The Northfield Center Township Board of Trustees convened for their regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 3, 2025, addressing a range of issues from residential flooding concerns to township staffing and infrastructure maintenance.
Township Adds New Services Department Staff
In notable personnel moves, the board unanimously approved two key hires for the township’s services department. Dale Dutko was appointed as Facilities Manager, while Calvin Maynard was hired as a Grade 2 Road Worker. Both candidates underwent extensive testing and background checks before their appointments.
“We’re very fortunate to have Dale come on board with his huge amount of experience and CDL-A license. He’s going to be able to step right in and start with our workload,” said Tim Black, Director of Services. Both new employees attended the meeting with family members to accept their positions.
Route 82 Paving Project Discussed
Trustees discussed the upcoming Ohio Department of Transportation paving project for Route 82, which will extend from the county line all the way to Twinsburg Road (Route 91). The project will involve a “straight mill and fill” operation with no major reconstruction planned.
“We went to the pre-con meeting. I’m still waiting for a schedule of details,” reported a township official. The Sheriff’s Office representative noted they would assign additional patrol cars for traffic control as needed through their detail commander.
Trustee Richard Reville expressed concerns about traffic management, noting, “I’m sure it’s going to be a real mess up there for a little bit.” He also mentioned that the township has been working with the state to fix timing issues with traffic lights on Route 82, particularly addressing delays for eastbound traffic.
Adding to potential traffic challenges, the Fire Chief mentioned that the City of Macedonia is also planning to redo the intersection of Valleyview and Highland Road this year, potentially creating difficulties for east-west movement through the area.
Residents Voice Flooding Concerns
During public comments, Madeline Bush and her husband Christopher, residents of Sky Heaven Road, raised concerns about increased flooding on their property. They reported that approximately “30 to 40 trucks of ground asphalt grindings” had been dumped on neighboring property last summer, creating a dam-like effect that prevents natural drainage.
“We have what you say, like at least three times the amount of water we’ve ever had there. It’s literally like a lake back there,” Bush explained.
The trustees and Director of Services Tim Black acknowledged the issue, noting the property in question had recently been sold. They agreed to contact the new owner and involve the Summit County Engineer’s office to address the drainage problems.
Winter Weather Impacts Township Operations
Black reported that winter weather has significantly increased the township’s salt usage this year. “We have been out approximately double what we were in ’24 and ’23,” he said, explaining that the township will purchase an additional 240 tons of road salt at $43 per ton from Cargill. The board unanimously approved this $11,000 expenditure.
Black also detailed the township’s snow removal strategy, explaining that crews initially open roads with center passes, focusing on hills, curves, and intersections to ensure emergency services access, before returning to fully clear cul-de-sacs and other areas once the snowfall subsides.
Court-Ordered Demolition Approved
In a significant property maintenance action, the board approved a $32,321 contract with Ray Bertolini Trucking Company to demolish structures at 99 West Highland Road. The property has been under construction since 1995 without completion, despite a court order giving the owner one year to finish the project.
“No permit was given for occupancy, no inspections were done on the property, pretty much absolutely nothing happened,” Black explained. The demolition costs will be charged back to the property owner through a tax lien.
Department Updates
Sheriff’s deputies reported 406 calls for service in February with one arrest, noting it was a relatively quiet month. The Fire Chief indicated February had been “the busiest February we’ve ever had,” with 33 squad calls in Northfield Center specifically. He also reported that EMS collections finished about $32,000 above 2023 figures.
The Services Department shared that the fall 2024 leaf pickup collected 3,450 total yards, continuing a downward trend from previous years. Black also updated the board on preparations to demolish the old fire/police station, noting challenges in locating water shutoff valves in the 1955 structure.
Stormwater Management Projects
Trustee Rich Reville provided updates on ongoing stormwater management initiatives, including plans for the Wicks area in coordination with Summit County. The project, estimated at approximately $1.9 million, may receive significant funding through ARPA money.
Erica Matheny from Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners gave a special presentation on their environmental and stormwater management programs. The organization, celebrating its 18th year, works with 24 communities in the Tinker’s Creek watershed and seven in the Brandywine Creek watershed to address challenges like over-development, invasive species, and increased storm severity.
Other Business
The board tabled a $40,000 fire department maintenance agreement for various medical equipment due to missing documentation. They also scheduled a public hearing for April 7 at 6:45 p.m. to discuss zoning text amendments previously reviewed by the Summit County Planning Commission.
In a community gesture, trustees approved waiving fees for the Nordonia Friends of the Library book sale signs at several township locations from March 23-29, 2025.
The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss property matters.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 7, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Hall.
