Sewer district to help pay for Grant Street Paving

by Sue Serdinak

Aug. 20 village council meeting

With Mayor Michael Wheeler on vacation and council President Ralph Waszak as acting mayor, Richfield Village Council made quick order of handling routine business.

Council suspended readings and accepted a reimbursement grant of about $200,000 from the Community Cost-Share Program of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District to help cover the cost of installing permeable pavers on the east-west section of Grant Street. The project includes the installation of a bollard system to temporarily close the street for special events.

The NEORSD Community-Share Program redistributes stormwater fees that the district collects from property owners in the community.

“There has been a lot of consternation about storm water fees, but we’ve received a lot of money back [through the cost-share program],” said Planning Director Brian Frantz.

Frantz asked council to pass the legislation at this meeting so construction on Grant Street can be completed before the Richfield Brewing Company opens in October.

Frantz said the village has been meeting with representatives of Pilot Service Center at the corner of Brecksville and Columbia roads regarding property maintenance, signage and use violations.

Community Day

Council approved the payment of $7,700 to American Fireworks for the fireworks that were displayed at Community Day. Council members commended village staff for all of their efforts in making the Community Day weekend a wonderful success.

Jacob Komar was sworn in as a full-time Richfield Police officer. Photo by S. Serdinak.

Safety reports

In other business, council approved the appointment of Jacob Komar as a full-time police officer. Komar attended the Tri-C Police Academy and scored 98.5%, out of 100%, on the state exam.

Police Chief Michael Swanson reported that the person who escaped a police chase and was tracked for two days in the Southern Road area was never located. Police notified the community about the fugitive from North Carolina using Nixle, the emergency notification system.

Asked why no follow-up messages were sent, Swanson said, “The problem was that we didn’t know if he was still in the area. … We were tracking him with his cell phone, but it went dead. We didn’t want to put out that he had left the area, when we weren’t sure. … It is like finding a needle in a haystack.”

Fire Chief George Seifert reported that fire department personnel received about seven hours of drone training, in day and night conditions, while helping with the search.

Seifert also reported on the ongoing high number of serious accidents on I-77. He said there were two accidents on the same day in a construction zone.

Resident speaks

Resident Leisha Burrows asked Law Director Ben Chojnacki how village legislation can be repealed, referring to recent legislation increasing sewer rates. She also asked if the village can legally avoid paying sewer fees for village-owned buildings.

Chojnacki said he represents the village and cannot give her legal advice.

Burrows asked if council reviewed proposals by the service director in 2019 and 2020 to replace a sewer pump station.

Councilperson Rick Hudak said that not all current members were on council four and five years ago. He added that department heads are career professionals, and “We often take their recommendations.” ∞