Lakemore council adopts emergency levy to fund fire and emergency services; several ordinances approved

The Village of Lakemore Council voted to adopt Resolution No. 7433-2025, declaring it necessary to levy a tax in excess of the 10-mill limitation and declaring an emergency so the 4.75-mill replacement levy can be placed on the May 6, 2025 ballot.

The levy, described in the resolution presented at the meeting, is a replacement levy at a rate of 4.75 mills, which the resolution states amounts to $166 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value. If approved by voters, the resolution states the levy would first be levied in tax year 2025 and begin collection in 2026.

The measure was read into the record by the village administrator as a second reading by title. The resolution cites compliance with the Ohio Revised Code — including the county fiscal officer certification requirement under Ohio Revised Code Section 5705.03(B) and levy authority described in Ohio Revised Code Section 5705.19(I) — and declares the measure an emergency so it can be placed on the May 6 ballot.

Why it matters: the resolution lists permissible uses for the levy proceeds consistent with state law, including "providing and maintaining fire apparatus, underwater rescue and recovery equipment, buildings and sites, lines of fire alarm communications, and payment of permanent or part‑time volunteer firefighting and emergency medical service personnel," as read during the meeting. Council members said the emergency declaration is needed so the board of elections can include the levy on the May ballot.

Council also approved routine financial items and several ordinances during the same meeting: motions to accept purchase orders totaling $13,073.82 and bills totaling $121,518.80; acceptance of the December 2024 bank reconciliation; and acceptance of the January 2025 delinquency report for the Department of Public Service (DOPs). The council adopted Ordinance No. 18-82-2025, amending 2024 appropriations to increase certain line items for village operations; the motion to dispense with three readings and adopt the ordinance passed on a roll-call vote.

Meeting discussion included updates and local projects reported by staff and councilmembers: multi‑street water, sewer and road work (Danforth, Fairdale, Michaels) performed by contractor H.N. Miller; FirstEnergy transmission/pole replacement work along village corridors; and a forthcoming planning commission item related to a laundromat at Lakemore Plaza. The council also recognized Public Works foreman Gene Taylor’s 50 years of service and announced several community events, including a rotary fundraiser and an Easter egg hunt.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution No. 7433-2025 (levy, 4.75 mills, emergency): adopted (roll call — members recorded as voting "Yes": Miss Anderson; Mrs. Cochran; Mr. Ray; Mr. Schmittner/Stripmatter; Mrs. Coontz; Mr. Reitner; others recorded as present and voting yes during the roll call sequence). The resolution text specifies placement on the May 6, 2025 ballot and first collection in 2026. - Ordinance No. 18-82-2025 (amending 2024 appropriations; emergency/dispense with three readings): adopted (roll call — members recorded as voting "Yes"). - Routine financial motions (purchase orders $13,073.82; bills $121,518.80; December 2024 bank reconciliation; January 2025 DOPs delinquency report): all adopted on motion and roll call.

What the council did not do: the meeting record shows ordinance titles and sections were read aloud (second readings by title for some items) and multiple ordinances were introduced (including updates to setback/repairing area signage, parking restrictions for Hidden Lake Estates, and social media policy language for employee procedures), but the minutes and roll calls in the transcript record the formal adoption only for the appropriation ordinance (18-82-2025) and the levy resolution (7433-2025) during this session.

Implementation and next steps: the resolution directs the clerk to certify copies of the resolution and the county auditor’s certification to the Summit County Board of Elections on or before Feb. 5, 2025, at 4 p.m., to place the levy on the May 6 ballot, per the resolution language read at the meeting. Additional ordinances discussed include parking and property deed disclosure requirements for designated "repairing areas," and a social media policy amendment for village pages; those ordinance texts were read for the record during the meeting.

For context: the resolution references the legal process in the Ohio Revised Code for exceeding the 10-mill limitation and uses standard ballot‑placement procedures and timelines. Council discussion and staff reports at the meeting focused on ongoing infrastructure projects, community events, and expected follow‑up items for planning commission review.