Lakemore council approves police hires, insurance contract and budget changes; mayor urges support for fire levy

At its April 7, 2025 meeting, the Village of Lakemore Council approved multiple personnel actions, an insurance contract and several budget amendments while Mayor (name not specified) urged residents to support a replacement fire levy during early voting beginning April 8.

The council unanimously adopted resolutions to hire Charles Sailor and Brandon Linick as part‑time patrol officers and to hire Nathaniel Miller as a full‑time patrol officer; it also accepted the resignation of a part‑time firefighter/medic. The council approved a contract for liability and property insurance and passed appropriations changes that include funds tied to local paving and the First Street waterline project.

The mayor told the council and the public that early voting begins April 8 and repeatedly urged support for the village’s replacement fire levy, saying, “Please support the Lakemore Fire Department starting tomorrow.” The mayor said the levy would replace existing millage, not add new millage, and that without it the village could lose 24‑hour, three‑person staffing for its fire department.

Most actions on the agenda were routine and passed without extended debate. Council members moved to dispense with third readings and emergency rules where the ordinances or resolutions so stated, then voted by roll call. Several items read aloud earlier in the meeting were adopted later in the agenda after motions to adopt and subsequent roll‑call votes.

Among the ordinance and resolution actions, council: - Swore in three new officers following adoption of the hiring resolutions. - Approved a one‑year probationary period for part‑time hires and set Nathaniel Miller’s pay at $23 per hour with health insurance eligibility after 60 days as stated in the resolution. - Accepted an agreement with Ohio Edison for street lighting in the Hidden Lakes Phase 9 development. - Accepted the resignation of a part‑time firefighter/medic. - Authorized the mayor to enter a liability and property insurance contract with Love Insurance and the Ohio Plan with premiums “not to exceed $83,111” for the 04/23/2025–04/23/2026 policy year as read into the record. - Passed budget amendments that included appropriations or reimbursements tied to the First Street waterline project and funds for the 2025 road paving program; specific account amounts were read into the record during ordinance readings. - Read an ordinance updating the police department’s body‑worn and dash‑camera public‑records policy to reflect House Bill 315 (effective 04/02/2025), which the reading said permits agencies to charge up to $75 per hour for time spent processing body/dash camera requests with a cap of $750 per request.

Votes at a glance (each item below was adopted by roll call unless otherwise noted): - Resolution 7441‑2025 — approve hiring Charles Sailor as a part‑time patrol officer (one‑year probation). Outcome: approved. (See provenance: reading at 00:06:42, adoption vote at 00:40:38.) - Resolution 7445‑2025 — approve hiring Nathaniel Miller as a full‑time patrol officer at $23/hour; health insurance after 60 days; effective 04/10/2025. Outcome: approved. (See provenance: reading at 00:11:17, adoption vote at 00:41:27.) - Resolution 7446‑2025 — approve hiring Brandon Linick as a part‑time patrol officer (one‑year probation). Outcome: approved. (See provenance: reading at 00:12:36, adoption vote at 00:42:34.) - Resolution 7442‑2025 — accept Ohio Edison agreements for street lighting (Hidden Lakes Phase 9). Outcome: approved. (See provenance: reading at 00:07:08, adoption vote at 00:52:56.) - Resolution 7443‑2025 — accept the resignation of Steven Hlawad (part‑time firefighter/medic). Outcome: approved. (See provenance: reading at 00:08:50, adoption vote at 00:52:02.) - Resolution 7444‑2025 — authorize mayor to contract with Love Insurance and the Ohio Plan for liability/property insurance (04/23/2025–04/23/2026); premiums not to exceed $83,111 as read. Outcome: approved (reading and adoption included on the consent/regular agenda). (See provenance: reading at 00:09:48, adoption referenced during vote sequence.) - Ordinance 18‑85‑2025 — amend 2024 appropriations (add $27,000 for tree grant and $110,000 for 2025 road paving program as read). Outcome: approved. (See provenance: reading at 00:13:19, adoption vote at 00:50:47.) - Ordinance 18‑87‑2025 — amend 2024 appropriations for multiple funds to reflect CDBG reimbursement for the First Street waterline project and other adjustments as read. Outcome: approved. (See provenance: reading at 00:19:33, adoption vote at 00:53:38.)

The council also read Ordinance 18‑84‑2025 (NOPEC 2025 Energized Community grant) by title; that item was listed as a second reading and was not the subject of extended debate during this meeting.

Council members repeatedly reminded residents of upcoming local events and administrative notices: early voting start (April 8), voter registration cutoff, the village Easter egg hunt (April 19), a community cleanup (April 26), the Lakemore Reborn project community meetings (May 30–31) and the Memorial Day parade (May 26). Public works staff advised that hydrant flushing would run weekdays through April 24 and warned residents that rust‑colored water can appear temporarily and that hot water heaters should be flushed after system work.

The meeting closed after routine business and a motion to adjourn.