Medina council approves fleet purchases, easements, fireworks funding, pension option and insurance renewal

The Medina City Council cleared a slate of consent and routine items on its agenda, approving vehicle purchases, donations, easements needed for a bridge project, employee retirement options and an insurance renewal, and authorizing the mayor to seek congressionally directed spending for three local projects.

Key votes at a glance

- Fleet purchases (agenda item 2558): Council approved buying two Ford F‑150 pickups — one to replace an existing vehicle and one for two additional water‑department positions. Staff explained the V8 model costs about $2,000 more than a V6 but can accept a small plow to reduce manual shoveling during winter water breaks. The motion passed.

- Police donation pass‑through (2612): Council approved acceptance of a donation to the police department and its pass‑through; the motion carried.

- IT pay increase (2613 and 2614): Two linked items implement a pay increase for a single IT employee paid from two separate court‑related funds; council approved both halves after staff explained the split funding mechanism.

- Easements for South Huntington Street Bridge (2662): Staff asked the council to accept three easements, including for a parcel at 246 West Smith (the Loggerheads property), and requested an emergency clause so the easements could be recorded. The city reported a negotiated temporary easement reduced to four months for a nearby parking lot and ongoing title work for a Champion Creek riverbed parcel that may require court action; council approved the easements with the emergency clause.

- Fireworks budget increase (2663): The Board of Control recommended increasing the fireworks show budget to $35,000 for the city’s 250th celebration after the two township partners agreed to contribute $6,000 each and a private donor offered $5,000. Board member Mr. Durham said the city share would be $18,000 under the plan. Council approved the $35,000 expenditure; accepting the private donation was noted as a separate step.

- Roth 457 option for employees (2664): Council approved adding a Roth 457 contribution option after the teamsters requested it during union negotiations. Staff explained Roth contributions are made after tax but are not taxable on withdrawal.

- Insurance renewal (2665): Mayor Shields presented a roughly 14% overall increase in the city’s annual insurance renewal (including a 7% increase for airport liability). Staff emphasized the city’s property rate remains low — about six cents per $100 of value — and per‑vehicle auto coverage averages about $45. Council approved the renewal with an emergency clause because the policy is due April 1.

- Congressional funding authorization (2660): Council authorized the mayor to submit FY27 congressionally directed spending applications for three projects — South Elmwood parking lot renovation and the Medina Recreation Center turf/fieldhouse expansion (to the senator’s office) and a North State Road reconstruction phase (to the U.S. representative). Staff noted one senator‑office deadline had been extended and asked authority to execute paperwork should awards be made.

Other action

A council member moved that the body recess into executive session to discuss contract negotiations (including the mayor and the lawn director). The clerk called the roll; members Dalvo, Isabella, Lamb, Coin, Hair and Simmons voted yes and the motion passed. The council recessed into executive session and stated it would take no action on matters discussed there when it returned.

What it means

Most items were routine approvals or budget adjustments to cover specific projects; the fireworks budget increase and the courthouse change order (discussed separately by council) are the items with the clearest direct budgetary impact on the coming year. The easements cleared a necessary step for the South Huntington Street Bridge reconstruction schedule.