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Council hears about costly Freightliner repairs, seasonal plow help and police grant applications
Summary
Service Director reported roughly $15,993 in parts and about $3,600 labor are needed to repair a Freightliner plow truck; Chief Barone described a warranty-covered transmission replacement and urged additional staffing. Council discussed hiring a part-time/on-call plow operator and pursuing federal grants for police radios and body cameras.
Village Service Director Matt Maistros told council on Aug. 21 that one Freightliner used for winter plowing is in poor condition and needs approximately $15,993 in parts and about $3,600 in labor to make it serviceable for winter. Maistros said previous maintenance had been neglected and warned that without repairs the truck would be unusable for the winter plow season; he said two F-550s cannot handle the major streets and recommended either repairing the Freightliner or hiring an on-call plow operator.
Maistros described parts and labor quotes: $15,993 for parts (quote) and $3,600 labor from Tire & Wheel; he said Valley Ford labor rates could be higher. He also said a retired union road worker is available and that the village’s current pay ordinance lists seasonal and on-call rates that may need review; Maistros proposed $40 per hour for on-call plowing and $20 per hour for leaf pickup as potential rates, subject to council approval.
Chief Gabe Barone updated council on police vehicle repairs and staffing. He said cruiser #1545 (a 2018 Ford Explorer) underwent extensive warranty repairs including a transmission replacement covered by Ford warranty; while the vehicle was in testing a loose hood caused body damage that required additional body-shop work, and front/back brakes were replaced at a cost of about $950. Barone also reiterated the department’s personnel need, noting one officer reduced to part-time in May and saying he would like to add one full-time officer but has had difficulty filling the position.
Mayor Kathleen Hale and Chief Barone discussed grant-seeking: Hale said the village applied by Aug. 1 for an Edward Burns federal radio grant administered through Cuyahoga County, and that the village will apply in September for a body-camera grant; both items may be funded at high percentages if awarded. Barone noted body-camera vendors vary in price and longevity and that previous products lasted about four years.
Maistros requested that council consider a September vote to amend budgets to cover the truck repair if the fiscal officer confirms available funds; councilors postponed final budget action because Tammy Most was absent and requested staff return with confirmed line-item availability.
Next steps: staff will report back with confirmed budget line items and bid/repair schedules before council commits to major repairs or new hires.
