Mentor City Council approves series of ordinances, awards construction and equipment contracts

The Mentor City Council on Jan. 21 approved a slate of ordinances and one resolution covering personnel classifications, equipment purchases, construction contracts and grant acceptance.

The council passed Ordinance 25-0-001 enacting a nepotism policy for the city's codified ordinances; the measure passed with five affirmative votes and two abstentions. Ordinance 25-0-002 authorized sale of a 1954 American LaFrance fire engine to the City of East Cleveland. Ordinance 25-0-003 approved a three-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement with the Mentor Part-Time Fire Fighters Association, including a year‑3 wage reopener and an increase of the call-out minimum from two to three hours.

Ordinance 25-0-004 authorized the city manager to award a contract for a Lenco BearCat G3 armored vehicle; the chief reported that one bid was received from Lenco for $422,203, the bid met specifications and was under the budgeted amount. Ordinance 25-0-005 consented to a local project agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the Lakeshore Boulevard bridge (LAKSR28314.34); the project cost was estimated at about $3,200,000 and was reported to be 100% ODOT-funded, with construction expected in early 2026 and completion in 2027.

Ordinance 25-0-006 awarded a contract to Mark Haines Construction Inc. for the Bellflower Meadowbrook Ditch Restoration Project; the low bid was $462,191, with scheduled final completion Oct. 31, 2025. Ordinance 25-0-007 awarded a contract to Calvary Mechanical LLC for replacement HVAC at Fire Station 5 (administrative portion); the existing units were reported to be 24 years old and causing higher maintenance and downtime. Ordinance 25-0-008 awarded a contract to Zerbe Construction LLC of Mentor, Ohio for construction of a waterslide at Civic Center Park; the low bid was reported as $2,100,000. Ordinance 25-0-009 created a new full-time staff accountant position in the finance department by reclassifying two existing senior accounting assistants.

The council also approved Resolution 25-R-102, accepting a $300,000 grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to fund a new marina kayak storage and restroom building; the agreement carries a state property-interest requirement for the grant term (commonly used on bond-funded state capital projects).

Each measure was moved, seconded, and approved during the meeting; recorded roll-call votes were read into the record for each item. No ordinance failed; two abstentions were recorded on Ordinance 25-0-001 during both suspension and final approval votes. Several items were declared emergency measures in the ordinance captions presented to council.