Lakemore council approves package of resolutions, an appropriations ordinance and a replacement fire levy measure

The Village of Lakemore Council voted unanimously on Jan. 8 to approve a series of resolutions and an ordinance covering personnel, infrastructure, grants and finances.

The council accepted the resignation of full-time patrolman Steven Kagerick, passed a resolution authorizing the mayor to join the Summit County–Akron regional radio system, authorized the village administrator to apply for the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities grantmaking program, and approved professional engineering services for a Second Street water-line replacement.

Council also passed an ordinance amending 2024 appropriations to add grant and project funds and adopted a resolution declaring it necessary to place a replacement 4.75-mill fire levy before voters on May 6, 2025. The council approved a request that the Summit County fiscal officer make an advance payment of tax funds for tax year 2024 payable in 2025. Routine housekeeping measures — acceptance of minutes, purchase orders ($9,773.19), payment of bills ($471,630.40) and the December 2024 delinquency report — were also approved.

Why it matters: The actions collectively adjust village spending and revenue timing, advance planned water and sewer projects, preserve the police department's staffing record, and place a tax levy replacement on the May ballot that, if approved, would fund fire and emergency services beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

Key votes and measures

- Resolution 7421-2025: Accepted the resignation of Steven Kagerick as a full-time patrolman with the Lakemore Police Department and declared the resolution an emergency measure. Roll call: unanimous yes. Miss Anderson said Kagerick “was a wonderful officer and he will be missed.”

- Resolution 7422-2025: Authorized the mayor to enter a contract with Summit County and the City of Akron to remain a user in the Summit County–Akron Regional Radio System; membership fee described in the contract is $20 per month per radio, invoiced semiannually. Roll call: unanimous yes.

- Resolution 7423-2025: Authorized the village administrator to apply for the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities grantmaking program. Roll call: unanimous yes.

- Resolution 7424-2025: Accepted a proposal from Hamletree and Associates LTD for professional surveying and engineering services for the Second Street water-line replacement; the proposal estimate is $49,000. Roll call: unanimous yes.

- Resolution 7425-2025: Declared it necessary to place a replacement 4.75-mill five-year fire levy on the May 6, 2025 ballot; the resolution references Ohio Revised Code sections authorizing such levies. Roll call: unanimous yes.

- Resolution 7426-2025: Requested that the Summit County fiscal officer make an advance payment of tax funds for tax year 2024 payable in 2025 to the Village of Lakemore treasury (authorized under Ohio Revised Code Section 321.34). Roll call: unanimous yes.

- Ordinance 1879-2025: Amended Ordinance 1833-2023 to increase 2024 appropriations and revenues to reflect several grant and project awards and loans, including amounts presented to council during the meeting; the ordinance was declared an emergency measure and went into effect immediately. Roll call: unanimous yes.

Other procedural approvals included: acceptance of minutes from Dec. 16, 2024; purchase orders totaling $9,773.19; bills totaling $471,630.40; and the December 2024 DLPS delinquency report.

What the votes do not do: Council dispensed with three readings on multiple items and adopted the measures at the meeting; no substantive amendments or defeated measures were recorded in the transcript.

Next steps: If approved by voters, the replacement 4.75-mill levy would be placed on the tax list for 2025 and collected beginning Jan. 1, 2026; other contracts and grant applications will follow standard administrative execution and any required county or agency approvals.