Richfield council adopts OWDA loan for Pump Station No. 2, approves equipment purchases and insurance renewal

Richfield Village Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1‑2026 on Jan. 20, 2026, to appropriate an Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) Water Pollution Control Loan Fund loan for the Pump Station No. 2 Replacement project, clearing the way for the Sewer Department to begin ordering services for the project.

Finance Director Turk told council the project cost is estimated at $2,786,795 with a $278,868 contingency, for a total estimated project budget of $3,065,663. Turk described the loan as a 30‑year obligation at a 3.33% interest rate, with the first debt service payment scheduled for Jan. 1, 2028, and the final payment projected for July 1, 2057. Repayment will come from Tax Incremental Financing funds or sewer wastewater service charge revenue.

In addition to the OWDA appropriation, council suspended the second and third readings and adopted four procurement resolutions by unanimous roll call:

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 1‑2026 (OWDA loan appropriation for Pump Station No. 2): Moved by Beshara, seconded by Philippbar. Outcome: adopted unanimously (7–0). - Resolution 3‑2026 (purchase of one Alamo Machete 3 SRD50 mulcher head from Akron Tractor and Equipment, Inc., Sourcewell contract A1032525‑AGI): Moved by Philippbar, seconded by Beshara. Outcome: adopted unanimously (7–0). - Resolution 4‑2026 (purchase of one New Holland PowerStar 75 tractor from Akron Tractor and Equipment, Inc., Sourcewell contract 082923‑CNH‑2): Moved by Philippbar, seconded by Beshara. Outcome: adopted unanimously (7–0). - Resolution 5‑2026 (purchase of a replacement generator for the police department building from Cummins, Sourcewell contract 092222‑CMM): Moved by Stoppenhagen, seconded by Beshara. Outcome: adopted unanimously (7–0).

Resolution 2‑2026, authorizing an agreement with VFIS for accident and sickness insurance coverage for village firefighters (effective March 1, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027), was submitted for first reading only; Turk noted the current coverage costs $4,909 and the renewal quote is $4,641, a decrease of $268 (about 5.5%).

Council previously moved to add Resolution 6‑2026 (an agreement with GPD Group for professional engineering services for calendar year 2026) to the agenda; the resolution was offered by council during the meeting but the record does not show a vote on adoption in the minutes.

The meeting record shows the motions to suspend and adopt were passed by roll call without recorded dissent. The council membership present for roll call was Beshara, Campbell, Hudak, Kruszynski, Philippbar, Smith and Stoppenhagen.

Next steps: With Resolution 1‑2026 adopted, the Sewer Department may begin ordering services for the Pump Station No. 2 Replacement project. Other procurement items were authorized and the insurance resolution will return for further consideration following first reading.