Council approves new fire station design contract, repairs and cell tower lease; street-light assessment declared necessary

Mentor City Council on April 15 approved several ordinances and a resolution authorizing contracts, repairs and assessments that city staff said will support public safety, infrastructure and facility upkeep.

Key council actions (each ordinance/resolution was approved by roll call after suspension where indicated):

App Architecture contract for Fire Station 3 — Ordinance 25-028: Council authorized the city manager to execute a contract with App Architecture Inc. for architectural and engineering services for the new Fire Station 3 project. City staff described planned features including four to five apparatus bays, a training tower with stairwell standpipe connections, rope-rescue anchors, a mezzanine for search-and-rescue training and space for multiple rescue units. Staff said the goal is to be under contract before year-end and open the station by the end of 2026. Recorded vote: Mr. Freeman — yes; Mr. Kirschner — yes; Mr. Krieger — yes; Mr. Barnes — yes; Mr. Blake — yes; Mr. Donovan — yes; Mrs. Dowling — yes. Outcome: approved.

Cooperative concrete contract with Mentor-on-the-Lake — Ordinance 25-029: The city approved an agreement with the neighboring city for the 2025 concrete road repair program. Staff said the cooperative approach has been used for about 10 years to achieve better bidding pricing. Recorded vote: unanimous (same roll-call pattern). Outcome: approved.

Roof repairs, Fire Station 5 — Ordinance 25-030: Bids were opened March 28; the low bidder was RJ Kirkland Construction Company Inc. at $161,150. Council approved the contract. Recorded vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

Wildwood Cultural Center patio replacement — Ordinance 25-031: Council authorized a contract with CMG Contracting LLC for removal and replacement of an approximately 3,600-square-foot stamped-and-stained concrete patio at Wildwood Cultural Center. Staff said the project resolves prior water infiltration issues and provides continuous handicap accessibility along the rear of the building; the low bid was $159,798. Recorded vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

Lease for cell tower at Fire Station 1 property — Ordinance 25-032: The council approved a lease agreement with Northstar Towers (North Stork Towers in the staff reading) to construct and install a cell tower on a small portion (less than 0.1 acre) of permanent parcel 16B-0540000130 adjacent to Fire Station 1. Staff said the installation is intended to improve communications in a problem area and mirrors a previously approved tower that improved coverage near Mentor Hills Drive. Recorded vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

Street-lighting assessment resolution — Resolution 25-R-107: Council declared it necessary to improve certain streets with lighting and set the assessment rate at $0.85 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for the assessment district described in the resolution. Staff and council discussed the city’s ongoing LED conversion under FirstEnergy contracts, resident complaints about brighter LED fixtures and the city’s limited control over FirstEnergy replacement timelines. Recorded vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

Each of the items above was introduced with a staff recommendation and then passed by roll-call vote in the meeting record. The meeting transcript shows staff answered council questions on construction features, project timelines, bid results and the street-lighting replacement program; no substantive amendments to the contracts or the resolution were recorded.