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Residents question dispensary and bike path; police and fire report equipment and grant updates
Summary
Jim and Bonnie Balaban asked why the Village cannot block a dispensary and raised concerns about the bike path route; Mayor Bennett explained state regulation and phased construction. Police Chief John Roberts proposed a Lexipol policy subscription; Assistant Fire Chief Alex Pope reported state grant radios arrived and noted pursuit of an AFG grant. A Huber control-panel repair estimate of about $13,000 was reported.
Jim and Bonnie Balaban of Drummond Street addressed the council during public comment to voice concern about the forthcoming Italian Herbs dispensary in the village’s main strip and to ask why the Village could not prevent its opening. Mayor Dwayne M. Bennett Sr. responded that dispensaries are regulated by the State of Ohio and that the property owners had completed state-required steps and village zoning requirements to occupy the space.
The Balabans also questioned the route and timeline for the village bike path. Mayor Bennett said the path is being built in phases and explained the route choices to the residents.
Police Chief John Roberts delivered the department’s November report and raised a proposal to implement a Lexipol policy-management subscription (quote/proposal and pricing noted as part of the chief’s report in the transcript). Assistant Fire Chief Alex Pope reported that radios purchased with a state grant have arrived, discussed transferring older radios to the police department for their use, and said the fire department is pursuing an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) with Harpersfield to obtain pagers and other equipment.
Fiscal staff presented November financial copies and said they are closing out 2025 to prepare for 2026. Mayor Bennett and Corey Snow reported that the Huber control panel is not working correctly; Snow said repairing that machine would cost about $13,000.
The transcript records these items as reports and public comment; it does not record formal council directives or votes tied to these specific items in the provided segments.
