Springdale Council approves street program contract, mutual-aid policing pact and authorizes police-video fee

The Springdale City Council on April 2 approved three pieces of legislation: a contract under the Ohio Department of Transportation cooperative purchasing program for the city’s 2025 street crack-seal and cape-seal project, a mutual-aid agreement for law enforcement with neighboring cities, and a resolution letting the city administrator set a fee for police video records consistent with state law.

Ordinance 15-20-25 authorizes the mayor and city administrator to enter into an agreement with Strauser Construction, Inc. for the 2025 annual street program (crack seal and cape seal). The ordinance states Strauser was the lowest and best bidder under the Ohio Department of Transportation cooperative purchasing program and lists the project amount as $217,833.05. The ordinance was acted on at second reading and passed with seven affirmative votes. The ordinance text says it will take effect on the earliest date allowed by law.

Ordinance 16-20-25 authorizes the mayor and city administrator to execute a mutual-aid agreement for law enforcement substantially in conformance with an attached exhibit between the City of Springdale, the City of Forest Park and the City of Fairfield. The ordinance cites the Ohio Revised Code authority for political subdivisions to enter into such contracts. Council discussed the agreement briefly; Mayor Lawrence C. Hawkins III thanked Forest Park and Fairfield for accommodating requested adjustments to meet Springdale’s needs. The ordinance passed at second reading with seven affirmative votes.

Resolution R9-20-25 authorizes the city administrator to include in the city's records-management policy a fee for police department video records in line with House Bill 315 (HB315), signed into law Jan. 2, 2025. City legal counsel explained the fee structure is set by the legislature as a maximum and described it as an “up to” fee of $75 per hour, up to $750 total, based on actual staff time for legal review, redaction, and production. The council heard questions about whether there is a carve-out for individuals named in an incident; counsel said HB315 does not include a carve-out and that the city’s practice will be to consider small requests of less than 15 minutes as not charged. Mayor Hawkins noted that if someone faces criminal charges they would obtain footage through discovery.

Ordinance 17-20-25, a first reading, would declare certain city property surplus and authorize sale or disposal under the city charter and Ohio Revised Code section 721.15. That ordinance received a first reading and is scheduled for further consideration at the council’s April 16 meeting.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 15-20-25 (Strauser Construction; 2025 crack seal and cape seal): Passed, 7-0; contract amount in ordinance $217,833.05. - Ordinance 16-20-25 (Mutual-aid agreement with Forest Park and Fairfield): Passed, 7-0; substantive agreement to provide reciprocal police services across jurisdictional lines. - Resolution R9-20-25 (Police video records fee, HB315): Passed, 7-0; authorizes city administrator to set fees consistent with HB315 (legislative maximum described by counsel as up to $75/hour and up to $750 total; actual charges limited to actual costs and legal redaction time).

The council’s minutes and ordinance texts reserve the details of contract execution, fee schedule implementation, and any exhibit to the mutual-aid agreement to the administration and mayor for signature and implementation. No amendment to these items was recorded at the meeting.