AURORA – Improvements to Fire Station 1 and the police station property were approved by City Council at its April 25 meeting.
Fire Station 1 on West Pioneer Trail will get a new roof this summer after a contract was awarded to Bill Jackson Roofing Inc., which submitted the lowest of three bids at $253,000, plus $23,000 for possible contingencies.
A carport to protect police vehicles from the elements will be erected by Great Lakes Crushing for $427,858, of which $298.950 will come from the capital improvements fund and $128,908 from American Rescue Plan funds.
Meanwhile, Council is considering an ordinance to renew the city’s property and casualty insurance with HCC/U.S. Specialty Insurance Co. and cyber insurance with Travelers Insurance Co. Legislation will be on second reading May 9.
The coverage is through the Edward H. Sutton Insurance Agency. Property and casualty coverage premium will be $172,897 and cyber coverage will be $26,400.
Agent Ben Sutton said the cyber coverage premium has seen a “sizable increase” – up from $16,000 last year – while the property and casualty premium is up about $10,000 (6 percent).
Sutton said the increases are due primarily to liability losses related to windstorms and vehicle damage, and some municipalities have seen much higher increases.
“The market is tough right now, and I’d consider the renewal rates to be really good,” noted Law Director Dean DePiero.
Council OK’d opting out of adhering to regulations established in Ohio House Bill 172 relating to fireworks usage, and revised language in the city’s fireworks ordinance.
The city will continue to prohibit selling and discharge of fireworks, except for the city’s annual display and any displays planned by homeowners’ associations. The latter must pay for city personnel who are needed to assist with the displays.
Any violation would be a first-degree misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $1,000 possibly imposed. DePiero said in his time as law director, hardly any fireworks charges have been filed.
Recommendations of the Tax Incentive Review Committee regarding current tax abatements were approved.
All industrial abatements in Community Reinvestment Area 1were continued, as were four commercial abatements in CRA 2 and three residential and three commercial abatements in CRA 3. Three residential abatements in CRA 3 have expired.
Council approved a three-year agricultural use management agreement with Carlton Farms of Mantua to lease 28 acres of city-owned property formerly known as the Hach property on East Mennonite Road.
Carlton Farms will pay $141.88 per acre per year from April 26, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2024.
Accepted for dedication was a lift station and force main at Renaissance Park at Geauga Lake, the Pulte Homes development north of Treat Road.
A number of ordinances and resolutions went on to their next reading, while action on the new ward boundaries map and a final plat for Phase 1B East of the Renaissance Park at Geauga Lake was postponed.
Heading to next readings were the 2023 tax budget, for which a public hearing was set for June 13 at 7 pm.; several revisions to various zoning code chapters, for which a public hearing was set for May 23; the reappointment of Frank Vitale to the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority’s board of trustees; and an “employees generally” ordinance.
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