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MOMS committee to pursue Special Improvement District to help pay for Main Street improvements
Summary
On Jan. 20, 2026, the MOMS committee agreed to pursue a Special Improvement District to help fund Main Street improvements after reviewing a Choice One engineering estimate of about $930,000 and noting $640,000 in village funds set aside for lampposts. Committee members also discussed grant and study options.
On Jan. 20, 2026, the MOMS committee agreed to pursue a Special Improvement District (SID) as a funding path for planned Main Street improvements, after reviewing an engineering estimate and existing village allocations.
The decision followed presentation of a Choice One engineering estimate of about $930,000 (cost cited as an estimate) for the Main Street project excluding lighting, and committee review of available village funds of $640,000 earmarked for lampposts, with an expected additional roughly $140,000 projected in 2026. The committee recorded a directive to request an informational meeting with Ben Yoder to discuss the SID and outreach steps (item attributed in the minutes to Chris Hice).
Why it matters: the estimate and existing village funds leave an unresolved funding gap for a broader Main Street renovation. The SID would create a mechanism to raise revenue tied to properties that benefit from the work; the committee did not adopt a financing plan on Jan. 20 but authorized pursuing the SID concept and gathering more information.
Committee members and presenters emphasized gathering more technical and planning information before committing to paid studies. Jamie Morley provided documentation from the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission for committee review. The committee also discussed a separate revitalization study (similar to one Warren County had done through the University of Cincinnati) that was noted to cost about $21,000; members agreed to consider whether that paid study is necessary after first pursuing free resources.
David Nation pointed out that the Ohio Main Street Project offers a free evaluation that the committee could request; he also mentioned other safety grant programs that may support elements of the work but would require documentation to apply. The committee discussed using the Ohio Main Street evaluation before commissioning a paid revitalization study to preserve limited local funds.
Merchants reported procedural improvements tied to permitting: Kim Gaffy said merchants have implemented a new approval process to address permitting issues that had arisen during events and storefront changes.
Next steps: the committee requested an informational meeting with Ben Yoder to brief MOMS members on the SID option and agreed to pursue the Ohio Main Street Project evaluation and further grant research. No borrowing, bond issuance, or formal financing approvals were recorded at the Jan. 20 meeting.
(Reported estimates: engineering estimate $930,000; village funds $640,000 with roughly $140,000 projected in 2026; paid revitalization study estimated at about $21,000.)
