[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6050809,"mediaKeyId","3461365-0aaf9da61ca1b7a70b3a64e9b2b3ca36","parentId",3461365,"title","Council tables ratification of emergency water-main repair costing $39,480.71, seeks appropriation details","audioSeconds",286,"startMs",1466000,"endMs",1752000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461365-0aaf9da61ca1b7a70b3a64e9b2b3ca36&start=1466&end=1752","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461365-0aaf9da61ca1b7a70b3a64e9b2b3ca36/thumbnail_1466000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6050809/Ohio/Council-tables-ratification-of-emergency-water-main-repair-costing-3948071-seeks-appropriation-details","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050809-3970bb15a7e5ca993a679014c80c14e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507630&Signature=WHgq8y4RQgOC5z3mKrfYziZLwEYM9nIENut6a6fApOZGNgU2wSxfeU7B3TFRIxa1omrdLc6Asx5pELO4wvChu~HmyKmwTM0ZZQkrl~633JtSXkyHDZqB3xxhgMmtHWpAB4DMvt7BFTzNYoFoliVZKHL3B4-npkTZ0X4Q3~6cR-eup3S~r96nc4lQFSBb9fSnmL6bSdbpZZOfCqWI0GER89hcUSyBIZZIrBXaSDtgLgEY09K1jFsKiHF7cpaRoiL2X8s~41JPRlOyjBw8sufpmWXoRQGq3R4dm81MjdNEFlhxQG~vwpTmN6YTNn8Lsj4u0MfcqNA1C-tsIuYtj2JQ8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Pepper Pike","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","Council discussed and then tabled action on ratifying an emergency public-works expenditure of $39,480.71 for a December water-main emergency repair on Fairmount Boulevard near the college driveway. City staff said the vendor performed emergency work to clear mud and debris and that the expenditure exceeded the mayor’s $25,000 administrative spending limit, which triggered the need for council ratification.

Why it matters: Municipal code permits the mayor to make emergency expenditures up to $25,000; amounts above that threshold require subsequent council ratification. The work addressed a water-main failure that produced substantial roadway mud and required immediate cleanup and repair, city staff said.

Council concern and action: Several council members said they had not received timely notification and sought clarification about whether an emergency appropriation existed in current budget documents and whether the mayor had followed notification requirements. The law director and mayor referenced the ordinance authorizing the mayor’s emergency spending authority and the requirement that the mayor notify council at the next meeting; council members nonetheless requested additional appropriation documentation. Given those questions, council voted to table the ratification and asked staff to return with the appropriation record and any recommended process improvements.

Next steps: The item will be placed on the next council agenda so council can review appropriation authorities, confirm the expenditure’s coding and decide whether to ratify the $39,480.71 emergency payment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 22, 2025 Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The mayor reported a December emergency water-main repair that exceeded the mayor's $25,000 spending limit. Council members asked for appropriation documentation and deferred ratification of the $39,480.71 expenditure to the next meeting.","taxTitle","Pepper Pike City Council, Pepper Pike, Cuyahoga County, Ohio","taxId",72342,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6050814,"Council divides on using city funds for Cleveland Food Bank match; no donation approved",381,1799000,2180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461365-0aaf9da61ca1b7a70b3a64e9b2b3ca36&start=1799&end=2180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461365-0aaf9da61ca1b7a70b3a64e9b2b3ca36/thumbnail_1799000.jpg","/articles/6050814/Ohio/Council-divides-on-using-city-funds-for-Cleveland-Food-Bank-match-no-donation-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050814-5fe195ab69a75384e8153ee19afafa89/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507630&Signature=U-f-SVA-nOW2OEm1Rkklg2sUaidJi~F8N~JUWFDJaX7V~5V0UeHANHcbHBASHxHP8IFzEoldwONXNfn68rl-1UPcR2LNonbtexY9vNCC~KwSo~sShCypC7eULt7j-bus57f6n6FhBO9IPAnKHaOzEES-u-zaN9FvUYa6~Mkl8PMR7YGfKzIEiCbFSCNzRO8ouMWQ16Ij7AVc9ajt4iYHxY1x5dn5fUwqpPUZCbyxGkzdgdcJq5Af7LW5oCA9KAWUaez~WSV1nR8pxyJvgnhY6BiMZP-pry72Zt2WgrUW5YtYBPu7CX0mAM7m~KQt-5Zd0GZjkmlYOpjj~Zt5vuJz9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pepper Pike council members on Monday debated whether the city should make a direct financial contribution to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to match the mayor’s annual charitable drive. The council did not adopt a donation; members agreed to continue discussion and to seek alternatives and clarifications about legal mechanisms and beneficiary targeting.

Council member Jackie (transcript: Miss Dodick) proposed that the city match donations collected during the mayor’s drive as a way to boost participation and provide a clear, actionable target for residents. She said the mayor’s drive has a tradition and that a matching gift would be an incentive.

Several council members expressed legal and policy concerns. Tony (surname unclear in transcript) and other council members asked whether city funds may legally be directed to a regional nonprofit and emphasized that public dollars should primarily benefit local residents. The city law director (referred to as Steve in the meeting) reportedly advised that the city may make charitable contributions so long as the donation benefits the community; council members proposed seeking a targeted gift or community-specific distribution to ensure Pepper Pike residents benefit.

Alternatives suggested included routing donations through local, highly-focused providers such as the Orange Area Service Committee or Garfield Church food pantry, increasing fundraising at city-run events (for example, the Taste of Pepper Pike or ice-cream social add-on donations), or structuring a voluntary ticket surcharge to send proceeds to the food bank. Some council members said they favored fundraising activities and in-kind volunteer support over direct appropriation.

Why no decision: Council members were divided on principles and mechanisms. Several said they would be comfortable with a city contribution targeted to Pepper Pike residents or raised through a voluntary event surcharge; others said public funds should not be used to support a regional charity that serves a broader area. The law director’s written guidance and specific appropriation language were requested for a future meeting.

Next steps: Council asked staff and legal counsel to clarify statutory authority, to ask the food bank whether donations can be targeted to benefit Pepper Pike residents, and to return with options for an appropriately structured contribution or event-driven fundraising mechanism.","Council debated whether the city should match the mayor’s annual food-drive campaign with public funds. Proponents called for a modest match to boost participation; opponents and some council members said taxpayer dollars should target Pepper Pike residents or be raised through fundraisers. No vote was taken and discussion will continue.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6050819,"Pepper Pike charter revision sparks sharp council debate, heated public comment and warnings from mayor",888,3115000,4003000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461365-0aaf9da61ca1b7a70b3a64e9b2b3ca36&start=3115&end=4003","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461365-0aaf9da61ca1b7a70b3a64e9b2b3ca36/thumbnail_3115000.jpg","/articles/6050819/Ohio/Pepper-Pike-charter-revision-sparks-sharp-council-debate-heated-public-comment-and-warnings-from-mayor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050819-67af90a474a5ced4fa64e30e639809c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507630&Signature=JR3UyxYAq7M8RpKhn~aaq-OKXvIoVZQfCxifBkZYtLGUULVjRDojM6d3T-s1PZPjuOqJQGNRhwGKjqj8jFeQovDWs9zZ5snOsR2-ZG0LIG-QkfGgFz~8BIVvwC2C-LdVuLc9lX4FcEoExl4IFgfCkQ7bJv10FQpQVTW~9eKYRuEaxYjKQytnBBYox9Yedtob4Ki8eTdCR3racSP-p48B633lM94bXf~Ypwn5D~PFbtKFhFwU9NpNFmkWzyzR90bHjmjXuLg5qIhF-i2g6J2PYQY~FSP5oqQOUn8r2E9Jl656HALFjL1JuShgJacwgJaIH-06Ai7uiKsY4UEZq~k5Xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pepper Pike’s proposed Charter Issue 17 generated an extended, at times contentious, discussion at Monday’s council meeting as council members, the mayor and dozens of residents aired competing views about the charter-review process and the substance of proposed changes.

Why it matters: The revision would alter the city’s charter — the municipality’s fundamental governing document — by adding a council president position, embedding council input in some hires and reorganizing certain executive roles. Council supporters said the Charter Review Commission’s work was thorough and would strengthen checks and balances; opponents and several residents said the commission moved too fast, lacked adequate town-hall outreach and that the changes would strip executive authority from the mayor.

Council members who supported the charter described the commission’s process as detailed and consistent with national charter-review guidance. Doctor Wong, a council member, told the meeting the commission’s recommendations “strengthen checks and balances” and give council a “voice” on key hires while guarding against a “rogue mayor.” Several supporters said misinformation and social-media amplification had distorted the conversation.

The mayor sharply disputed that characterization and warned the revisions are “dramatic” and would change day-to-day authority over planning and personnel. In explicit remarks, the mayor said he would likely not remain mayor if the charter passes and said some provisions — for example, removing the mayor from the planning commission — are major alterations to existing authority. The mayor said the charter’s October effective date and current timeline compounded the concern.

Public comment across a long audience-comments segment reflected the council split. Speakers and residents alternately defended the commission’s credentials and criticized the city’s outreach and timing. Multiple residents urged more town halls or a November ballot placement so broader turnout could decide the question. One longtime resident asked why council had not held more town halls before placing the revision on the May ballot; other speakers described social-media-driven misinformation and urged voters to read the document themselves.

Process questions and next steps: Council members debated whether to pause and seek further community input; the majority said early voting and prior outreach had already occurred and that the commission followed the National Civic League timeline, so the measure should proceed to the ballot. Several council members said voters should be allowed to decide in the current election cycle. Others reiterated requests for more public forums and clearer communications.

What the meeting did not accomplish: Council did not change the charter schedule or adopt an ordinance to move the measure; rather, members debated strategy and described plans to continue public outreach and rebut misinformation ahead of the ballot. The mayor said he has accepted invitations to speak at outside meetings to explain his position; council members said they will continue to respond through official channels.

","Council and residents debated Charter Issue 17 at length. Supporters said the charter commission’s work modernizes governance; opponents and the mayor said the process lacked public town halls and the changes would dramatically shift authority. The mayor said he would consider resigning if the charter passes.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6050824,"Pepper Pike council authorizes engineering plans for two sanitary-sewer projects, backs regional grant for package-plant replacement",507,1023000,1530000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461365-0aaf9da61ca1b7a70b3a64e9b2b3ca36&start=1023&end=1530","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461365-0aaf9da61ca1b7a70b3a64e9b2b3ca36/thumbnail_1023000.jpg","/articles/6050824/Ohio/Pepper-Pike-council-authorizes-engineering-plans-for-two-sanitary-sewer-projects-backs-regional-grant-for-package-plant-replacement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050824-2aed94ef695c67b34ad15f9b064f711e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507630&Signature=KlO-b-qfEt2AgjdAyPGH7maJ9dsqhbWoJYIkeatOh9ySDGKtdt~XAIDKnj55bulRNIYMFgm8n-S~S925uLSdq6VTnYh0JcmTc5BHvMPWEI8W6F-mE7S-8TlYMPrHuPDM7JHfSFrzbyerGFkgx1ARl61mznKLjFXyHnmXwaENA-7nIbptEabtAlgDgQs9xMkctkggcrwIOnlLUUHEGbub0VJik6MDxxmxijb3YEQjEyafdcBALs6LXNCFjFxv1gTKHKm4Urvy-2kLHdScZAXsdWreKKafk8HKmIdJ2VpbVLgPbcQbVNgD6pDuGEqo5KjMxY4llft-yBKVAFoEbTwdWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pepper Pike City Council on Monday authorized city engineering staff to prepare specifications, plans and estimated assessments for two sanitary-sewer projects — the Belgrave sanitary sewer improvements and the southwest quadrant of South Woodland Road sanitary sewer improvements — and voted to support a regional MCIP grant application to remove a permitted package wastewater treatment plant near the intersection of Paramount and Lander.

The council’s actions move the Belgrave and South Woodland projects into the design phase. Don Sheehy, the city engineer, told council the Belgrave work has local pump-station infrastructure in place and that plans are ready to begin so the city can position both projects for bidding by late this year or early next year. Sheehy characterized the South Woodland work as a longer, more complex trunk-line and pump-station project aimed for construction in 2027 and said the city secured slightly more than 50% of the project cost from the regional MCIP program.

Why it matters: The votes advance two multi-home sanitary-sewer improvements that officials said will serve dozens of homes and reduce isolated on-site wastewater systems. Council and staff said the projects also align with regional funding that significantly offsets costs to homeowners and the city.

Council members recorded roll calls for each authorization. For the Belgrave authorization council members voting “yes” were recorded as: Miss Aitrack; Miss Waldman; Miss Gohnick; Mister Gentile; Doctor Wong. For the South Woodland authorization the recorded “yes” roll call included: Miss Zaitra; Miss Waldman; Miss Gohnick; Mister Hameis; Mister Gentile; Doctor Wong.

On the MCIP grant application, Don Sheehy described a package wastewater treatment plant on private property near Paramount and Lander that is permitted to discharge to a nearby creek. He said the plant’s permit will require renewal in coming years and removing the plant — replacing it with a municipal pump station tied into the city system — would eliminate a significant local pollution source and could be eligible for regional funding. Sheehy and council discussed the potential to assess costs to direct users and to include nearby homeowners in assessments. He estimated that, with grant funding covering roughly half of the project, the city’s share could be in the mid six figures but did not provide a final total. Council voted to support pursuing the MCIP application; the recorded roll call in the transcript read: Miss Zaitra; Miss Wilton; Miss Wilton; Mister Lomet; Mister Gentile; Doctor Wilton (each recorded as “Yes” when the mayor read the roll call).

The council and staff said they will continue design-level planning, outreach to affected homeowners and discussions with the campus owner adjacent to the package plant (identified in the meeting as Ursuline) about cost-sharing and easements. Sheehy said the conversion would make the facility a public pump station operated under Pepper Pike’s system and that necessary easements would be acquired.

Additional details: Sheehy said the South Woodland segment would pick up roughly 88 homes and that the Belgrave area includes about 30 homes. Officials said MCIP funding has been committed through the applicable funding period and that award timing could lead to construction in 2027 for the larger South Woodland effort.

Next steps: City staff will prepare detailed plans and estimated assessments, continue conversations with affected property owners and the adjacent campus about participation and cost-sharing, and pursue the MCIP application for the package-plant conversion. Council members said they expect later updates on engineering documents and assessment schedules.

","The Pepper Pike City Council voted to authorize city engineers to prepare plans and assessments for Belgrave and South Woodland sanitary-sewer improvements and unanimously supported a regional MCIP grant application to remove a permitted package wastewater treatment plant near Paramount and Lander.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council tables ratification of emergency water-main repair costing $39,480.71, seeks appropriation details

Council divides on using city funds for Cleveland Food Bank match; no donation approved

Pepper Pike charter revision sparks sharp council debate, heated public comment and warnings from mayor

Pepper Pike council authorizes engineering plans for two sanitary-sewer projects, backs regional grant for package-plant replacement