Tallmadge council approves utility permit fees, road and facility projects, grant and gas-aggregation amendment

Tallmadge City Council approved a package of measures on March 13, 2025 that the administration said are intended to prepare the city for growing utility work, advance infrastructure projects and accept outside funding.

Key approvals included ordinance 2025-38 establishing a right-of-way utility construction permit fee; ordinance 2025-39 accepting a Bureau of Justice Assistance violent crime reduction grant (city share about $56,917); authorization to advertise for bids on the East Avenue reconstruction project (Ordinance 2025-45); contracts and bid authorizations for cemetery cremation-park improvements (2025-41) and community center roof repair (2025-42); retaining a consultant for right-of-way acquisition on the East Avenue project (2025-43); and Ordinance 2025-46, an amendment to the city's natural-gas aggregation agreement with Eastern Power & Gas (EPNG) that moves the aggregation to a variable rate with a provider discount until the city can lock a new fixed price.

Director of Public Service Roar told council the right-of-way fee is intended to cover…