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Baberton City Council approves multiple contracts, creates CO2/smoke-detector fund
Summary
At its Jan. 27 meeting the council adopted several ordinances to pay emergency repairs, award construction and electrical contracts, authorize an auction of salvage items and create a new fund for CO2/smoke detectors; a separate resolution on a $100,000 foundation grant for the justice center was adopted.
Baberton City Council on Jan. 27 approved a series of ordinances and a grant-resolution, including contracts for downtown lighting and wastewater-plant pump-station improvements, a payment for emergency engine repairs and creation of a new fund to pay for CO2 and smoke detectors in rental units.
The items won final approval after council suspended the usual waiting periods and voted on each measure by roll call. The votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Key outcomes
- Ordinance 11-2025 — Authorize payment to Atlantic Emergency Solutions for emergency repairs to Fire Department Engine 3, $3,926.79. Moved by Councilor Mary Thompson; seconded by Councilor Jerry Heideck. Adopted (roll call recorded "yes" from all council members present).
- Resolution 12-2025 — Authorize the mayor to apply to the Barberton Community Foundation for a $100,000 grant toward the city justice-center project and declare an emergency. Moved by Thompson; seconded by Heideck. Adopted. (Council discussion clarified the foundation typically expects funds to be spent within a year; staff later said the city had already received $100,000 and that the resolution formalizes council action.)
- Ordinance 13-2025 — Award Haywood Electric Inc. a contract to install festoon and programmable LED street lighting on Second Street, total bid $122,380.25; declares emergency. Moved by Councilor Emily Beck; seconded by Thompson. Adopted. Councilors noted an additional, separate FirstEnergy charge to remove existing utility poles (estimated $18,000) that is not part of the Haywood contract.
- Ordinance 14-2025 — Authorize the mayor or designee to contract with PECO to hold an auction of items remaining in the 107 Fifth Street building before demolition; declares emergency. Moved by Councilor Monty Easterling; seconded by Councilor Kayla Gearhart. Adopted.
- Ordinance 15-2025 — Create a new revenue fund for CO2 and smoke detectors tied to rental-registration fee revenue; declares emergency. Moved by Thompson; seconded by Heideck. Adopted. Council and staff said one percent of rental-registration fees will be set aside in the new fund to purchase and install CO2/smoke detectors in rental units.
- Ordinance 16-2025 — Award North Bay Construction Inc. a contract for return-sludge pump-station improvements at the wastewater-treatment plant (WWTP), $717,288; declares emergency. Moved by Councilor Griffin; seconded by Councilor Jennifer Hager. Adopted.
Items left at second reading
- Ordinance 2-2025 — Contract with Haas & Stop (architects) for schematic architectural design work for a city-hall and justice-center project, not to exceed $104,200. Council held this item at second reading after extended discussion about sequencing the schematic-design work and the larger financing and bond-rating steps; no final vote was taken on Jan. 27.
Why it matters
The package moves forward several capital and maintenance projects (downtown lighting and WWTP pump-station work), secures short-term repairs for public safety equipment and establishes a dedicated funding stream to equip rental units with CO2/smoke detectors — an action tied to the rental-registration program. The justice-center schematic-design item remains pending while council and staff finalize funding strategy and outreach to the Barberton Community Foundation.
Votes at a glance (roll-call summaries)
- Ordinance 11-2025 (Atlantic Emergency Solutions): Adopted; mover Mary Thompson, second Jerry Heideck; roll call recorded unanimous yes votes. - Resolution 12-2025 (Barberton Community Foundation grant application, $100,000): Adopted; mover Mary Thompson, second Jerry Heideck; unanimous. - Ordinance 13-2025 (Haywood Electric Inc., Second Street festoon/LED lighting, $122,380.25): Adopted; mover Emily Beck, second Mary Thompson; unanimous. Note: separate FirstEnergy pole-removal estimate discussed (~$18,000) and is not included in this ordinance. - Ordinance 14-2025 (PECO auction of 107 Fifth Street salvage): Adopted; mover Monty Easterling, second Kayla Gearhart; unanimous. - Ordinance 15-2025 (Create CO2/smoke detector fund tied to rental-registration fees): Adopted; mover Mary Thompson, second Jerry Heideck; unanimous. - Ordinance 16-2025 (North Bay Construction Inc., WWTP return-sludge pump-station improvements, $717,288): Adopted; mover Councilor Griffin, second Councilor Jennifer Hager; unanimous.
What the records show
Clerk roll-call records in the meeting minutes show the ordinances and resolution listed above were adopted following motions to suspend the normal three-reading rule, and council used recorded roll-call votes on final adoption for each measure.
For details — contracts, award documents and formal ordinances — see the city clerk’s office or posted meeting packet.
