase order in the amount of $30,000 payable to Cargill Salt.
• The trustees approved a memorandum of understanding between the township and the Summit County Combined General Health District for the screening and reporting of the outfalls in the township, in the amount of $11,297.79, for the period of Jan. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2025.
• The trustees approved a resolution congratulating former Summit County Sheriff Steve Barry on his recent retirement. He served in various positions with the Sheriff’s Office for the past 40 years.
• The trustees announced it would move forward to address a condemned home, located at 165 Hazel Drive, for safety reasons, with the township also working to address other nuisance properties.
• The trustees agreed to auction off obsolete equipment and items no longer needed to prepare for the construction of the new safety building. The items, including an old ambulance and boat, will be auctioned off on the gov.deals website.
• The trustees discussed ongoing park improvements, including an issue with a new piece of playground equipment getting too hot when the sun hits it. The township is working with the equipment manufacturer to address the concern.
• The trustees began to talk about hiring a part-time individual to train under current Township Administrator Helen Humphries, who has been serving in the role since October 2020, specifically to help the township set up the Uniform Accounting Network (UAN). While Humphries is not looking to leave the township soon, the trustees agreed it would be good to have someone else in place, especially someone who understands the UAN.
