Wickliffe council adopts codification, budget amendment and intercity MOU; delays Euclid Avenue easement

WICKLIFFE, Ohio — The Wickliffe City Council on Monday adopted an ordinance to incorporate certain ordinances into the city’s codified code, approved an amended 2024 appropriation ordinance and authorized a memorandum of understanding with neighboring cities on a road project, while declining to suspend rules on a proposed highway easement for property at 28825 Euclid Avenue and scheduling further review.

The actions came during a meeting that also included routine departmental reports and a discussion about a planned road easement related to a private development along Euclid Avenue.

The council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-01, described on the agenda as “approving the editing and inclusion of certain ordinances as parts of the various component codes of the codified ordinances of the City of Wickliffe, Ohio, and declaring an emergency.” Councilman Gerhardstein moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on third reading; Councilman Thielman seconded. The council then moved to adopt the ordinance on third and final reading. The ordinance passed.

Council also approved Ordinance No. 2024-58 AMENDED B, listed as an appropriation ordinance “providing appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the city of Wickliffe, Ohio” for the 2024 fiscal year. Councilman Doolin moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on third reading; Councilman Thielman moved adoption. The ordinance passed.

By resolution, the council authorized the mayor to enter a memorandum of understanding between Wickliffe, Willoughby and Willoughby Hills on the LAK US 200.00 project (PID 12230); the resolution was presented as Resolution No. 2024-19 AMENDED and adopted after suspension of the rules.

On a separate matter, Ordinance No. 2025-02, described on the agenda as accepting a highway easement granted by 28825 Euclid Avenue LLC to the city and declaring an emergency, failed to gain suspension of the rules. Multiple council members asked that the item be discussed in committee before adoption. Council members indicated they preferred leaving the item on first reading and scheduling a meeting for more detailed review; the council president called a community-of-the-whole meeting for Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. to discuss the ordinance.

During communications, the mayor noted that ground has been broken at the long-vacant Ponderosa property and said staff and the finance director were finalizing documentation on trimming the capital budget. The mayor also described proposed terms in the easement item: the City would plow and salt the road while the developer — identified on the agenda as Nick Mayer Ford — would be responsible for bringing the road up to construction standards set by the city and its engineer by July 1, 2025.

In old business the council reviewed a letter prepared by the law director to regional and state elected officials asking for federal assistance for repairs at the Euclid sewage-treatment facility. The law director said the letter was addressed to the offices of Rep. David Joyce, Sen. Bernie Moreno, Rep. Dan Troy and Sen. Serino and requested federal funding to address federally mandated EPA tie-line repairs that officials said have contributed to higher sewer rates for Wickliffe, Willoughby and Willoughby Hills.

New business included allocation of departmental capital-equipment request memos to the council’s committees: fire and police requests to the safety committee; recreation’s request to parks and properties; and service department requests to the service and special equipment committee. Several committee meetings were scheduled for the Jan. 21 community-of-the-whole session and immediately following it.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance No. 2025-01 (codification edits) — motion to suspend rules and adopt on third reading moved by Councilman Gerhardstein, seconded by Councilman Thielman; ordinance adopted.

- Ordinance No. 2024-58 AMENDED B (2024 appropriations) — motion to suspend rules moved by Councilman Doolin; adoption moved by Councilman Thielman; ordinance adopted.

- Resolution No. 2024-19 AMENDED (MOU for LAK US 200.00, PID 12230) — motion to suspend rules and adopt moved by Councilman Fieldman and others; resolution adopted.

- Ordinance No. 2025-02 (highway easement at 28825 Euclid Avenue) — motion to suspend rules failed; council left item on first reading and scheduled committee/community-of-the-whole review for Jan. 21, 2025.

The meeting concluded after scheduling committee meetings and a community-of-the-whole session to further review the Euclid Avenue easement and departmental capital requests.