Good evening. Today is August 27th,
2026, and I'd like to call our regular 6
PM meeting to order. Please stand for
the opening prayer led by Pastor Phil
Anderson with Bethl Church of Talmage
and remain standing for the pledge of
allegiance.
Uh correction, we will stand for a
moment of silence and then um move into
pledge of allegiance.
to the flag of the United States of
America and to the
standy
for all.
Thank you, madame clerk. Please call the
role.
>> Jonathan Bolus,
>> here.
>> Jessica Epstein
>> here.
>> Lindseay Holm
>> here.
>> Dave Klein
>> here.
>> Donald Pavick
>> here.
>> Tracy Pletcher
>> here.
>> Ted Roy
>> here.
>> Thank you. We have seven counselors
present this evening. Um, please note
that council does anticipate entering
into an executive session later on into
tonight's meeting to discuss pending
litigation.
Moving right along, we will um move to
correcting and adopting the previous
meeting minutes. We are in receipt of
regular meeting minutes from the August
13th June uh 2026 meeting. Are there any
corrections to the minutes as presented?
I'll make a motion to adopt second
maintenance as presented.
>> We have a first by uh Mr. Pavick.
>> Did I hear a second?
>> I did second.
>> Uh we have a second by Mr. Bolus. Is
there any additional discussion?
Hearing none. Madam clerk, please call
the role.
>> Jessica Epstein?
>> Yes.
>> Lindseay Holm?
>> Yes. Dave Klein?
>> Yes.
>> Donald Pavick?
>> Yes.
>> Tracy Pletcher?
>> Yes.
>> Ted Roy?
>> Yes.
>> Jonathan Bullis?
>> Yes.
All right, that motion carries with a
vote of 7 to zero.
We are in receipt of no financial
reports this evening and we have no
public hearings this evening. So, we
will move into community input. This is
the point of the meeting where public
input is invited to discuss an item not
on the agenda. If an item is on the
agenda or set for public hearing, input
is invited at the appropriate time. Do
we have anyone in the audience that
would like to come to the microphone and
address council?
All right, seeing no members coming
forward, we will move into agenda
additions this evening. We have a
certificate of appreciation to Paul
Jerkowski and this will be presented by
our award for Councilwoman, Miss
Pletcher.
» Thank you.
Tonight I'm very pleased to have the
opportunity to recognize Paul Jowski
with a certificate of appreciation.
Paul's family moved to Townage when he
was a young man and his life does for
many of us. His path eventually took him
away from Townage. But about 20 years
ago, Paul and his wife Lisa returned to
Townage to raise their two children.
Earlier this year, Paul received word of
a situation that was taking place that
could directly and negatively affect not
just his neighborhood, but other
neighborhoods around his. He didn't
simply sit back and complain. He took
action. He put on his walking shoes and
went door todo providing information to
many residents, many of who were not
even aware of what was happening. But
tonight isn't specifically about the
situation that was taking place. It is
about what Paul's actions demonstrated.
A genuine commitment to his neighbors
and to keeping Townage the wonderful
place it is to live. Residents like Paul
remind us that a strong community isn't
built solely by its officials or city
employees. It is also built by the
residents who care enough to get
involved and make a difference in the
lives of their neighbors. His
willingness to step up and help his
neighbors does not go unnoticed. That is
exactly the kind of community spirit we
are proud to have here. It is an honor
to present Mr. Jacowski with this
certificate of appreciation as a small
token of our gratitude.
if you want to show.
>> Oh, absolutely.
» All right. Thank you very much.
>> I just wanted to give a real quick thank
you to everybody here, everybody who's
helped. Mayor Kilway Tracy, um you've
taken your times out of your lives to go
talk to city council. Fight's not over
yet. We're continuing to try to get the
resolution that we want. Uh but I
appreciate all you've done for us and
for this award this evening. Thank you
very much.
>> And thank you, Paul, for all that you've
done for us. We really appreciate it.
>> Thank you.
very much for that
recognition, Miss Pletcher. We will move
into reports of administrative officers,
starting with our mayor and director of
public safety, Mayor Co.
>> Thank you very much. Um, I'm going to be
as brief as I can. We're very busy
around city hall. All the departments
are working very hard on their operating
budgets. It's a fluid process and I just
want to commend each department for um
really presenting streamlined um
budgets. Um thank you you know for all
the work that that is being done. Um so
there is going to be a ribbon cutting
for the new playground at the Howro
Park. Um so this um new playground went
in and the equipment was supplemented by
a donation from the Lions family in
memory of their son Matt Lions who
passed away suddenly. And the ribbon
cutting is scheduled for September 6th
which is the Sunday of Labor Day weekend
and it will be at one o'clock. So, I
would invite all of council um if you
could if you could spare some time, it
would be great to see you there. Um and
I also had the opportunity to attend the
convocation for Thomas City Schools.
This convocation is held every year. Um
and it's a time when the teachers all
come together and celebrate each other.
They celebrate their anniversaries and
new staff is um is introduced. And I
want to thank Superintendent Wood for
including me in this each and every
year. It's a great little event that
they do. Um, again, a reminder,
September 11th, the 25th anniversary of,
um, the attacks on our country, uh, we
will have two ceremonies this year. We
will have the regular ceremony at 8:00
in the morning where our volunteers will
gather and, um, place the candles on the
sidewalks in the circle, and there will
be a small convocation um, and ceremony
at 9:00. And then we're going to add an
evening ceremony this year in honor of
the 25th anniversary. And that ceremony
will begin at 8:00. again invite all of
council and all of our community to
attend that. U quick little update is
our electronic recycling um we have
twice a year it will be October the
10th. So anyone that has electronics
they want to get rid of that are stacked
up in their garage um put that date on
your calendar. October 10th at the rec
center from 10:00 a.m. until 2 p.m. And
I want to thank Justin Delaney and his
staff Scott and Max for arranging this
event twice a year. And then if it's
okay with council, I would like to
welcome Chief um Doug Bohan um to the
podium to give council an update on
their traffic concerns um involving the
Thomas City School campuses. So if
that's okay, we'll go ahead and use this
time.
>> Sure. You want to do that now or?
>> Yeah, let's do that now because he does
have some place to go later in the
evening.
>> Sure.
>> All right. Thanks. Chief,
» thank you. I'll be brief. I just want to
give you an overview of kind of what's
been going on. uh this past week. Uh we
all know that just for the past two
days, it's been K through 12 fully back.
Uh since last Wednesday, it was kind of
an incremental start in in most areas.
Uh what goes on on the campuses is the
school's plan and what goes on in the
city streets is our concern. Obviously,
uh not that those are mutually
exclusive. We're working with the
schools. We're in constant communication
with them as well. any areas that we
have that we feel can be improved by
something going on on campus that would
alleviate traffic on the streets, we're
obviously communicating with them.
They're very amanable and we appreciate
that. But as far as we're concerned from
a public safety standpoint, there are
really three priorities that we're kind
of looking at. One is pedestrian safety.
Uh another is the passage of safety
forces on these streets during these
times to get anywhere in the city to
answer calls. And the third, of course,
is just maintaining commuter traffic
flow. the first week we've seen some
challenges and some adjustments already.
Uh I will say that there are still a
couple areas of concern that we're
working with the school on. One in
particular is North Monroe uh road at
the high school at student pickup time.
What we're trying to avoid if at all
possible, particularly on North Monroe,
but on any street, is the backing up of
those vehicles at pickup time onto our
roadways. Monroe is particularly
challenging because it's a two-lane road
with no center turn lane, and that's
problematic more than probably any other
road. Uh, some things that are good. We
know we have traffic that backs up on
East Avenue as well, and I'll I'll
discuss that in a moment. But as far as
pedestrians go, I have had some input
and some questions from the community.
Perhaps you have as well, uh, about
crossing guards at different locations.
And right now, there's the crossing
guard for the school that is at East at
the middle and elementary school campus.
and she's out there by East Avenue.
She's very enthusiastic, does a great
job and we uh we are definitely in
communication with her and providing any
guidance that we can to make that a
little bit more efficient. There's also
an auxiliary officer that is inside that
campus because there's another crosswalk
just south of the superintendent's
office. And they're there to direct
busing as it's egressing while the
parents are coming in. And they're also
there to uh help with the students
because if you go into that campus,
you'll see that there's a sidewalk on
the east side of that road and then
students have to cross over that road to
get to the crossing guard inside the
campus. So they they assist with both of
those things.
at East of Monroe. Uh in the morning,
there's very little pedestrian traffic.
I've been out there almost every day.
The two captains have been out there.
Our officers are out there patrolling
the school zones every day. We've had
the drone up in both morning and
afternoon uh monitoring traffic flow
from a bird's eye point of view. I don't
see too many commuters or pedestrians
crossing there at East and Monroe in the
morning. It is a little bit heavier in
the afternoon. That's not to say that
there are a lot, but it is a little bit
heavier. We're fortunate there that we
have a good traffic light. We have a
crosswalk with a a button that can be
used for the computer, the pedestrians,
and they have the crosswalk sign for
pedestrians as well. Haven't noticed any
issues there at this time. We we're a
week in. Uh I will say that the traffic
lights themselves are functioning
properly. You'll know that there are
pressure plates over there on north uh
the north side of the elementary and
middle school campus as well as East
Avenue.
And so when a vehicle is egressing the
campus after student pickup, then
they're getting them out of there fairly
quickly. The problem at both campuses is
pretty much more difficult at student
pickup because everyone gets out at one
time. Parents are coming sometimes very
early and there's only so much room on
these campuses that we can store
vehicles uh and they're getting backed
up to East Avenue relatively quickly. To
help with that, we have school staff and
our SRO's internally. They're walking
the line. They're having people, you
know, scrunch up a little bit. We're
trying to get things moving. We've
adjusted, the school has adjusted, I
should say, how they're uh doing their
internal flow since the original plan at
the beginning of the year to help
accommodate for that. It's never going
to be perfect. It's going to be
difficult. And I would just like to
remind you and the public as well that
we had these issues when we had busing
as well at that campus. Um, student
pickup has always been kind of a problem
at the middle school and elementary
school. Um, it's just exacerbated now.
Uh, as far as safety, force,
accessibility, and commuter traffic on
the roadways, you are going to see more
congestion. Of course, you probably sat
in it yourselves. I know that the people
who are watching or listening to this
are probably a little bit frustrated,
too. But I want to say that those lights
at East and Monroe, uh, as well as the
light at East and the middle school
complex is functioning as it should. and
you will end up sitting on East Avenue,
particularly if you're coming westbound
uh around the rec center and the church
there and you're coming up to the Monroe
uh intersection
in the morning for about I'd say 10 to
20 minutes. We have a lot of congestion
there. You may have to sit through that
light two to three cycles, maybe four
depending, but it is flowing. It is
moving. We don't have a gridlock there.
The same can be said at that
intersection in the afternoon, the
opposite way. So when you're coming from
the middle school to Monroe, we're
seeing a lot of a buildup of traffic
there, but it is cycling. It is
functioning. And one of the things that
we're trying to alleviate for people
that are going to be turning north on
Monroe at that time is that congestion
at the high school on Monroe. We don't
want people backing up all the way to
the intersection, and that's going to be
problematic. We haven't had that yet,
but it's getting close.
We do have some ideas to bring to the
high school uh to hopefully assist with
that traffic during student pickup at
the high school. And uh we'll be having
those discussions very soon.
Like I said that they've made some
internal adjustments at the schools at
the middle school and elementary school
which has assisted. It's still not
perfect. There is a long center turn
lane on East Avenue between the middle
school and Monroe as you know. That's
actually kind of fortunate for us. We do
get a lot of people stacking up there
and they're in there. But what that that
lane does provide even though the people
are stacking up there particularly
around pickup time is it it it opens up
the westbound lane and it opens up the
eastbound lane. So at least our through
traffic whether it's commuters or safety
forces can still go both ways there.
My caution is essentially for people to
be of course aware of the increased
pedestrian traffic uh to note that we
are going to have some congestion. the
traffic lights are functioning properly,
but things are slower, particularly at
those times. And those times generally
are 7:15 to 7:40 uh at East of Monroe,
predominantly 3:30 to 3:45 also at East
Monroe. Uh and then around the middle
school and elementary campus, we have
some congestion between probably 220 to
225 to 235 and then again at 320 to 325
to about 340. things are a lot slower
the very latter part of the day due to
the fact that your K through four uh
pickup is taking place and they're being
you have to be very cautious about what
car the kids are getting into. So, you
know, your fifth through eighth graders,
they can run out to their parents car,
they know who they are, but the little
ones don't. So, it takes a little bit
longer to do the drop off or the pickup
there.
So, those are some of the internal
adjustments they have had. Uh our SRO's
are on scene. Like I said, they're
walking. We're we're in communication
with the school. Everything seems to be
working as it is supposed to from a
traffic light uh standpoint.
We've had some people who have asked us,
hey, why not have an auxiliary officer
or sworn officer direct traffic at like
East and Monroe or something? And though
I understand that the backup can be very
frustrating. I will say that it's been
my experience in in all these decades
that I've been doing this job that
sometimes when you put someone out there
with a vest and a light or something,
it's more of a distraction to the public
than it can be a help sometimes. And
since things are flowing, albeit slowly,
and we're not having any issues with
pedestrian traffic or dangerous things
going on right now, I'm reluctant to do
that because things are kind of flowing.
I don't want to mess that up, and I
don't want to distract people from what
they should be doing.
No plan is perfect. We're still working
with the schools. Um we knew that we
weren't going to have a perfect plan. We
knew we were going to have to kind of
observe and see what the change was
going to reveal. It's revealed itself to
us and we're adjusting as we go along.
That's kind of where we are right now
after one week. Do you guys have any
questions for me?
>> Um thank you for coming in and giving us
this update. I know um a lot of us have
been um like we can't go to cheer
practice without somebody saying
something to us. So, I appreciate that.
Um one note that I had received from a
parent um was when you're coming into
the middle school and elementary school
campus, it now breaks out into the two
different lines. And
um so in the particular example that
this person gave me was they were going
straight cuz they have a a fourth grader
um but the third and below line where
you turn right was full. So the officer
was holding the traffic and her and the
car behind them were both going
straight. So you had like several car
lengths of empty space up if you went
straight and they weren't letting them
go through and it was then it just backs
up even further on east. So I just
wanted to bring that up because it's an
opportunity, you know, two car lengths
is two car lengths if it if you can get
in two extra cars in there and get them
off of east. So I just wanted to bring
that up. I don't have an answer for you
right now, but I know we observed that
on the drone and that was something we
were it was almost like a missed
opportunity. You know, you have this
space. Uh so we're going to be working
with the school and trying to figure out
how we can do that. You know, um people
are still coming out that middle school
campus, too, so we can't have two lanes
going in. Uh so it's it's challenging.
>> Okay. Thank you,
>> Chief Bohan. I have a question as well.
Um I I'm not dropping any kids off at
school right now, but have like for the
older kids, have you found like any of
them walking to a location off campus um
and like having their parents pick them
up there?
>> Have you?
>> Yeah, great question. So the only thing
I've observed from that are there are a
few that are walking from the high
school to the rec center, I think, and
we have seen that. It hasn't been an
incredible amount at this point in time,
but we do see some of it. Yes.
>> Yes.
Uh we also had some officers that were
patrolling back behind Neil in that area
behind the elementary and middle school
and I think they noted three parent cars
back there. That was a problem uh before
we had a lot of complaints. So we are
watching that. So
>> thank you.
>> Yes. You're welcome.
that area on North Monroe and East was a
concern and I because I did have parents
ask me about that because their bus did
get cut and it is a walkable area for
them. I think they just ended up they
had the ability where they could take
the kids in the morning. It just wasn't
ideal. So, they're just they're driving
and sitting in the line. They didn't
want to risk it. Just made them too
nervous sitting in that intersection. So
it not surprised that it's not as busy
as
you know we may have thought.
>> It's going to be a challenge.
>> Yeah. Thank you for working closely with
the school and keeping us updated on it.
>> Of course.
>> It's not fun for anyone. I know.
>> No, it isn't. It's not fun for anyone.
That's right. Any other questions?
>> Okay. Thank you guys very much, ma'am.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Chief.
>> And that concludes my report, unless
anyone has any questions.
>> All right. Thank you very much. And uh
thank you again chief for coming in
today. We will move into our update with
the director of administration Mr.
Ignazito.
>> Good evening everyone and thank you
council president Epstein. Just a brief
update tonight. Um today I had an
opportunity uh to participate uh in the
council's uh daily op visit. daily app
visit at the public service center um
with uh council uh member uh Pletcher
and comp council member Roy. And uh if
there's any council members who haven't
participated, I would just highly
recommend it. I have not uh been down
there and gone through a tour of the
facility and review their daily ops in
quite some time. Uh and it was uh I'm
glad I had the opportunity to do it. It
was enlightening. And one of the things
that I that stood out to me as I was
down there, uh, as a retired Army
officer, one of the big things you
always looked at it when you went and
inspected a unit was a motorpool and
their garage. When you look and you go
into our service center and the way our
vehicles are maintained, the way that
center is maintained, how clean that is,
usually in my experience in the military
leads to was the pride in their area,
the pride in the team that they're on,
uh the cohesive teams, and that usually
led to really high quality work. And I
think we see that. So, I want to thank
uh service director Yuri uh and Miss
Ripple for coordinating the event, but
uh you know had uh the outstanding job
done by all the teams down there,
especially uh street superintendent Mike
Wagan, uh Rob uh utility superintendent
Rob Neheiser and garage lead uh Ben uh
Newman. It just it was really eye
opening especially during budget budget
season as the mayor mentioned and uh
just to discuss some of the things that
we're talking about current term and in
the long term. So if you haven't done
that highly recommend it. Thank you.
>> All right. Thank you very much. Um next
we have economic development. We do have
Scott Harrington with Insight Advisory
Group here to provide us with your
quarterly update. I think. Yes. Thank
you, President. Do we have a PowerPoint
>> or No.
>> No.
>> Okay.
>> I hope not. I didn't bring one.
Am I going to give it up?
>> Uh, I did provide a detailed written
report earlier this week, so I don't
know if you had a chance to go through
it yet, but please do that. Um, I won't
go through the whole thing here. Um, I
did want to start with just a couple
anecdotal things that have happened over
the last 90 days, conversations we've
been having with people. Um, we were
speaking with a a very experienced
business and property owner with a
significant real estate uh portfolio and
they told us they are in no hurry to
sell their building in Telmage and
that's because they see it as a a
developing market that's really going to
just keep going up in value. So, um,
while we would love to see them sell it
to somebody tomorrow that would put some
jobs in there, um, they are taking a
longer, uh, longer approach there. And
that's really still in the big picture,
um, a very positive sign. This is
somebody who knows what they're talking
about. So, um, he sees the market moving
in a in a good direction here in
Talmage. Um, also had a conversation
with another business owner that I had
worked with previously in a different
community. Um, they were trying very
hard to find something to stay uh in
that community they were in. Um, did an
exhaustive search and they've decided to
expand that. Um, so they called me to
think uh see what I thought and I asked
them what they thought of Talmage and
their direct quote was Talmage would be
perfect for us. So, this is a a great
business. Um, so I think that'd be
perfect for Talage. Also, the bis the
building they're looking for is very
unique and does not exist here. But, um,
there's one
with some work that maybe could do the
trick and they also uh theoretically
could do a a new build, which they're kind of sour on right now, but
they had been considering it before. So,
uh, we continue to be diligent with
them. Uh, as far as the project
pipeline, um, we had a couple wins last
time. We're going to declare one win.
This time it's three jobs. So, not not a
big big number, but, uh, we had nine
uh, leads and projects that we were
working on last time. And just in the
last three months, we're we've added
four. So, um I think the report actually
says three, but after talking to
Samantha this morning, we've got another
one that could add another employer with
looking for 15 to 20,000 square feet and
was it 40 jobs
in that neighborhood. So, um the
pipeline continues to be strong. All
those metrics that we track in far as uh
retaining jobs, creating jobs, and the
square footage that they're looking for,
those are all up from last time.
Um I will point out that that uh over
600,000 square ft of industrial space um
that is the demand side of the equation.
So that's what people are looking for.
So theor theoretically if we're able to
close all 13 of those projects and get
them done, that's the amount of square
footage it would take to accommodate
those. There's probably 300 350,000 ft
of industrial space that's available
right now. So just to keep that in
perspective. Um
so we added uh yeah three new expansion
uh opportunities with existing employers
in the city. The one that I referenced
at the top um which is a a growing
business that would be an attraction
coming from outside the city. I did have
one that I moved from a a project to a
lead. So that a lead is just a project
that is further out, has a longer
timeline or is not as certain to happen.
Um, in this case, they still plan on
doing it. It just has been listed as a
project for a while and has not gotten
any closer. So, uh, I I moved it back to call it a lead just to uh to be fair.
But in that case, they've actually also
identified a plan B in terms of the real
estate uh that might solve their problem
for them. and the the second one would
even be better because I think it would
be a win-win uh for the city.
Uh with the help of our marketing team
at uh Insight, we put together um or we
enhanced the marketing brochures for
five key properties that are in and
around the center of the city. Um their
online presence just was not doing them
justice. So, we uh did some work
including bringing a photographer in to
take pictures, put together a a better-l
looking brochure ad uh information on
the city and the economic development
toolbox locally. Um, so we have a more
uh enticing
digital uh presence for those properties
and we're going to be able to be more uh
aggressive now trying to find some end
users that uh would benefit the city.
And
one more just one last thing uh kind of
I should have probably should have put
this with the anecdotes at the top but
we had did have discussions with the
owner of an industrial property that
said they are willing to sell to a
developer if there's a project that is
identified that would advance the vision
of making Talage a more vibrant walkable
city. So there's nothing tangible yet
there um but it is a strategic piece of
property. So, um, that's something that
we'll be, uh, certainly drilling down on
in the next 90 days before we speak
again. So,
>> question for you on the West Avenue, the old Rockco skating rink project. I
know that was supposed to be in front of
planning zoning
>> uh next week, but I think it's not on
the agenda. Plan zoning was canceled.
So, that one I think maybe you'll answer
that. Then the A&W, I noticed the sign
came down. Uh people were calling me,
"Oh, it's sold." No, I don't think it's
sold. I
>> I don't I don't think it is either. Um I
think Well,
>> I I can address those in my report.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Yeah, it's I think it's still available.
Yeah.
>> Hey, thank you.
>> Thanks for the update.
>> I have a question. Um the last comment
you made about the indust like the
business owner who own the industrial
space, they'd be interested in adding to
it if a if the business was able to help
with Telmage's walkability. Can you
explain that a little bit more, please?
>> Uh well, with the the potential uh the
residential development there and um
potentially some more uh maybe
restaurants and things around the circle
that would support that. um there might
be an opportunity for something that
would complement
that. Um this was again this is not the
developer, this is the property owner
just saying they would love to see more
uh projects that would help with that um
vision for the city.
» Yeah, sure.
>> Any other questions from council?
All right. Thank you very much for
coming in today, Mr. Harrington.
And we do have our regular um update
with our in-house economic development
with Miss P. Good evening. Thank you.
Yes, happy to share an update. Um so in
addition to the uh state and regional
ongoing professional development
opportunities covering topics including
site development, planning and community
funding. um I continue to participate in
those and as well as uh the Talmage
Chamber monthly events including the
August multi-chamber networking event.
As far as Talage businesses go, um we've
had uh several uh recent new business
openings. Um a couple of uh new sole
proprietors in the city on August 7th.
Three Tree City Gaming, which is a hobby
store, opened down on 290 West Avenue.
Um, in addition, MLJ Arcade opened um at
29 Midway Plaza. It is a children's um
uh or youth entertainment center with uh
traditional arcade games, retro arcade
games, video games, and that sort of
thing. And then on August 12th, uh
Milcraft Barnes opened um up at 399 West
Avenue, adding Talagement to its
portfolio of storefront locations in
Northeast Ohio. Um, we conducted four
business retention and expansion visits
in July with 32 to date, which is up
over 6% year-over-year. And that
encompasses year-to- date over 1,500
local jobs and over 1.48 million square
foot of business space. Um, and as Scott
alluded to, a lot of these conversations
are where projects or leads or potential
opportunities are are born. Um, to
address um, Councilman Klein's
questions, um, at 35 West, I did um, of
course, everyone notices the brokerage
signs are down. Um, I did reach out to
the broker and he advised the property
is off the market for the time being. It
was not sold. So we will stay tuned for
what happens next there. Um and then the
Circle West Avenue development um the
developer has submitted their general
development plan and that came in in
time for um that will be heard at the
public meeting um the plan planning and
zoning commission meeting on October 1st. Thank you. So that will be
addressed there and I would encourage
everyone to to come if they're
interested because that will be reviewed
in detail.
And then um I might just expand a little
bit on what Scott was talking about. So
sometimes when uh these properties have
been sitting there for some time and we
have the opportunity to get into a
conversation with a property owner,
sometimes they're curious, you know,
what would happen if we sell the
property? what would h happen if we hold
on to the property? Are there you know
are there any financial um puts and
takes of doing one thing over another
and um you know we're able to provide
the thought process as to what that
might look like if they were to sell or
if they were to keep the property and
use it for another purpose. And there's
a lot of discussion around adaptive
reuse, if you will, because we know that
more than likely, not to say that it
wouldn't happen, but more than likely a
root beer stand probably won't go into
35 West. It'll probably be something
else. So, um, those are the types of
conversations that we're having without
getting into too much detail, but
hopefully that's helpful. If there's any
other questions, I'd be happy to answer
them. Otherwise, that concludes my
report.
» Any questions from council? All right.
Thank you very much, Miss P. We'll move
into our report with the director of
public service, Mr. Yuri.
>> Good evening. I just have one item. Um,
as I'd mentioned in my report at our
last meeting, uh, the last day of the
pool and our last event was a doggy dip
that was held this last Saturday. It was
very well attended. And I do want to
recognize some work that uh Nick Corano,
our new code and zoning officer, put
into that. Um he's also considered our
storm water specialist. So he put
together the pause for clean water
program and he ended up getting 24 uh
people there to commit to the uh
cleaning up of the dog waste and that
will then help us in our MS4
uh report. So, uh, Nick did a really
good job with that and he's he's, uh,
very excited to take projects like that
on. So, it's very good to see, very good
for the community. It's all I have.
» That is super cool. So, thank you for
sharing that. Um, all right. Uh, any
questions from council?
>> I had a question about the repairs to
the How Road Park bathroom. Um, were
those completed today?
>> No. Um,
>> I think yeah, I believe they're due to
be there tomorrow and hopefully finish
up on Saturday. Fingers crossed.
>> All right, thank you, Jason.
» All right, next up we have our director
of finance, Miss Gri.
>> Um, thank you. The only thing I have is
I would request uh council's
consideration of adopting ordinance 66
at first reading this evening.
>> 66.
» public service first one.
>> All right. Thank you. Noted and um we
will move into our report with director
of law Miss Rabber.
>> Thank you. Um as mentioned earlier uh I
am asking for an executive session this
evening. Uh, and then I will ask for
action on ordinance 2026-68.
I will be asking for first reading
adoption of 20 2668 this evening as well
as 202669 and 202670.
Um, and I will discuss those in greater
detail when we get to those on the
agenda. uh with regard to 202068
that is um actually item B in the under
public service and I would ask for a
motion to uh amend the agenda to move
ordinance 2026-68
to the last item under public service so
that when we go into executive session
it just runs a little bit smoother at
that point in the meeting.
I'll make a motion to move uh B
ordinance 2026-68
uh to follow ordinance 2026-70.
>> Second.
» Um we have a first by Miss Palm and we
have a second by Mr. Klein to move
ordinance 2026-68
on the agenda um to the last of the
first readings of public service. Is
there any discussion? Hearing none.
Madam clerk, please call the role.
>> Lindsey Holm,
>> yes. Dave Klein,
>> yes.
>> Donald Pavick,
>> yes.
>> Tracy Pletcher,
>> yes.
>> Ted Roy,
>> yes.
>> Jonathan Bullis,
>> yes.
>> Jessica Epstein,
>> yes. That motion carries with a vote of
seven to zero.
>> Thank you. Uh, end of my report.
>> All right. Thank you very much, Miss
Raber.
Next, we have our reports of standing
committees of council of the whole. And
I will recognize our chair, Mr. Roy,
with planning and zoning to open your
committee.
>> Thank you. I'd like to open up planning
and zoning. The planning and zoning
committee deals with land use, zoning,
conditional uses, planning, economic and
community development, and public
property. Tonight, we don't have
anything before us. If anybody else has
anything else,
if not, I will close committee. Thank
you.
>> Thank you. I'll recognize council member
Mr. Klene with finance.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll call the
finance committee to order. Finance
committee deals with budget
appropriations, reappropriations, bond,
franchise, investments, and
expenditures. We do have one item at
first reading, ordinance 2026-67,
appropriating an additional amount for
the cemetery management software,
reducing the appropriations in the
zoning budget to offset the cost of the
software, and providing for immediate
enactment.
Mr. Yuri,
thank you. Um, so our cemetery software,
we keep track of our records, spaces,
and stuff is uh fairly old. It's not
being updated or maintained anymore. Um,
we're starting to see issues from that
not being updated and maintained. I
believe it was last week it was down for
a day for us. So, um, we are in need of
updating that software as soon as
possible before we end up losing the
data that's in there. So, I would also
ask that, uh, council consider adopting
this ordinance at first reading as well.
Anybody? I know the importance of the
software and the for the cemetery and
will will this new software program
migrate all the old data from the old
system that's failing
>> some of it. Um what this new program
will do is actually fairly broad. They
will map the entire cemetery which we
currently we have paper maps. So they
will map it and then migrate the data
that we do have and then go and verify
what data is missing from stuff in the
cemetery. So this will actually complete
our records of the cemetery and have it
all in one place.
» Make a motion to adopt 2026-67.
>> I would second.
>> There's a motion on the floor. It's been
seconded to approve ordinance 2026-67
at first reading. Discussion
hearing. None. Clerk, please call the
role.
>> Dave Klene,
>> yes.
>> Donald Pab,
>> yes.
>> Tracy Pletcher,
>> yes.
>> Ted Roy,
>> yes.
>> Jonathan Bolas,
>> yes.
>> Jessica Epstein,
>> yes.
>> Lindsay Holm,
>> yes.
>> Ordinance 2026-67
is adopted by a vote of 7 to0. Any other
items to before the finance committee?
>> Hearing none, end committee. Thank you.
I'll now recognize Mr. Bolus
with personnel.
Uh
>> good evening. I call the personnel
committee to order. Uh the personnel
committee deals with personnel, labor
relations, insurance claims, rules of
council, and state statutes. Uh we have
no ordinances or resolutions uh this
evening before us. Are there any
additional items or matters referred for
personnel committee this evening by
council or administration?
Thank you. I'll close committee.
>> Thank you. I'll now recognize uh
Councilwoman Fletcher with safety
committee.
>> Thank you. I'll open safety committee.
The safety committee deals with disaster
services, communications, fire and
paramedics, police and health. There are
no items listed on the agenda this
evening. Um under additional items, it
does show traffic control of the school
drop off and pickups for discussion. Uh
we did have discussion with Chief Bohan
earlier. So is there anything anybody
would like to add to that?
Okay. Hearing none, I'll close
committee.
» Thank you. I'll recognize Mr. Pathick
with community issues.
>> Thank you. I open committee issues
committee. The community issues
committee deals with parks, recreation,
civic affairs, and liaison between
council and the recreation board and
intergovernmental affairs. Currently,
there's no pending legislation before
us. Is there anything that needs to be
brought before the community issues
committee hearing? None. I'll close
committee. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. I'll recognize Miss
Holm with public service.
>> All right. I'd like to call the public
service committee to order. The public
service committee deals with streets,
highways, sidewalks, buildings, and
improvements, water, sewer, electricity,
gas, energy resources, recycling, waste,
and trash. Um, at first reading, we have
ordinance 2026-66
sponsored by Mayor Kilway, authorizing
the city of Talmage to prepare and
submit an application to participate in
the Ohio Public Works Commission State
Capital Improvement and execute
contracts as required and providing for
immediate enactment. Um, any comments,
Mayor Kilway or M? Um this is for uh to
allow us to submit the application to
OPWC to obtain funding for the East
Avenue G Cambrian and Greenbryer
waterline project. That is actually on
our list of waterline projects to do
next year. So we would like to at this
time submit that through the application
process. If we do not get it, we will go
move forward with the project with an
OWDA loan. if we can score well enough
on this and get some grant money or an
OPWC loan, we would would uh like the
opportunity to do that. So, we will go
through that process and if we are not
awarded, we'll still move forward with
the project, but we felt that it would
be prudent to try to get this money.
>> I'll make a motion to adopt 2026-66.
>> Second.
>> All right. We have a motion from Mr.
Pavick and a second from Mrs. Epstein.
Any discussion on the motion?
Um, all right. Hearing none. Clerk, will
you please call roll?
>> Donald Pavick,
>> yes.
>> Tracy Pletcher,
>> yes.
>> Ted Roy,
>> yes.
>> Jonathan Bolus,
>> yes.
>> Jessica Epstein,
>> yes.
>> Lindseay Holm,
>> yes.
>> Dave Klein,
>> yes.
» All right, the ordinance passes with a
vote of 7 to Z. Um, next we have
ordinance 2026-69
sponsored by Director of Public Service Jason Yuri and uh, director of
law Megan Rabber declaring the necessity
and intention to temporarily appropriate
certain property interests adjacent to
or abuing East Avenue for purposes of
proceeding with the improvement thereof
and providing for an immediate
enactment. Um, any comments?
>> Yes, I'll go ahead and take this one and
explain it. Um, so this is for the East
Avenue project. Um, we've been talking
about for years now. Uh, this is, uh,
we're at the step in the process where,
um, we're seeking temporary easements
from certain property owners that, um,
have still, uh, not been not signed off
on what that what that easement
agreement is. Um, they have been
previously contacted and we have reached
out with correspondence to them directly
from my office as well. Um we have had
uh we actually you have an an amended
link on there. We've gone from 10
property owners to eight just because
we're continuing to try to work with
them. Um but this allows for the project
to proceed. Essentially what happens is
um under the Ohio Revised Code, the city
is able to initiate the proceedings um
following other steps in the code that
we will follow. uh we can we can move
forward with taking these cases to
probate court and we can um deposit the
amount of money that we're offering on
those um appropriations in court and
then the project is able to continue.
So, it's an important step for us to be
able to move forward um for public
purposes to make sure that we can get
this roadway done um and it still allows
people to negotiate. again can still
resolve. Hopefully, we'll resolve with
most of these folks, but um it's a
matter of timing and we're getting into
a colder season and we want to make sure
we can still move forward with um
whatever is needs to be done in the
project um timing wise. So, I'm asking
for first reading adoption of this
tonight.
>> I'd move to adopt ordinance 2026-69
at first reading.
>> I'll second it.
>> All right. We have a motion from Mr.
Klene and a second from Mr. Roy. Is
there any discussion?
>> Just for the record, this is a normal
process that we've done on all the ODOT
projects or the state projects. It
follows the procedure and the property
owner still has the opportunity to sign
off prior to going to the probates, but
uh they will be made whole during the
process.
>> Question, when were these first these
individuals were originally contacted?
>> Uh months ago. So we have we so ODOT
defined months
>> I I don't have the exact date.
>> Um I believe
>> we've started this process like early in
January of this year. It's been
>> a long time.
>> Okay.
>> What was the original is the original
deadline um like right around
Labor Day
for them to
>> before we go to we file.
>> We we're we're being driven by ODOT.
like this is an ODOT project. So my
understanding is that they need to be
able to proceed with next steps. We need
to get this done by October, like
October 1. So we need to move this
along. So this is going to be moved
along. And again, that doesn't mean that
we can't resolve with people. We just
need to keep moving.
>> Do do we know the reasons why these
eight are out here? I mean, I know one,
but is it monetary? Is it
>> It depends. It's case by case. So each
one is different. We we've been trying
to reach out directly. My office,
>> the way that this works through the ODOT
projects is that we have a third party
that actually does the negotiations and
so they have been handling the
negotiations up until just recently.
Then they hand the files over to my
office and my office has been has sent
correspondents to all of these parties
and then we are initiating conversations
with as many as we can prior to filing.
But but we are we are just getting these
files here from um the contractor who'd
been negotiating these easements.
>> So do we know
>> what the Poland communicates with the
service department on a regular basis on
each of these parcels if the if
somebody's requesting something if we're
agreeable to it and those things. So
those conversations have been happening
all summer and spring long.
Um, some of them I know for a fact have
just not responded to any of the the
communication. So, they all have
different reasons. Um,
and it I'm sure if you got with the
service department with Helaine, she's
been the head person on this, she could,
you know, provide you with more
information
on any of them. But we're in constant
contact with O colon about what people
are requesting, what modifications they
want, can we approve it, can we not? Is
it within the allowable amount that can
be paid? All those are ongoing
conversations.
>> I just go ahead.
>> I was just a follow-up question. Um
the process like if they're asking for
something like can you walk me through
like the the process of decisioning? So
like is it it we take that um suggestion
from the homeowner and then are we
working with ODOT? Are we working with
OC?
>> We're are working with OC. OC knows the
appraisals, the values. We work with the
appraiser who appraised the property.
The the things that they ask for have
monetary values that are placed on them
like trees, certain type of trees are
worth this, this that and the other. So
there's there's an ongoing conversation
and then depending on what are they
asking for, what would the cost of us
taking them to appropriation be, it it's a it's a back and forth that occurs
and each property is a unique back and
forth.
>> And then who's the who's the decision
maker?
>> So because this is an ODOT project, it's
partly them. So we it's kind of a joint
effort. So it's a communication
>> and a joint effort. But every project
I've ever done with the ODOT, we had to
do that. And I would always go out and
talk to the homeowners. And as Molly
said, it's either they want to save this
tree, so can you move the sidewalk this
way? Or I want my driveway approach to
go two foot wider. Would you allow that?
U so it was really it's a negotiation
back and forth, but it was that was big
part of the whole projects.
>> So Mayor Kilway, have you talked to
these owners?
Mayor Kellway hasn't been involved yet.
Again, we just got the files. We got the
files back from O colon right before
they said, "Oh, we need you guys to keep
this moving and we need these
deadlines." So, she's not had an
opportunity to do that.
>> I mean, I just to get perspective, we
were talking to hundreds of property
owners and we're down to eight. So, I
mean,
it's good.
>> Yeah.
Sorry. And of those eight, some of them
just you have they have not engaged.
>> There are some that have just not
engaged. They don't respond to the phone
call. They don't respond to an email.
They don't respond to a letter. Like
they just don't there's those people.
There's people that what they want can't
be done or isn't reasonable. There
there's again
>> each case is a different scenario here.
I can't give you all of them, but that
it is all documented
as to why there has been no settlement
with these property owners
>> and then they still so if this were to
pass then they still have an opportunity
to settle up.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Correct.
>> Yes.
>> For a short for a short period of time
then it goes through the court process
and even then we can still reach
settlements with people but it has to
continue down that process. so that we
continue to be able to move.
>> They can negotiate up until the court
date.
>> I mean, even once the even with the even
once the court paperwork is filed, you
still have we still have an opportunity
to resolve. It just cost us the money of
the additional funds of now we have to
go through a court process and it costs
them, you know, whatever position they
want to take on it as well. them.
» I would like to know because most of
these, if not all, are in my ward.
So, I know I've been in contact with
one. I called one today and they're not
on here anymore. So, you know, it was
just because they just didn't get to the
paperwork. So, if it's something like
that, you know, we clear this up to get
from 8 to six or five. Um but I'd le to
like to know what the issues are because
one's not monetary. One is you know
>> well again well everything
>> even expanding a driveway etc et is
monetary it it translates to it's just
whether it's an inind or if it's
>> I I understand it's it's a cost
adjustment.
>> It's a cost adjustment. So all that
again all those things have to be taken
in consideration but yes I'd be happy to
>> what I what I mean by monetary is you'll
get a price and then someone you know
there'll be an appraised value and
they'll have the comps in there of how
they can derive that value. when I mean
my monetaries people sometimes say no
it's worth more than what you know
you're stating right so that's the main
thing I wanted to make sure if any of
those were th those issues
>> and even if they are then we still we
still need to pro we we still have to
proceed through the appropriate process
so but I'm be happy to talk with you
more afterward if you want to contact my
office
» all right
>> calls over
>> okay hearing no further discussion clerk
will Will you please call roll?
>> Tracy Pletcher,
>> yes.
>> Ted Roy,
>> yes.
>> Jonathan Bullis,
>> yes.
>> Jessica Epstein,
>> yes.
>> Lindseay Holm,
>> yes.
>> Dave Klein,
>> yes.
>> Donald Pavick,
>> yes.
>> Great.
>> Sorry. Ordinance 2026-69
passes with a vote of 7 to 0. Um, moving
on to ordinance 2026-70,
sponsored by Director of Public Service
Jason Yuri, authorizing the creation and
acceptance of utility easements at
various locations on Southwest Avenue
and providing for immediate enactment.
Um, comments from the sponsor. Um, I'm
going to go ahead and take this if you
don't mind. So, this is this is on our
Southwest Avenue waterline project and
this is um where we've already reached
agreements with people on the easements
that are necessary for that waterline.
And so, we're asking for acceptance
tonight. Uh we're asking for first
reading adoption, but you if you choose
not to, you don't have to. But again,
these are already signed, the agreements
are reached, and um we just want to move
forward with getting those filed. We
will have that. We will have a similar
ordinance that will be coming for East
Avenue. So again, we have kind of both
of these projects moving.
>> H how many on Southwest Havens?
>> We're down to two.
>> Down to two. Okay. I'll make a motion to
adopt ordinance 2026-70.
>> A second.
>> All right. We have a motion from Mr.
Pavick and a second from Mr. Klene. Uh
any discussion?
>> Mr. Polus.
I heard Mr. Klein. Um,
>> doesn't matter.
>> We'll go with that. Um, any discussion?
» All right. Hearing none. Clerk, will you
please call a roll?
>> Ted Roy,
>> yes.
>> Jonathan Bullis,
>> yes.
>> Jessica Epstein,
>> yes.
>> Lindseay Holm,
>> yes.
>> Dave Klein,
>> yes.
>> Donald Pavick,
>> yes. Tracy Pletcher.
>> Yes.
» All right. Megan, do I go with the last
one now or do we close committee and go
into
>> uh No, you would go into the last last
one. You can call read that into the
record.
>> Thank you. Um, now we have ordinance
2026-68
sponsored by Mayor Kilway and director
of law Megan Rabber authorizing the
director of law to settle and resolve
all claims and the mayor to execute the
required documents for complaints filed
with the public utilities commission of
Ohio appropriating the necessary funds
and providing for immediate enactment.
>> Madame Chair,
>> uh, Mr. Fine.
>> I move I'd make a motion to go into
executive session for the discussion of
ordinance 2026-68.
>> Second
>> for the purpose of pending litigation.
>> Second.
>> All right. We have a motion from Mr.
Klein and a second from Mr. Pavick. Any
discussion?
Hearing none. Clerk, will you please
call roll?
>> Jonathan Bolus?
>> Yes.
>> Jessica Epstein?
>> Yes.
>> Lindseay Holm,
>> yes.
>> Dave Klene,
>> yes. Donald Pavick,
>> yes.
>> Tracy Pletcher,
>> yes.
>> Ted Roy,
>> yes.
» All right, it is 6:58 and we are going
into executive session
>> and we will be back
» asking for action to be taken. Thanks.
to order. Um,
do I need to reread the ordinance? Uh,
>> you do not need to reread it, but I I
would ask for adoption at first reading
of uh, ordinance 2026-68.
>> I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance
2026-68.
>> I'll second it.
>> All right. We have a motion from Mr.
Pavick and a second from Mr. Roy. Any
discussion?
Hearing none. Clerk, will you please
call roll? Jessica Epstein?
>> Yes.
>> Lindseay Holm,
>> yes.
>> Dave Klein,
>> yes.
>> Donald Pavick,
>> yes.
>> Tracy Pletcher,
>> yes.
>> Ted Roy,
>> yes.
>> Jonathan Bolas,
>> yes.
» All right, the motion I'm sorry, uh,
2026-68,
uh, passes with a vote of seven to zero.
>> Thank you.
And that is our last matter. Are there
any um other matters or items referred?
Hearing none, I will close committee.
Thank you very much. Our last item is
reports of special committee. Do you
have any updates, Mr. Bolas?
>> Uh no report this evening.
>> All right. Thank you. Um I will let
council know that I did meet with Mr.
Ignazto and um Rachel to discuss the
council portion of the 2027
budget and um so we are working through
those items but that meeting did happen
this week. Are there any announcements
from council?
All right, hearing uh hearing none. I'll
entertain a motion to adjurnn.
>> I'll make a motion to adjurnn.
>> We have I'll second.
>> We have a first by Mr. Pavick and a
second by Miss Holm. Is there any
further discussion? Hearing none. Madam
clerk, please call the role.
>> Lindseay Holm,
>> yes. Dave Klein,
>> yes.
>> Donald Pavick,
>> yes.
>> Tracy Pletcher,
>> yes.
>> Ted Roy,
>> yes.
>> Jonath,
>> yes.
>> Jessica Epstein,
>> yes.
» All right. Uh, the time is 711 and we
are draw.
>> Thank you.