Trustees select Land Use Plan Committee

by Dan Holland

Nov. 7 township trustees meeting

Richfield Township trustees approved an 11-person Land Use Plan Committee as a first step toward initiating a study in 2025.

“We plan to have an introductory meeting this year, but the majority of the work will be done between January and October 2025,” Trustee Chair Don Laubacher told The Richfield Times. “The four-step process in 2025 is to assess where we are, prioritize a vision for the future, engage the public and get input, and finalize and implement the plan. Getting the public involved in the process is very important to us, and we will do our best to ensure that happens.”

Committee members will include Don Laubacher, Sue Ann Philippbar, Kendall Jarrell, Dwayne Gentner, Garrett Kinshaw, Hamid Homaee, Rob Kapitan, Sandy Apidone, Harold Gaar, Christi Gable and Bob Lucas.

“We’re very pleased with our 11-member Land Use Plan Committee and are thankful for their service,” Laubacher added. “Our goal was to get as much age, gender, and constituent diversity as possible from residents who have a background in zoning, building, or planning. We think we’ve accomplished that with this group, and they all have previous involvement in our community.”

In other business, trustees approved:

  • Payment of $420,641 to Perrin Asphalt Company for work performed in the 2024
  • Requesting a full, fiscal audit for 2024.
  • Increasing an ADP Payroll purchase order by $1,000.
  • The promotion of Don Rentz to service department foreman beginning Dec. 1, at a rate of $38 per hour.
  • Raising the pay for road laborer Domenico Olivo from $25.91 to $30 per hour.
  • Allowing road laborer David Cheney to retain 26.7 hours of sick time and 15.7 hours of compensatory time, with the hours not being eligible for payout within the first year of employment.
  • A request for a plan review by the Summit County Engineer’s office for resurfacing Briarwood Road and portions of Whitethorn Circle and evaluating the Briarwood Road culvert. Pulte Homes will be responsible for paying for the work.

Citizens Forum

Resident Hamid Homaee suggested that the trustees arrange a meeting with Richfield Village officials to discuss the plausibility of having highway sound walls included along residential neighborhoods bordering I-77 where road widening is currently underway. Laubacher asked Township Administrator Mindy Lott to request a meeting.