Solon council passes ordinance to change fire-department composition and approves consent agenda including trail property appropriation and multiple purchases

The Solon City Council on Jan. 21 passed Ordinance No. 2025-1, amending Section 242.01 of the administration code to modify the composition of the city’s fire department, and approved a multi-item consent agenda that included property appropriation for the Solon–Chagrin Falls Trail project, collective bargaining agreements and several equipment purchases and final contract acceptances.

Why it matters: the ordinance changes internal fire-department composition intended to help manage efficiency and overtime; the consent agenda moves forward multiple capital purchases and contract closeouts that affect city operations, public works and the water reclamation facility.

Key actions from the meeting (consent and related votes): the council approved suspension and final passage of Ordinance No. 2025-1 to amend Section 242.01 of the administration code; it adopted Ordinance No. 2025-2 to appropriate property for the Solon–Chagrin Falls Trail; adopted Ordinance No. 2025-3 and 2025-4 authorizing collective bargaining agreements with the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association for patrol officers and for sergeants and lieutenants covering Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2027.

Other consent items approved by roll call included final contract adjustments and purchases: Athos Contracting — final contract closeout for 2024 painting of traffic poles ($80,500 completion date July 11, 2024); Tri-Moore Corporation — final closeout for 2023 annual emergency and miscellaneous roadway repair program (final contract amount recorded in meeting as $396,231.63); Inland Waters Pollution Control — Foxhill Storm Sewer Rehabilitation final contract adjustment ($194,856.26); payment to the City of Cleveland Division of Water for annual hydrant-use fee ($75,953.78); purchases through Sourcewell cooperative contracts for service-department equipment including a Caterpillar mini hydraulic excavator (model 30807) for $158,066.50 and a Caterpillar skid-steer loader (model 260 XPS) for $70,579.55; sale of a 2006 Vermeer chipper to the Village of Bentleyville for $7,000; purchases of lift trucks and pickup chassis and other vehicles from contracted vendors totaling the amounts listed in the meeting record; an amendment to Burgess (engineering) for the water reclamation facility concrete repair project ($144,000 under emergency); and acceptance of a $387,600 bid from Continental Carbon Group USA for tertiary filter media replacement at the water reclamation facility.

The council also voted to refer a pending planning item (6025 Kruesi Drive lot split and newly identified variance) back to the Planning Commission for further review.

Votes and process notes: Ordinance No. 2025-1 passed under suspension and final passage by roll call (all recorded members voting yes). The full consent agenda (items 9–26 as listed on the Jan. 21 agenda) was approved under suspension and final passage by roll call (final passage recorded as unanimous in the meeting). The referral of 6025 Kruesi Drive back to the Planning Commission carried on a roll-call motion from Councilmember Bentley, seconded and recorded as unanimous.

What happens next: approved purchases will proceed through vendor contract steps and the trail appropriation moves the acquisition process forward. The finance department will execute the then-and-now certificates and interfund transfers authorized under the consent agenda as required to close accounts and make payments.