Wooster council approves Tasers, resurfacing, bike path and maintenance contracts; annexation agreement left on first reading

Wooster City Council on Feb. 18 adopted a package of budgeted procurement resolutions and related items and took procedural action on a pre‑annexation agreement.

Key outcomes at a glance

- Axon Taser 10 and virtual reality training (Resolution 2025‑12): Adopted. Motion to adopt by Councilor Abernathy; second by Councilor Myers. Roll call: Miss Canape — Yes; Mr. Malta — Yes; Mr. Myers — Yes; Mr. Hussain — Yes; Miss Morton — Yes; Mr. Abernathy — Yes. The council approved purchase of Axon’s Taser 10 platform and Axon’s virtual reality training platform; staff noted last year's Taser deployments were "3 or 4 times" and said the new devices provide longer range (up to about 45 feet) and multiple cartridge discharges ("10 shots") and upload trigger events to evidence.com for transparency.

- Curb ramps (Resolution 2025‑13): Adopted. Motion to adopt by Councilor Wharton; second by Mr. Pizet. Roll call: Miss Wharton — Yes; Miss Knappick — Yes; Mr. Abernathy — Yes; Mr. Myers — Yes; Mr. Malta — Yes; Mr. Jose — Yes. Councilors said the work is an ADA requirement and will allow the city to accept ODOT funds toward a 2026 resurfacing project; staff estimated the city’s share of the overall project at about $600,000.

- Street resurfacing (Resolution 2025‑14): Adopted. Motion to adopt by Councilor Wharton; second by Mr. Abernathy. Roll call: Miss Wharton — Yes; Mr. Jose — Yes; Mr. Malta — Yes; Mr. Myers — Yes; Mr. Abernathy — Yes; Miss Knaapnick — Yes. The 2025 resurfacing project includes portions of Beachwood Avenue, West Ridge Drive and Melrose Drive with an estimated cost of $255,000.

- Bike path — Spike Loop Phase 3 (Resolution 2025‑15): Adopted. Motion to adopt by Councilor Wharton; second by Mr. Abernathy. Roll call: Miss Wharton — Yes; Mr. Abernathy — Yes; Mr. Malta — Yes; Mr. Jose — Yes; Mr. Myers — Yes; Miss Kneppen — Yes. The resolution authorizes advertising for bids for Phase 3 of the Spike Loop shared‑use path (East Milltown Road and Melrose Drive). Staff estimated the project cost at $1,875,000 and addressed a resident question about tree removals; staff said there were no current plans to replant in the immediate tree lawn because the 10‑foot shared‑use path would cause future root/path conflicts.

- Bituminous/asphalt materials (Resolution 2025‑16): Adopted. Motion to adopt by Mr. Rezai; second — recorded. Roll call: Mr. Jose — Yes; Mr. Abernathy — Yes; Mr. Myers — Yes; Miss Knapwick — Yes; Mr. Malta — Yes; Miss Wharton — Yes. The resolution authorizes advertising for bids to furnish asphalt products for city paving needs (budgeted).

- Tree chipper truck (Resolution 2025‑17): Adopted. Motion to adopt by Mr. Huzai; second by Mr. Abernathy. Roll call: Mr. Jose — Yes; Miss Kneppick — Yes; Miss Wharton — Yes; Mr. Malta — Yes; Mr. Abernathy — Yes; Mr. Myers — Yes. Council discussed using chipped material in parks and noted the city plans to plant about 50 trees this year.

- Mowing services (Resolution 2025‑18): Adopted. Motion to adopt by Mr. Huzai; second by Mr. Myers. Roll call: Mr. Jose — Yes; Miss Wharton — Yes; Mr. Abernathy — Yes; Miss Knoepnick — Yes; Mr. Malta — Yes; Mr. Myers — Yes. The resolution authorizes advertising for bids for mowing city‑owned properties (parks, basins, rights‑of‑way); staff said the city has contracted this work out for many years.

- Liquor license hearing (transfer request): Council voted to waive a state hearing on a transfer of D‑2/D‑3 licenses from Drink on Market Inc. to Market Grill LLC at 234 S. Market St. Motion to waive hearing by Miss Kanapik; second by Mr. Huizai. Council signified "aye" and the request will be forwarded to the State Liquor Control Commission without a local hearing.

- Pre‑annexation agreement (Ordinance 2025‑02): Left on first reading. The ordinance would authorize a pre‑annexation agreement to allow immediate utility service connection for a single property while annexation proceeds. The sponsor (Councilor Malta) and administration elected to leave the measure on first reading to allow additional public input after property owners said they were not given advance notice; an attorney for the property owner said delaying the ordinance would delay the contractor and the project.

Procedural notes: Most resolutions were presented as budgeted items and moved by council members without extended debate. The Tasers purchase prompted the most operational discussion from staff about training, cloud upload of trigger events to evidence.com and an expected deployment and training window in April if council approved the contract.

All of the above were introduced and acted on at the Feb. 18 meeting; no motions to table or postpone the listed adopted resolutions were recorded in the meeting minutes.