North Canton council adopts ordinances on police staffing, road right-of-way and salt purchase

North Canton City Council on Feb. 10, 2025, adopted three ordinances during a regular meeting: an amendment to police department staffing to add an assistant police chief and adjust officer ranks; participation in the Ohio Department of Transportation cooperative purchasing program for sodium chloride for the 2025–26 winter season; and acceptance of an additional road right-of-way associated with the Charlotte Portage roundabout.

The measures were read by city staff, discussed briefly in committee or by department leaders, and each was approved under suspension of the council's usual three-reading rule by voice vote. Council members present were Member Weierich, Member Owens, Member Felister, Member Troyer, Member Warren, Member Metheny and Member Ward.

Why it matters: The police staffing amendment changes the department's authorized ranks and could alter departmental responsibilities; joining ODOT's procurement program streamlines the city's ability to buy winter road salt; and the right-of-way acceptance affects the city's property ownership for the Charlotte Portage roundabout project.

Police staffing ordinance David, chair of the Personnel and Safety Committee, summarized the ordinance as a committee cleanup and an addition to the department: "We are adding an assistant police chief to the ranks. And then we are having ranked officers at a total of 6, and police patrolmen at 22," he said. The ordinance also removes certain dispatch items that are no longer under the police department, David said. Chief Kemp was asked if he wanted to add anything; Chief Kemp did not add further comments during the meeting.

Sodium chloride procurement John Malloy of the street department said the city participates in the cooperative purchasing program annually to secure sodium chloride for winter road operations: "We do this about every year ... we gotta get that ordered and stuff," Malloy said. Council approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter the ODOT cooperative purchasing agreement and declared it an emergency so the purchase can proceed for the 2025–26 season.

Charlotte Portage roundabout right-of-way Council approved an ordinance accepting dedication of additional road right-of-way tied to the Charlotte Portage roundabout on Stark County parcel numbers 9205280 and 10017799. Council discussed the item at the Council of the Whole the prior week; a council member noted the acceptance will affect taxation status of the property.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 14 20 25 (police department staffing amendment): Adopted under suspension of rules. Vote: yes 7, no 0, abstain 0. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance 15 20 25 (ODOT cooperative purchase for sodium chloride, emergency): Adopted under suspension of rules. Vote: yes 7, no 0, abstain 0. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance 16 20 25 (accept dedication of road right-of-way for Charlotte Portage roundabout, emergency): Adopted under suspension of rules. Vote: yes 7, no 0, abstain 0. Outcome: approved.

Council scheduled public hearings on ordinances 17 and 18 for Feb. 24 (3 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.) and will follow the evening hearing with a regular council meeting.

Ending The ordinances were passed by voice vote; no roll-call breakdown beyond the seven members present was recorded in the meeting transcript. Other agenda items and department reports were discussed later in the meeting.