City staff apologizes for cemetery cleanup method; rec center reports decade-high visits

City staff told the Tallmadge City Council that crews temporarily removed and stored cemetery decorations after recent high-wind storms, then acknowledged the tactic did not meet community expectations.

Assistant Director of Public Service Miss Hassing said crews “collected the items and placed them in bins for retrieval, thinking it was the best way to save them,” and added, “we realize that the implementation didn't meet our community's expectation and the bin approach probably felt a little impersonal to families.” She said staff will revise weather-emergency protocols and improve notification procedures to be more sensitive to families.

Council members thanked crews for acting to prevent loss of items but said several residents called with concerns. The mayor said staff would review the cemetery process and noted the city’s formal cleanup schedule remains in March, but crews acted early to preserve items.

In the same report, staff highlighted utility and street operations: crews repaired three water-main breaks, addressed a major root obstruction on Shanavel, and logged about 1,500 hours of snow-control work. The street department reported collecting roughly 185 miles of debris during the leaf-collection season.

Parks and recreation staff reported strong engagement at the Tallmadge Rec Center; Assistant Director Hassing said visitation “we haven't seen in a decade,” noting more than 24,000 visits in December and pending repairs including locker-room work and an outstanding elevator parts order.

Next steps: Public service staff will prepare updated cemetery emergency protocols and notification procedures and report back to council; staff also will review the fairgrounds calendar to coordinate traffic-control needs for large events.