Mayor Judd Klein used his remarks at the Jan. 7 special council meeting to preview several community updates, including an intercity partnership for a new First Calls program and infrastructure and development developments.

On the First Calls initiative, the mayor said Orange Village is working with the cities of Shaker Heights, Solon and Pepper Pike and that the county is "thoroughly engaged" and expected to provide funding that may reduce the village budget burden for the program. The mayor described the partnership as a step toward a local, coordinated first-responder/community-care program.

The mayor also reported that a memorandum of understanding related to the Orange Place relocation with Beachwood has been completed and is awaiting signature to proceed. "The MOU for Beachwood for the Orange Place relocation has been completed. We're awaiting the document to sign, and we will move forward with that," he said.

Regarding development, the mayor noted the opening of the first units at the Canyons development in early December and said sales have already occurred. He encouraged council members to take note of ongoing projects that will affect village growth.

Mayor Klein and a staff member (Bob) addressed a recent large water main break that affected Village Hall and multiple residential areas, attributing repairs and valve cycling to the Cleveland Water Department. The mayor said Cleveland Water "is working diligently to make the necessary repairs to put us, everyone back online," and the staff member confirmed coordination with hydraulics specialists and continued valve work to restore pressure in the Miles Road corridor and other affected locations.

The mayor also announced holiday-light and tree collection dates and reminded residents of an administrative closure for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. He noted a $40,000 grant from the Ohio Attorney General's Office that will fund additional school security cameras and barricades at Orange schools, and he praised local volunteers, new school board members and community organizations.

He closed by encouraging ambitious planning for the year ahead and by sharing a reading recommendation as a prompt for big-picture thinking.