[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6346029,"mediaKeyId","2247624-06b29a439794c88a585bff432792f536","parentId",2247624,"title","Council approves equipment contracts, personnel appointments and multiple procurements; full vote list","audioSeconds",694,"startMs",2179000,"endMs",2873000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247624-06b29a439794c88a585bff432792f536&start=2179&end=2873","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247624-06b29a439794c88a585bff432792f536/thumbnail_2179000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6346029/Stow-City/Summit-County/Ohio/Council-approves-equipment-contracts-personnel-appointments-and-multiple-procurements-full-vote-list","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346029-9b115c2b4ea75c7bab6d7977bc4deb5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191339&Signature=c39rLHB~HchJ-JgJi1BKUYEbc3XeD~nwIm5Q4XdpkGhGYvlSadkeZlhuUMrUemSfxZ-4mz38IaZNC12xNwuvY4gehO2X3ZSOX1~sfq03~1fxEirf~a1K7h7Y99Qt4Ms47zFa1jw7Wq0i5eJetcajHz5cQkdrK~~m-x5DLnjrgcCY4SQJ~4qrHXi-kxcwLZACnoXIiWXMVNFRb4OJfm-M30M8THQoDJLJtuUJtWVKu0HxmvvvuykHnNvU2A6p-AVnlTZEm7NPrMjxtnbXnoGAjL~QHXYxltWcW3jjSovIU3qwMEfGlWK0ITxdC3GQqV9MN42F36v9HGw54BdSHHfnbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Stow OH","date","2025-02-07T01:26:41Z","article","Stow City Council on Feb. 6 adopted a range of ordinances and resolutions authorizing equipment purchases, vendor contracts, staffing changes and intergovernmental agreements. The items were vetted across committee meetings earlier in the evening and then voted on in the full council session.

Items adopted include purchases and procurement authorizations for urban-forestry and public-works equipment (a tracked stump grinder and a new brush chipper), contracts for fleet maintenance and cruiser upfitting, funding authorizations for turnout gear and emergency respiratory-equipment maintenance, a contract for jail housing with the city of Macedonia, and a one-year Microsoft 365 subscription for city staff and council. Council also approved police equipment purchases and an MOU tied to a multi-agency violent-crime reduction grant that will reimburse Stow for eligible purchases and training costs.

Council approved several personnel and appointment items after committee review and one executive-session appointment: the council confirmed an appointment made in executive session, adopting the ordinance that appoints Samantha Arnold as the city's human-resources generalist. The council also voted to authorize replacement hiring for two firefighters and approved a new building-maintenance specialist position that city staff said is necessary to support increased facilities work, including at the municipal courthouse.

Most procurement items were routine and were introduced from the finance committee; some were corrections (awarding to the correct vendor) or replacement purchases for aging equipment. Staff noted that many of the purchases are covered in the 2025 operating or capital budgets. The council moved items to the consent or emergency lists and adopted the ordinances by roll-call vote.

Votes at a glance (selected items adopted by council):
- Ordinance 25-048: Purchase stump grinder (KTS Equipment) — adopted.
- Ordinance 25-049: Purchase brush chipper (Mobark) — adopted.
- Ordinance 25-050: Vendor correction for turf equipment — adopted.
- Ordinance 25-051: One-year Microsoft 365 subscription — adopted.
- Ordinance 25-052: Handgun replacement program (Vance Outdoors) — adopted; trade-in/buyback program described.
- Ordinance 25-053: Cruiser upfitting and equipment (Hall Public Safety) — adopted.
- Ordinance 25-054: Jail housing contract with Macedonia — adopted.
- Ordinance 25-055: Fleet maintenance contract (Clavin Ford) — adopted.
- Ordinance 25-056: Fire turnout gear, SCBA maintenance and hose purchases (Municipal Emergency Services) — adopted.
- Ordinance 25-057 (Resolution): Capital project closeouts and reallocation — adopted (see separate article on capital closeout discussion).
- Ordinance 25-061: Multi-agency MOU and grant reimbursement for violent-crime reduction (Village of Lakemore grant recipient) — adopted; Stow allocation ~ $72,000 including equipment, training and overtime reimbursement.
- Ordinance 25-062: Confirmation of Samantha Arnold as Human Resources generalist — adopted (appointment was discussed in executive session and confirmed by ordinance in open session).

Council also confirmed appointments to boards and commissions that staff recommended and approved a set of capital and departmental purchase orders that had been reviewed in committee. Where staff reported contract or equipment warranties, they said warranty coverage or trade-in allowances would reduce net cost to the city. The council’s roll-call records are in the official minutes and city files for line-item vote details.

Speakers included department heads who presented budget and procurement rationales (finance director, department chiefs and the city’s purchasing staff) and council committee chairs who moved items to the full agenda. There were no recorded public comments on the procurement items during the meeting.

Outcome and next steps: Staff may proceed with vendor contracting, equipment delivery and onboarding; departments will report back to committees if there are budget adjustments or schedule changes. Appointments and hires are being processed per the personnel ordinance and the city’s onboarding practices.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Stow - Council & Committee Meeting - February 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Feb. 6 meeting Stow City Council adopted a package of ordnances and resolutions covering fleet and equipment purchases, contracts for services, appointments and personnel actions; several items were discussed in committee before the final votes.","taxTitle","Stow City, Summit County, Ohio","taxId",55000,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6346032,"Stow City raises ambulance transport fees; officials say residents won’t see direct bills",2241,4482000,6723000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247624-06b29a439794c88a585bff432792f536&start=4482&end=6723","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247624-06b29a439794c88a585bff432792f536/thumbnail_4482000.jpg","/articles/6346032/Stow-City/Summit-County/Ohio/Stow-City-raises-ambulance-transport-fees-officials-say-residents-wont-see-direct-bills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346032-76291002677e9fd0908f78692cfce495/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191339&Signature=gN42VX1qrwuPenGxV4VRN3fodRE~1Jmmp2oOY6f3iy256E5uVKYkypMxESViq-EiMPPrfLjQ-YMtjQBhM4D7WQJ8aJRYk-oidXeCGldWSBaeor8gpN51ckQE5qbjUMGF8E~tLhmRGrbqmk6BrMfRWxQIVz85at8o-IZ~NAtGABhTH6wHjgf9u~f1VYxIrU2DEIp9imNgnuJfsvxw1N1fvCMdtLbM2BQyDSopt~EPAfMlC9iwpnWqLc93IAQLL9z9n5fzFgRb411Bf8lkVF3FsVL-E0NFCYGn-d8hl0Jot~rr6M8HcCldKmpEHF4QVEnsGSe6YoQRhciq6SGCF7gRQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stow City Council adopted an ordinance raising emergency medical-service transport fees, increasing basic life-support (BLS) and advanced life-support (ALS) rates to align with neighboring departments. The fire department and the administration said the change updates fees that have lagged behind area agencies and that billing practices are “soft billing” — the city bills insurers for transports and accepts insurer payment; residents who are insured and who live in Stow generally are not billed directly.

Under the new schedule presented to council, BLS transport will be set at $850, ALS at $1,000 and ALS 2 (multiple drug administration) at $1,200; mileage for transports will be $16 per mile. Fire Department staff said those numbers mirror rates used by several Summit County fire departments. The department also said the city applies a hardship review for nonresident patients who cannot pay.

Fire Chief Stone outlined the rationale: replacement ambulances and medical equipment cost substantially more than in earlier years, and the department’s transport fees had not kept pace despite a 2% annual escalation included in a prior ordinance. Chief Stone said transport revenue is earmarked for EMS equipment, ambulances and paramedic staffing rather than for general fund spending.

Council members pressed for details about the impact on insurance and on residents. Staff responded that the city accepts whatever insurers pay and that many insurers negotiate lower, “reasonable and customary” payments; Medicare and Medicaid reimburse at much lower rates. Staff and council emphasized the hardship clause that allows some patients to seek fee forgiveness.

During debate several council members said they supported the adjustment to reflect regional practice and rising costs; a minority of members said they were reluctant because a recently passed levy already funds EMS and because higher billing rates may indirectly affect insurance costs. The ordinance passed on a council roll-call vote (record in the council file). The final recorded vote was four in favor and two opposed. The ordinance takes effect as stated in the council resolution and will be implemented through the city’s billing vendor and EMS billing supervisor.

Speakers in the record included the Fire Chief (Chief Stone), an EMS billing supervisor and multiple council members; the ordinance was forwarded from the Roads & Safety committee and adopted at the council meeting.","Council voted to increase Stow’s EMS transport fees to align with neighboring departments; the city uses ‘soft billing’ to bill insurers and has a hardship clause for nonresidents.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6346036,"Stow City approves 95-foot radio tower and 25-foot setback variance near water tower",316,575000,891000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247624-06b29a439794c88a585bff432792f536&start=575&end=891","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247624-06b29a439794c88a585bff432792f536/thumbnail_575000.jpg","/articles/6346036/Stow-City/Summit-County/Ohio/Stow-City-approves-95-foot-radio-tower-and-25-foot-setback-variance-near-water-tower","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346036-072303ddbf1942ebb00e807a69410e92/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191339&Signature=VIjjxa~XJPQL-RlBOu2~zpVpcv2Q3sKrAAejwjOs1ZVM3P0q2v0m8vnQU4s8NvZFQXEooJq1crPg01Qx5HjITbsWBC0G5RFonWZZYuUBuyEh8aoUrQEQaPTCooLI-YK4m~-7ssm9Wy1xyiwwfV9Ukszy2nvRLXMzVLOg8BxZe8DFu4B7PimrdMNqw6AGWjJeGQlVooxtHP2KJo5Szfokhy05AsLcQedU74DcJXQk6RaqYtzpFIH6wBAkDze04u3PQgaaXlANiEYRy2G3hmdSinMymmYXhVpREQf3LsZAlQTeGndkBQrzDAvkxpOBb0hbIQPd9CcFOPPc486q5eUtdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stow City Council approved site-plan and conditional-use permits for a new 95-foot radio tower to be built within the fenced utility compound near the city's water tower on Darrow Road, including a 25-foot variance from the municipal code's usual 100-foot setback from the nearest residential district. The approval clears the project to move forward after a planning-committee review and a formal resolution before council.

The planning director described the tower's site and purpose: the tower will let the city relocate communications equipment currently mounted on the water tower, which officials said will make repainting the water tower easier. The tower is sited inside the fenced service-center parcel adjacent to the water tower and roughly 75 feet from the nearest residential property line and about 85 feet from the nearest dwelling; it will sit approximately 420 feet from Darrow Road.

City code generally requires a 100-foot separation from residential properties for this type of public-utility communications tower or that the tower be “adequately screened.” The applicant requested a 25-foot variance to place the tower 75 feet from the property line. The planning committee recommended moving the matter to the full council, and the council adopted a resolution granting site-plan approval and the variance.

Council members asked about alternate locations, interference with the water tower and operation of radio and microwave gear. Staff explained the location was selected to simplify transfer of equipment now mounted on the water tower and to limit new wiring and infrastructure elsewhere. Fire and building-review comments raised during the planning review were addressed before the council vote, staff said.

The project uses funding the council previously authorized; the planning director said the council already approved the appropriation and this hearing completed the land-use approvals. City staff said no outdoor storage would be associated with the site and that the project complies with the city's supplemental regulations for public-utility towers except for the setback variance.

Where this leaves the project: the approval allows the city to proceed with construction permitting and contractor procurement. Because the parcel is city-owned, staff said the next steps will be building-permit issuance and field work to relocate the communications equipment before repainting the water tower.

Speakers listed in the record included the Planning Director (Mr. Cowan), multiple council members and city staff who asked about neighborhood impacts and compliance with review comments. No formal appeals or legal challenges were raised during the meeting.

Council action: the council adopted the site-plan resolution and variance (resolution number recorded in the meeting file). The record shows the matter advanced through planning committee and was placed on the council agenda for final action.","Stow City Council approved site plan and conditional-use paperwork for a 95-foot radio tower next to a municipal water tower and granted a 25-foot variance from the city's 100-foot setback requirement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves equipment contracts, personnel appointments and multiple procurements; full vote list

Stow City raises ambulance transport fees; officials say residents won’t see direct bills

Stow City approves 95-foot radio tower and 25-foot setback variance near water tower