Medina City Council approves street repairs, rec-center renovations and police grant applications; bids farewell to Gazette reporter

The Medina City Council on May 11 approved a slate of routine and capital items, including grant applications for police equipment and school resource officers, easements to advance the North Huntington Street reconstruction and several budget adjustments, and took time to recognize Gazette reporter Sarah Crawford at her final council meeting.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Sarah Crawford and several members offering thanks for her years of coverage. Mayor Shields highlighted recent volunteer and economic-development events and invited council and the public to upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

On business matters, the council moved quickly through a series of resolutions and ordinances. Lieutenant Wagner of the Police Department told the council the department was seeking grant funds through the Ohio Law Enforcement Body Armor Program to offset the cost of purchasing seven replacement ballistic vests. "The police department respectfully requests permission to apply for and accept grant funding," Lieutenant Wagner said during consideration of Resolution 7426. The resolution passed unanimously.

The council also approved Resolution 7526, authorizing an application for grant assistance from the Medina County Drug Abuse Commission to support salaries and benefits for school resource officers. Lieutenant Wagner said the SROs engage in mentoring and youth outreach in addition to school safety duties; the resolution passed 7-0.

City Engineer Patton briefed council on two infrastructure items. For Ordinance 7626, Patton said the city needs to acquire multiple easements to complete phase three of the North Huntington Street reconstruction and requested an emergency clause so easements could be negotiated and, if owners agree, recorded immediately to keep the project on schedule. The council adopted the emergency clause and the ordinance unanimously.

Patton also outlined the 2026 concrete street repair program. "We are asking for $700,000 this year, which is an increase of $50,000 from the last couple of years," he said, attributing the change to higher concrete costs; Ordinance 7726 authorizing competitive bids and contract awards passed unanimously.

Ordinance 7826 authorized a $225,000 purchase order to Medina City Schools to serve as a pass-through for lobby and entrance renovations at the community recreation center. The recreation center will pay the full project cost and expects work to be completed around the county fair in early August; the council approved the measure 7-0.

Finance Director Durham explained that Ordinance 7926 would allow certain fund advances to cover the city's share of grant-funded projects. "These are advances to cover the grant share of the projects," Durham said. The council then adopted the ordinance and, subsequently, Ordinance 8026 to amend the 2026 budget to reflect those advances and other adjustments.

Council confirmed the mayor's appointment of Richard Reer to the Recreation Center Advisory Committee and approved a procedural motion to remove RCA 25-205 from pending matters after Council Member Simmons argued that setting salaries and reviewing supervisors is an administrative responsibility.

Members closed the meeting with community updates and reminders about upcoming events; Council Member Simpson urged civility and community care in a brief closing remark: "be kind to one another." The meeting adjourned shortly thereafter.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 7426 (Ohio Law Enforcement Body Armor Program award): approved 7-0; permits application and acceptance of grant funds to purchase seven replacement ballistic vests. - Resolution 7526 (MCDAC grant for SROs): approved 7-0; authorizes application for grant assistance to support SRO salaries/benefits. - Ordinance 7626 (North Huntington Street easements; emergency clause): emergency clause adopted 7-0; ordinance adopted 7-0. - Ordinance 7726 (2026 concrete street repair program): approved 7-0; program budget $700,000 (increase of $50,000). - Ordinance 7826 (Recreation Center lobby/entrance renovation via school district pass-through): approved 7-0; project cost $225,000 paid by recreation center through Medina City Schools. - Ordinance 7926 (fund advances): approved 7-0; permits finance director to advance funds to cover grant shares. - Ordinance 8026 (2026 budget amendments): approved 7-0; updates to budget to reflect advances and other adjustments.

What’s next

Council will reconvene for scheduled committee and council meetings (finance committee meets in two weeks on Tuesday, health/safety committee June 8) and staff will proceed with the procuring and grant-application steps approved at this meeting. The Recreation Center renovation timeline targets completion around the county fair in early August.

(Reporting based on the meeting transcript; the meeting recorded votes and the measures above were adopted as described.)