Sept 15 village council special meeting

Richfield Village Mayor Michael Wheeler announced the results of negotiations with Broadview Heights Mayor Sam Alai to allow Richfield residents to become members of Broadview’s recreation center.

The Broadview rec center charges a lower fee for residents and a higher fee for non-residents.  Wheeler proposed to Richfield Village Council that the village subsidize the cost for residents to become full members. Broadview Heights resident membership fees range from $95 for seniors to $335 for families. Non-resident fees are about double. 

Wheeler said availability of the Broadview facility would give residents access to a nearby fitness center with indoor pools and a soon-to-open outdoor pool without the village building, maintaining and staffing its own rec center. He said he will ask council to commit to a $60,000 subsidy for 2022 but anticipates it will cost the village less.

Council did not act on the request.

303/176 intersection

Councilperson Ralph Waszak told council the village has been talking about improving the center of town and the intersection of routes 303 and 176 for over 20 years. “We need to look at the whole configuration. … I want to see money put into the budget to hammer this out,” he said of plans for the intersection and the Green.

Service Director Chris Papp said engineering studies need to be done for utilities, road infrastructure and pedestrian connections. “You are thinking about 50,000 [linear] feet of infrastructure,’’ he said. “On the bright side, Cleveland Water has already surveyed the area.”

Said Waszak, “I’d like to see curbs and gutters.”

Councilperson Jeff Stoppenhagen questioned whether the Cleveland Water Department should take into account the village’s future plans before it installs the water line in that area.

“We don’t want to find out we can’t lower the streets to put in gutters because the water line is there,” he said.

Zoning Director Brian Franz said water line construction should start in the spring, and it is probably too late to involve Cleveland Water in discussions.

Councilperson Bobbie Beshara said she wants underground wiring, at least on the west side of the Green.

“I would like an assurance that we are going to push this forward [if we put money in the budget],’’ Wheeler said. “Are you all willing to follow through? I want to know you are serious.”

COVID funds for RJRD

Richfield Joint Recreation District Chairperson Anita Gantner requested the village share COVID federal relief funds administered by the state with the RJRD. She suggested the village contribute $29,650 and Richfield Township $20,350, to be used to make the Lodge a marketable venue.

The Lodge is not air conditioned, and an air conditioning system might qualify as a proper use of COVID funds, because it could be considered a ventilation upgrade.

About 90 percent of the park property is in the township. Gantner said she already requested funds from the township, which asked what the village will do.

Beshara said she opposes the idea, because residents already pay taxes to the park district.

Stoppenhagen said the park lost revenue because of the pandemic. “People’s number one complaint was there is no air conditioning,’’ he said. “Air upgrades would cost about $55,000. They want to get air in there before next summer.”

No decision was made on the request. After the meeting, Wheeler said he would abide by council’s decision. ∞