Council Takes Action to Slow Flooding, Accepts Donated Parcel
By Emily Chesnic
While Northfield Village pursues a funding avenue for a comprehensive project to combat reoccurring flooding in one area, a plan now is in place to help redirect some of the pooling water that quickly accumulates during heavy rain events.
Four businesses located at Northfield Road, in the Russo Building, take on the brunt of the water during a storm, and this has been happening for years, Northfield Village Engineer Richard Wasosky, P.E., P.S. said.
The most recent heavy rains, occurring during the past weekend and on Labor Day, resulted in businesses having to clean up again, Public Service Superintendent Jason Walters reported to Council at the Sept. 9 regular meeting.
Village officials have looked to correct the issues that lead to the flooding in the past but did not have the funds available to afford the extensive work that needs done, said Wasosky, who believes grants or loans through the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) could help them bring the pricy project into fruition. He feels the OPWC will find the project favorable.
At the regular meeting, Wasosky told Council he recommends that at least one more catch basin be added near state Route 8 soon, as one way to help address the water flow. He additionally said a trench drain at Summit Plaza is needed, and that can be taken care of quickly.
“At this point, we need to try to get something done,” agreed Walters.
He also told Council it would be beneficial to build the trench drain to help handle the water flowing closely near the Handle’s Ice Cream, along the plaza’s exit lane.
“We are trying to stop the water from entering the street and gathering,” said Walters. “Something could happen. We have to try to stop some of this water from just sheeting there.”
After hearing about the need for the trench drain, Council approved spending up to $13,000 for the project, with the work to be done as soon as the needed verifications for the project from the plaza owner and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) are in place.
“This will be money well spent,” said Walters. “It is about the safety of people and stopping four businesses from flooding.”
He told Council he does not guarantee the project will completely halt future flooding, as more work is needed to totally correct the situation, but this measure “will help.”
Additionally, at the regular meeting, Council officially accepted the donation of a small parcel of property, which contains just a garage on site. Council unanimously agreed to enter into an agreement with Debra Boose, executor of the estate of Jean Kino, to take over ownership of 10414 Electric Blvd., located next to Pitluk Preserve. The lot must stay in its natural state, but the village could use the garage on the property or choose to reconstruct it.
Reports of Department Heads:
Finance Report – Jennifer Potvin
During the finance report, and after discussion on the matter, Council agreed to move ahead with a health insurance renewal with Medical Mutual. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, health insurance costs continue to rise, learned Council. By agreeing not to shop around for a lower rate, the village will be able to secure an 8 percent increase, opposed to a projected 16.7 increase, for medical and prescription drug coverage. Regardless, village officials still estimate the increase will cost the village about $51,000 more annually. Council likely will sign the official paperwork at the next regular meeting, while looking into a possible health savings account option for the future, as well.
Police Department – Police Chief John Zolgus
Council learned the village’s cost for a radio system upgrade, going from 400 MHz to 800 MHz, has increased. Police Chief John Zolgus said the village budgeted $90,000, but the price now will be $109,000. Council members agreed to move forward with the purchase, in an amount not to exceed $110,000, regardless. Zolgus noted the cost still could go down a “couple thousand dollars.”
“We have been talking about this for years, and we need to switch over,” he said.
August 2020 Police Department Report
Department of Public Service Report – Superintendent Jason Walters
In addition to the solutions to the flooding issue, Public Services Director Walters expressed his desire for the village to put plans together for a police station by 2021. During his report, he said the current situation for the police department is “embarrassing.”
“A plan is vital. We need to get the police department out of the basement. It is just time,” he said.
Engineer’s Report – Richard S. Wasosky, P.E., P.S.
Engineer Wasosky, during his report, communicated to Council the traffic signal coming out of the industrial park, on Meadow Lane needs a new loop detector, as the lighting currently is not registering some of the vehicles, thus is not turning green.
He also told Council the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would perform an audit in the village and some changes may need to be made to keep the current storm water permit with Summit County.
Fire Department – Fire Chief Jason Buss
The current COVID crisis has highlighted the limitations of the current station and the department is looking forward to resetting the timeline on the new station, Fire Chief Jason Buss said in his report. The project will not resume until early 2021, he said.
A committee has been put together to explore costs for the replacement of fire engine no. 3513, Buss also reported. In an ideal situation, the truck would be approved in the first quarter of 2021 and delivery would take place late 2021 or early 2022, he told Council.
Buss also reminded the public to be mindful of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it “still represents a concern for many village residents.” Summit County has had more than 4,660 confirmed cases and is currently seeing a death rate from the disease of 5.1 percent, he said.
September 2020 Fire Department Report
