The Twinsburg City Council met Tuesday evening for their regular session, taking action on several key items including the renewal of an environmental partnership and updates on municipal infrastructure projects. There was a special joint meeting with the school board and city council on January 2nd to discuss a potential land swap.
Council members heard updates from the city’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee regarding upcoming cultural events. Nyeema Jones, Twinsburg High School’s Minority Student Union president, presented plans for a multicultural fair scheduled for March 21st. The JEDI committee expressed interest in participating in both this event and the high school’s Black History Month celebration on February 19th.
The council unanimously approved Resolution 06-2025, authorizing Mayor Sam Scaffidi to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners, Inc. The resolution was passed as an emergency measure to ensure the partnership’s continuation from January through December 2025.
During the department head reports, Wastewater Superintendent Nate Zuege provided significant updates on the city’s infrastructure. According to Zuege, the wastewater treatment facility processed nearly 916 million gallons in 2024, averaging 2.5 million gallons daily. His department conducted four facility tours throughout the year and produced 3,655 cubic yards of materials that were land applied to Medina County. The sanitary maintenance crew televised over 87,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer and cleaned more than 61,000 linear feet, while responding to 96 sewer calls from residents. The department also collaborated with service and engineering departments to repair eight different laterals and perform storm work, including televising 9,700 linear feet of storm lines.
Zuege also reported that the facility’s rehabilitation project is approaching 60% design completion, with plans to submit required documentation to the EPA by February’s end. He noted that the project could potentially go to bid by late fall. Additionally, Zuege discussed an upcoming electrical component replacement project estimated at $3.5 million, which will address aging infrastructure including the main power switch and other critical components that are 30-40 years old.
The Service Department, represented by Dennis Szydlowski, reported responding to 11 winter weather events so far this season, using 2,892 tons of salt. The department has also completed three rounds of senior driveway plowing, serving 226 driveways each round. Szydlowski announced the upcoming tree trimming program, noting that A-frame signs will be placed in neighborhoods to indicate active work areas. Residents will be notified by letter if any dead or diseased trees need removal, with details about the removal process and plans for replacement trees. Additionally, they addressed 36 street light outages in December, with 30 repairs completed and six awaiting replacement parts.
Finance Director Christina Conway announced plans to bring forward a declaration of intent for financing a new fire truck, expected to arrive in February. Conway recommended advancing funds from the general fund to the police and fire levy fund, with potential refinancing options to be considered later in the year.
The council also addressed concerns about Summit Connect infrastructure signs throughout the city. Mayor Scaffidi clarified that while the county-led fiber installation project for safety forces is proceeding, the city will require better coordination on signage placement, limiting installation to one week before work begins in specific areas.
In development news, the council approved conditional use permits for two new businesses: a self-storage facility near Old Mill and Darrow Road and a basketball training facility at 8287 Darrow Road, both in Innovation and Manufacturing zones. Additionally, Mayor Scaffidi reported that Joe’s Coffee, previously operating from a food trailer on Ravenna Road in the Masara Plaza, has now opened a permanent location on Darrow Road.
Twinsburg City Council unanimously passed Resolution 09-2025 as an emergency measure. The resolution authorizes the city to support the Ohio Municipal League’s challenge of AT&T’s tariff application at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Council moved quickly on the measure to meet a January 14th deadline for submission to the Ohio Municipal League, with all six present council members voting in favor.
The council also moved forward with sending Ordinance 07-2025, concerning the rezoning of property at 1816 Easter Road from commercial to residential use, back to the Planning Commission for review. A public hearing on this matter is scheduled for January 28th at 6:30 PM.
The meeting concluded with a reminder from the clerk about open positions on various boards and commissions, including the Board of Zoning Appeals, Capital Improvement, Environmental, JEDI, Parks and Recreation, and Planning Commission. Applications are being accepted until February 10th at 4:30 PM.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for January 28th, 2025.
