Council approves invoices, payroll and police cruiser loan; agrees to tornado‑siren repair cost‑share and to pursue state debt‑collection services

At its meeting the Village of East Canton council completed routine financial business and approved several operational items: invoices and payroll were approved, the council authorized financing for a police cruiser, approved an upgrade to a tornado siren with a cost‑share billing plan to the township trustees, and agreed to pursue a debt‑collection service provided by the Ohio Attorney General's office.

Finance and payroll: The council approved invoices submitted at the meeting (amount cited in the record as "$111,004.58" in the meeting packet) and approved payroll for the period presented. The meeting record shows motion and roll call on both matters.

Police cruiser: Council discussed financing for a police cruiser. The meeting record shows that financing for the cruiser was approved and that the outfitted cost of the vehicle was stated at $59,229.59. The finance discussion noted a five‑year loan at about 5.25 percent as part of the purchase paperwork required by the lender.

Tornado siren: Council voted to authorize work with Pace Veil Tech (vendor named in the record) to upgrade the township tornado siren for a cost not to exceed $5,660.50 and directed staff to bill township trustees for half the cost. The service director and other council members discussed the public‑safety rationale and the relative cost of replacing the village's own siren versus repairing the existing town‑run unit.

Debt collection: Council agreed to pursue the Ohio Attorney General's debt‑collection service to help recover outstanding balances owed to the mayor's court and other village accounts. The mayor's court was described in the record as having roughly $20,000 outstanding. The agreement is an official service offered by the Ohio Attorney General's office and, according to the meeting record, was vetted by the village attorney.

Police staffing: The police chief formally requested council consideration of hiring a full‑time officer (Officer Carol Weidra). The chief presented a packet describing the officer's background and argued that a full‑time hire would improve continuity, training and community ties. Council did not vote on adding the position at the meeting; the request was entered for future consideration.

Other routine votes on appropriations and smaller items were recorded in the minutes. Where dollar figures or roll‑call details were unclear in the verbal record, the meeting packet and minutes will be used to confirm exact amounts and vote tallies.