Council approves ambulance purchase and surplus auctions; architectural review board amendment sent to second reading

Strongsville City Council on Feb. 3 approved three emergency ordinances and moved a fourth to a second reading.

The council unanimously approved Ordinance 2025-13 to authorize the mayor to enter into a State of Ohio Administrative Services contract for two new 2025 Freightliner M2 chassis ambulances for the fire department. Council member Kozick said the total purchase price is "just over $800,000," which the council noted is about $400,000 apiece under the state contract. The ordinance directs the mayor to execute the contract; staff said the vehicles would be ordered but delivered in several years because of current manufacturing lead times.

The council also unanimously approved two ordinances to sell surplus city property and vehicles by internet auction. Ordinance 2025-12 authorizes the online sale of obsolete service-department equipment and other items no longer needed for municipal purposes. Ordinance 2025-14 authorizes the sale of surplus police and service vehicles, specifically citing a 2015 Ford Fusion (police) and a 2009 Ford Taurus (service) as examples of vehicles that have exceeded their useful life. Council members moved to suspend the rules and adopt both ordinances the same night.

On a separate procedural action, the council moved to amend Ordinance 2025-11, which would amend Section 12.46.02 of Title 6, Part 12 of the Planning and Zoning Code concerning the composition of the Architectural Review Board. The amendment was moved and seconded and the item was placed on second reading and referred to the Planning Commission for further consideration; the council did not adopt that ordinance on Feb. 3.

All roll-call votes recorded at the meeting were unanimous among the council members present. The council identified Mr. Carbone as the maker and Mr. Kaminski as the seconder on several procedural motions to suspend and adopt the ordinances.