[{"_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",6268379,"mediaKeyId","3055803-f1a0cbaaacdf401900cd095376cd1867","parentId",3055803,"title","Resident asks council to allow backyard fence as city weighs easement’s legal status","audioSeconds",1260,"startMs",280000,"endMs",1540000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3055803-f1a0cbaaacdf401900cd095376cd1867&start=280&end=1540","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3055803-f1a0cbaaacdf401900cd095376cd1867/thumbnail_280000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268379/New-Franklin/Summit-County/Ohio/Resident-asks-council-to-allow-backyard-fence-as-city-weighs-easements-legal-status","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268379-78ffc46a672c4fe9dea64037a3b521df/orig.mp4?Expires=1775670328&Signature=S-nouNalweCQVLWGhfheZtJL~UmFYULB4gEbZoZWKaUMbkXeeRCvHb9Rq1XGcD9elstX8yqbpHavdIJaVILdDbv6~6MVi59lUU-jn8CbVpItOYPG6X2mODPqQ-KKmxOaIhcAGWKU6aRN0099O6Dpz1wP4~oZMLSREmbTRuGGahVRIQmVLozyxw8PG8MwUQGpFA6n~IgmvPKdumWGfzL~B7zz3S~W9DQmD4d-N4-AUEhqoUDsWATl7RO2Pm9WpR8qGyy3boPLDeKk3p-WV~O7PD3OosM5NK5yo-lzTMVAg4KmSeNpCRViFK~elflqQCAcOw~CS~2rouD-55c3sbVMRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of New Franklin, OH ","date","2025-04-19T00:41:14.343Z","article","A resident seeking to install a fence along a 10-foot strip of land said the city should allow the work because the strip’s original easement was for a school that no longer exists. Council members said they are reviewing competing concerns — privacy and safety for the homeowner versus possible established access to the adjacent park for roughly 50 homes — and will wait for a formal opinion from the city law director before issuing a permit.

The resident (name not specified) told council during public comment that she and her husband have paid for a survey and a title-opinion letter and that the mayor suggested the family’s attorney speak with the city attorney. “We are requesting to put a fence on our property, which there was a 10 foot easement for a school,” the resident said. She told council the school was removed in February 2018 and that she and her husband have spent money on surveys and legal advice to document that the easement was limited to school access.

Mayor (name not specified) described the legal and practical uncertainty the city faces. He said the easement’s recorded language appears to have been created when the land was deeded to a school and that the document recites access for “school purposes.” He warned that the only way to be certain the easement is no longer valid is through litigation. “The only way we would ever absolutely find out if the easement is valid is if this ends up at court,” the mayor said. He added that if the city issues a fence permit and later a party shows they still use the easement, the city could be sued; conversely, denying a permit also carries litigation risk.

Council members and staff discussed next steps. The mayor said he has asked the city law director, Sugarman, for a written opinion and asked that office be put “on the fast track.” City staff will also visit the site to measure, document options and prepare cost estimates. The mayor suggested the park fund could be used to pay for city-installed improvements that preserve safe park access while addressing the homeowner’s privacy concerns — for example, matched fencing on both sides of the path, concrete bollards, or partial fence sections that keep an unobstructed, safe route for neighborhood children.

Council and the resident spoke about scale and timing: the neighborhood has about 50 houses, the resident said, and the homeowner has already bought fence materials. Council members pressed for information on how many households currently rely on the easement for park access; staff said that count is not known and may require outreach or a site survey. The mayor said a law-office opinion normally takes a few weeks, and he would prefer to have the written recommendation before staff issues any permit. He also authorized the service director to meet with the homeowners to gather measurements and cost figures so council can weigh options quickly.

The council did not take a vote on the fence during the meeting. The immediate outcomes were directional: (1) the law director will be asked to provide a legal opinion about the easement’s status; (2) the service director will produce on-site measurements and cost estimates for a range of treatments (matching white fence, partial privacy screening, bollards, or combined approaches); and (3) staff and council will return to the matter after the opinion and cost information are available.

Council members emphasized they wanted a solution that preserves safe park access for neighborhood children while addressing the resident’s privacy and safety concerns. The mayor said he would notify the resident when the law opinion is available and that staff would discuss potential city assistance or reimbursement options once a recommended approach is identified.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council 4-16-2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident seeking to install a fence along a 10-foot strip of land said the city should allow the work because the strip’s original easement was for a school that no longer exists.","taxTitle","New Franklin, Summit County, Ohio","taxId",52170,"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},6268375,"New Franklin readies ballot strategy as 5.75-mill fire levy nears expiration amid state bill threat",448,2067000,2515000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3055803-f1a0cbaaacdf401900cd095376cd1867&start=2067&end=2515","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3055803-f1a0cbaaacdf401900cd095376cd1867/thumbnail_2067000.jpg","/articles/6268375/New-Franklin/Summit-County/Ohio/New-Franklin-readies-ballot-strategy-as-575-mill-fire-levy-nears-expiration-amid-state-bill-threat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268375-dfd3e2e9e85f9684c131fccd7172c254/orig.mp4?Expires=1775670328&Signature=d2CTO5lx29BEzf-RaMnhZ6ZiWlvMPdo770UkcdhCWU28w43EsYC9wG8LelWbpfkqkx~9eNi4Y1SHnf~i6wmEtKL9tO164V9HuO~kC85zmwDctv75t8M8k~~7asHPIHJ54k3jBIkwLqcEURATi0dzTBpI~BO8wpbukmTSVyui5nX0LO59yDle~IJ8ltBz1~IAX~6387Z9Ok9dKo9uuiCToHR8Ohj5YpiuzggaKC~hoywyuc5YnY4dqn3-4SMtoiRA-txBrEbd9GtYa2YfSYfnGXNLCMmYRn0XyNCX8lqRYgVK2ZnxU9e9OCTlEUYmG6N2J24d2eBz6ewC45qcjeWWCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials told the council that the primary fire levy, currently 5.75 mills, expires at the end of the year and that a pending state bill may remove the city’s ability to place replacement levies on the ballot. The mayor said the levy now produces about $2.3 million annually and that a replacement levy tied to current appraised values would bring that to about $3.3 million — a difference the city says is needed to staff stations and cover rising costs.

“We will let the existing 5.75 mill levy expire and put on the ballot a new 5.75 mill levy,” the mayor told council, describing the approach council staff plan if the legislature removes the replacement-levy option. He said a $200,000 house would see roughly a $13-a-month increase under the new levy figures provided in preliminary forecasts.

Council received additional finance items in the same update. Municipal advisors the city retained last year have completed a preliminary review of the city’s finances and will present an assessment and a PowerPoint to council at the second meeting in May (May 21). The presentation will include high-level findings and will lead into a five-year forecast the advisors will prepare.

The mayor outlined a procedural path: staff intends to present a resolution of necessity to council at the next meeting, which starts the county certification process; once certified by the county fiscal office, council would then consider a resolution to place the measure on the ballot. The mayor reminded council the board of elections requires final ballot language 90 days before the election, meaning the timeline is constrained (the mayor cited an August deadline for ballot language submission).

The mayor said the city is monitoring legislation that could bar replacement levies and cited recent developments: House Bill 28 had passed the House and was under consideration in the Senate ways-and-means committee; the mayor said a Senate committee vice chair indicated support. If the law removes the replacement-levy route before the city finalizes plans, the mayor said the city could not rely on a straight replacement and instead would proceed with the new-levy approach described above.

Council did not take a final vote on levy language at this meeting. Staff listed intended next steps: municipal advisors will present to council on May 21; the mayor will bring a resolution of necessity for council consideration at the next meeting; the fiscal office will calculate certified numbers; and, if required, council will consider placing the new 5.75-mill levy on a future ballot.

","City officials said the 5.75-mill primary fire levy that expires at the end of the year now generates about $2.3 million and that a new 5.75-mill levy tied to current valuations could yield roughly $3.3 million.",{"_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},6268369,"Council adopts NOPEC grant acceptance and short-term rental resolution; minutes and financials approved",1966,24000,1990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3055803-f1a0cbaaacdf401900cd095376cd1867&start=24&end=1990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3055803-f1a0cbaaacdf401900cd095376cd1867/thumbnail_24000.jpg","/articles/6268369/New-Franklin/Summit-County/Ohio/Council-adopts-NOPEC-grant-acceptance-and-short-term-rental-resolution-minutes-and-financials-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268369-7a43bca3f7dde338b9f27885a9568e4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775670328&Signature=MEse6DC~MnKnb970FDwUtVPLwGvzvs9GX6s7ErxUav~GVs1x23N9m33OpPRaieDiunAC6T2clBqEkNK5SDjToc4ksAjgnrwtKLIbNbTrmxdYfIqQ~GIvf1FISLbHueS-IfQQG6MdmB9QAbFCO7SbRoAJYb-1j2jBwNT2ANJ94g-g4fXxIYP5lfEPPDWSV2-Uasf6yu25vh2pxIfg1pjHiM2SCuNVPSah3Psv7OR8vMu~NK295rD7uXTYHxrK9wpVgkzHnNmwhkpxO8DaSK8agLY-lYO7igX16wfmnnUDBPWXXWV6ED9jvTy7Dz1t2O~ppvL9Ze-a9Z54pOoexBixKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its meeting, the New Franklin City Council adopted two resolutions and approved routine business items.

Resolutions
- Resolution 25‑R‑23: The council adopted a resolution authorizing the mayor to accept Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) 2025 Energized Community grants and declaring an emergency. Council discussion during the committee considered that the city’s prorated share of NOPEC funds is approximately $8,000–$9,000 and that the funds generally must be used for electrical or lighting projects. Council adopted the resolution; the clerk announced, “Resolution passes 6 to 0.”

- Resolution 25‑R‑24: The council adopted a resolution opposing limitations on municipal authority to regulate short‑term rental properties. The measure was discussed in the community development committee as a response to state legislation (Senate Bill 104 was discussed earlier in committee). Council voted to adopt the resolution; the motion passed with recorded affirmative votes.

Routine business and procedural actions
- The council approved minutes from the April 2, 2025 public hearing (motion to amend minutes and record that the public hearing was continued was made and carried).
- The council approved the financials for March 2025, subject to audit.
- The council took procedural steps to continue a public hearing on land development and subdivision regulation amendments; a continuation to May 7 was moved and approved for the public hearing schedule.

Votes and tallies recorded in the meeting transcript were announced for the major resolutions; where the transcript recorded a numeric outcome, that tally is noted above. The council did not take votes on every procedural item in a uniform roll call at the time of the statements; minutes reflect the approvals announced on the record.

","The New Franklin City Council voted to accept a NOPEC energized community grant and adopted a resolution opposing state limits on municipal short-term rental regulation. Council also approved prior meeting minutes and March financials subject to audit; a public-hearing continuation and related minutes amendment were scheduled.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident asks council to allow backyard fence as city weighs easement’s legal status

New Franklin readies ballot strategy as 5.75-mill fire levy nears expiration amid state bill threat

Council adopts NOPEC grant acceptance and short-term rental resolution; minutes and financials approved