Independence Council approves lease with Historical Society, backs Dayglow job grant and several equipment purchases

Mayor and council members met March 11 and approved several ordinances covering a historic-property lease, a job-relocation grant agreement and multiple equipment purchases.

The council adopted an ordinance authorizing a lease with the Independence Historical Society for portions of the building at 6675 Brecksville Road and approved a related amendment to include use of the building’s rear garage. Council also approved an ordinance authorizing a job-relocation and creation grant agreement with Dayglow LLC to locate operations in the Kichler Building, and voted to purchase parts and equipment to repair a 2017 Freightliner plow truck and to replace the Field House floor scrubber.

The Dayglow grant is structured as a five-year payment with a five-year monitoring period and scaled payments tied to payroll. Jessica, a city staff member who presented the proposal, said: “Dayglow…is looking to lease about a 30,000 square feet in the Kichler Building” and that the company expects to bring about 55 employees and roughly $4,000,000 in payroll. The incentive as presented would pay back a portion of payroll based on performance: 15% if payroll is $4–$6 million, 20% for $6–$8 million and 25% for payroll above $8 million. The building owner is contributing about $1,200,000 to retrofit the space, and Dayglow would sign a 10‑year lease.

Why it matters: Council staff framed the Dayglow package as a tool to lock in private investment and jobs. The scaled-payback structure ties city payments to payroll growth, and the city will monitor outcomes for five years after grant payments end.

On the Historic Hall lease (ordinance 20 25‑30), council amended the agreement during the meeting to add use of the rear garage formerly used by the art guild, suspended rules and adopted the measure. Council members debated related maintenance and insurance questions for the Bramley House, a separate historic property that is titled to the Independence Historical Society rather than the city. Councilmember Day and others said the Bramley House occasionally needs small repairs; the mayor and finance staff discussed authorizing administration to spend up to $1,500 annually for minor upkeep, but that figure was presented as a staff request for council direction rather than a formal, adopted appropriation. Council asked the law department and finance office to prepare a formal approach to address insurance and liability concerns before making any regular funding commitment.

Additional purchases approved at the meeting included replacement parts and installation for a 2017 Freightliner single-axle plow truck (parts and installation not to exceed $21,024.40) and a Field House floor scrubber (low bid $20,654). Council also repealed an earlier ordinance related to a vehicle purchase and confirmed a replacement vehicle ordinance that has already been ordered and delivered pending title paperwork.

Council discussion and next steps: On the Bramley House and the Historical Society properties, councilmembers asked staff to coordinate with the law director and the city’s insurance advisor (CBIZ was referenced during the discussion) to clarify whether a lease or another formal agreement is required to establish the city’s insurable interest and to protect the city from potential liability if the city performs repairs on a privately titled building. Staff said they would follow up with the law department and finance office and report back to council; no additional appropriation or formal agreement on the Bramley House was adopted at the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 20 25‑30 — Authorize lease with Independence Historical Society for portions of 6675 Brecksville Road (amended to add rear garage use): adopted (roll call recorded as yes by Day; DeGeronimo; Narduzzi; Tagliati/Tagliotti; Trakis; Laverga/Laverca; Walt Chanowitz; Gay). Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance 20 25‑33 — Job relocation and creation grant agreement with Dayglow LLC (Kichler Building, 10‑year lease; owner retrofit ~$1,200,000; 5‑year grant with 5‑year monitoring; payroll‑based payment tiers): adopted (unanimous roll call). Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance 20 25‑31 — Purchase and delivery of parts to repair the city’s 2017 Freightliner single-axle truck (total not to exceed $21,024.40): adopted (unanimous roll call). Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance 20 25‑32 — Purchase of a new floor scrubber for the Field House (budgeted $25,000; low bid $20,654): adopted (unanimous roll call). Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance 20 25‑34 — Repeal prior ordinance for a 2023 Ford Explorer and confirm replacement vehicle ordinance for the engineering department (administration reported new vehicle ordered and delivered pending title): adopted (unanimous roll call). Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance 20 24‑127 — Amendment to Chapter 13.66 (lease rental registration and…