Barberton City Council on Monday approved several budget appropriations for public safety and street work and authorized applications to the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) for waterline and roadway projects.

On appropriations, council adopted Ordinance 97-2025 to appropriate $24,363.02 to the fire department's operating and maintenance budget, Ordinance 101-2025 to appropriate $10,000 to the police department's operating and maintenance budget, and Ordinance 99-2025 to appropriate $230,000 to the street capital fund for the concrete road program. The measures were considered under suspension of council rules and adopted by roll call.

On infrastructure funding, Councilman Griffin presented Resolution 98-2025 authorizing the mayor to prepare and submit OPWC funding applications for the Fourteenth Street NW, Sixteenth Street NW and Nineteenth Street NW waterline replacement projects and a concrete roadway replacement project including Benton Street, Brighton Circle, Azalea Circle and Saxon Circle. Council also adopted Ordinance 103-2025 authorizing a cooperative joint OPWC application with the City of Norton under the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP).

Council also discussed timeline and procurement logistics for an upcoming Stratford Avenue project; the city administration told council it will open bids and may request a special meeting during the August recess to award a contract to the lowest bidder so work can proceed earlier.

What happens next: the city will submit the OPWC applications, proceed with the planned capital projects, and the administration will coordinate any special meeting needed to award construction contracts when bids are evaluated.