Strongsville City Council suspends and adopts ordinances on salt, grants, equipment, utilities and cooperative purchasing

Strongsville City Council on Monday suspended the rules and adopted a package of ordinances authorizing routine purchases, grant applications and contract actions for city services.

Council approved participation in the Ohio Department of Transportation annual salt contract for the 2025–26 season, authorized the mayor to apply for Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) grant funds to cover salary for a DARE officer assigned to two SRO positions, approved the trade-in purchase of five Lucas 3 chest-compression systems (with four Lucas 2 units traded in), approved a NOACA enhanced-mobility application to buy a vehicle for the Senior Wheels program, approved a three-year natural gas supply contract for municipal facilities and the Walter F. Urnfeldt Recreation and Senior Center, authorized a $32,990 change order on the Fultz Parkway Extension Phase 2 project, and approved agreements and a performance-warranty contract with Flow for the new electric-vehicle charging station on Public Square. The council also enacted an ordinance to codify the city’s use of cooperative purchasing agreements (state and federal cooperatives) for certain equipment and supplies.

Why it matters: the measures cover transportation safety (road salt), emergency medical equipment for firefighters, senior transportation, energy costs and administration of a new EV charging station at Public Square. Several actions include funding or procurement implications that affect service delivery (for example the Lucas systems are paid from the emergency vehicle fund; the NOACA application includes a local match; the gas contract is projected to lower provider pricing). Council members framed most items as routine but emphasized fiscal oversight and transparency.

Key details from council discussion and staff reports include: the ODOT salt participation covers about 9,000 tons (council comment); the Lucas 3 purchase will cost just under $70,000 after trade-in and will be paid from the emergency vehicle fund; the Fultz Parkway Phase 2 change order adding a box culvert increases the project by $32,990 to a new total of $4,289,265.90; staff reported a decrease in the natural gas bid from roughly $5.53 to about $4.93 per unit (staff provided bid worksheets); the NOACA vehicle application requires a local match and is intended for the Senior Wheels program; and the Flow agreements place the city in a host role for the EV chargers, with the vendor collecting usage fees and the city paying maintenance costs under the performance warranty agreement with the goal of offsetting maintenance and utility costs through user fees.

Council moved each ordinance by common motion (motions to suspend the rules followed by motions to adopt). Most motions were made by Councilmember Carbone and seconded by Councilmember Kaminski; roll-call votes recorded affirmative votes from the full body present. There were no recorded dissenting votes on any ordinance on the published agenda.

Votes at a glance: ordinance number, brief purpose, outcome Ordinance 20-25-041 — Ratify participation in the ODOT salt contract (2025–26 season). Adopted (unanimous). Key detail: ~9,000 tons listed in committee discussion. Ordinance 20-25-042 — Authorize application for DARE grant funds for salary for a DARE officer / two SROs. Adopted (unanimous). Status: application only; award not yet confirmed. Ordinance 20-25-043 — Authorize purchase of five Lucas 3 chest-compression systems with trade-in of four Lucas 2 units; funds from emergency vehicle fund; estimated net cost just under $70,000. Adopted (unanimous). Ordinance 20-25-044 — Authorize filing an application with NOACA for a vehicle for the Senior Wheels program (Enhanced Mobility for Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities). Adopted (unanimous). Local match required. Ordinance 20-25-045 — Approve a three-year natural gas supply contract with United Energy Trading LLC for municipal facilities and the recreation center. Adopted (unanimous). Staff reported an improved bid (approx. $5.53 → $4.93 per unit; staff worksheet provided). Ordinance 20-25-046 — Approve change order #1 (Fetchco Excavating LLC) for the Fultz Parkway Extension Phase 2 project, increase $32,990; new total $4,289,265.90. Adopted (unanimous). Ordinance 20-25-047 — Approve agreement with Flow Global Management Services for activation/operation/management of the EV charging station at Public Square. Adopted (unanimous). Ordinance 20-25-048 — Authorize performance-warranty agreement with Flow Services USA, Inc. in connection with the EV charging station. Adopted (unanimous). Ordinance 20-25-049 — Enact cooperative purchasing authorization into the codified ordinances (uses state/federal/other cooperative contracts). Adopted (unanimous).

What council did not do: none of the ordinances included fallback votes or recorded no votes; where grants were authorized the applications will be submitted and awards are pending (for example the DARE grant). Council did not adopt any new tax or zoning measures at this meeting.

Sources and context: the ordinances and roll-call votes were read aloud and recorded in the meeting minutes. Staff provided bid worksheets for gas pricing and trade-in credit estimates for the Lucas systems; council members asked clarifying questions about maintenance, user fees for the EV chargers, and matching requirements for grant applications.

End note: the adopted cooperative purchasing ordinance codifies an existing practice the administration has used for several procurements (ambulances, trucks, major equipment) and does not remove council approval for specific purchases — council members emphasized that final purchase approvals will still return for council action.