City Manager Updates West Main Work, Seeks State Grant for Comprehensive Plan; Council Ratifies IAFF Contract and Approves Purchase of Jet-Vac Truck

City Manager Barquette updated the City of Geneva Council on April 28, saying contractor activity on the West Main Street reconstruction has stepped up and the city remains on track for completion around September 2025. "Keep in mind, we're just now over a year into this project, and we have about 5 months to go," Barquette said, and he asked residents to avoid the construction area when possible.

Barquette told council the city submitted an application last week to the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) HDAP program to fund a comprehensive-plan update. The application requests $66,800 from ODOD and would require a city match of $7,400; Barquette said the city's comprehensive plan was last updated in February 2008 and that the proposed update would be an approximately 11-month process involving public and stakeholder input.

On stormwater planning, Barquette said the city's engineer has nearly completed a first-draft summary, backed by color maps, from field work completed last fall and early winter and expects to deliver the draft by May. He also discussed equipment and financing, describing a proposed acquisition of a jet-vac sewer/jet truck that would be used by water, wastewater and street departments and reduce reliance on outside contractors.

Council acted on two resolutions that evening. Resolution 3625, authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with the International Association of Firefighters Local 3695 covering 2025-2027 and declaring an emergency, was moved, seconded and approved by roll call. Resolution 3626, authorizing the city manager to enter a purchase agreement with Emtek for a "02/2025 Super Products Camel 1,200 EJ demo combo truck" and declaring an emergency, was likewise moved, seconded and approved by roll call. Barquette said the demo truck price was discounted under a state purchasing plan and the acquisition price was below the amount the city budgeted, which reduces projected annual debt service; he said a $300,000 split with water and wastewater had been budgeted for the truck.

Barquette also reminded council that a five-year balloon payment for the 2018 Rosenbauer fire truck acquisition will come due in July; he said the original note in May 2020 was for $850,000 and the current outstanding net balance was just under $670,000. He said staff is working with finance partners to determine refinancing options.

Council took no further substantive actions on the comprehensive-plan application or the stormwater master plan that night; both were described as in-progress items. The meeting included routine reminders about spring cleanup and upcoming community events.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 3625 (ratify IAFF Local 3695 contract, 2025—2027): Motion to waive three readings and declare emergency were made and passed by roll call; passage was recorded as approved by roll call. Motion and second not specified in transcript; roll-call responses recorded as unanimous "Yes."

- Resolution 3626 (purchase agreement with Emtek for demo combo jet-vac truck): Motion to waive three readings and to declare emergency were made and passed by roll call; passage was recorded as approved by roll call. Motion and second not specified in transcript; roll-call responses recorded as unanimous "Yes."