Village gets no help from state for highway problems

by Sue Serdinak

Feb. 4 village council meeting

Mayor Michael Wheeler reported that he asked state Rep. Bill Roemer to request state money to help pay overtime charges that Richfield Village safety forces accumulate because of accidents on I-77 and I-271 in Richfield. To date, the state has not responded.

Police Chief Michael Swanson said he asked the Ohio Department of Transportation to lower the speed limit to 45 mph in the interstate construction zones, but ODOT refused. 

ODOT is adding a lane to I-77 in both directions, creating construction hazards and narrow lanes. Between March 25, 2024, and Jan. 6, 2025, there were 195 crashes on these highways in Richfield. 

Council President Ralph Waszak suggested the administration reach out to Governor Mike DeWine for relief.  

Councilperson Bobbie Beshara said she was offended that Waszak removed her from the finance committee because of overtime for the fire department. 

“I take offense that I lost being on that committee and was taken out of the chair,” Beshara said, adding thatovertime is the responsibility of the department heads, the finance director and the mayor.

Waszak said that the president of council selects members of committees, and he felt that council was caught off guard last year when fire department overtime hours grew so high.

Waszak appointed Councilperson Rick Hudak to the finance committee.

Beshara also complained that some committee meetings are held during the day, and she and others who work cannot attend. Traditionally, committee meetings have been held when staff members can attend. 

Fuel stations, travel centers 

Council and the planning commission have been studying the possibility of limiting fuel and charging stations and truck plazas in the village after hearing for months about safety forces’ calls to the Pilot Service Center and the True North station. 

In April 2024, council adopted a six-month moratorium on accepting applications for new stations while council gathered information. Councilperson Marty Kruszynski said he found that over a six-month period police were called 284 times to the two facilities.

In September, council voted to extend the moratorium until April 2, 2025, and referred the question to the planning and zoning commission. The commission recommended the village limit the number of fuel stations to two and prohibit additional property in the village being used as a travel center. 

Council Law Director Ben Chojnacki prepared amendments to the zoning code to reflect the restrictions, and council voted to send the proposed changes back to the planning commission for a decision. 

Councilperson Sue Ann Philippbar thanked Chojnacki and Planning and Zoning Director Brian Frantz for their work on the amendment. Waszak thanked Kruszynski.

Make a Wish donation

Council had been asked to waive all village fees related to building a home on Brecksville Road that would be donated to the Northeast Ohio Home Builders Association and be raffled off to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation. Petros Homes is expected to build the home on property his company owns, adjacent to its headquarters.

Philippbar opposed the waiver because it would amount to thousands of dollars. “I don’t think we are the right entity to make a donation to Make a Wish or anyone else,” she said. 

She added that she could not support the legislation in light of some residents having trouble paying their sewer bills. 

Council unanimously voted down the legislation. 

Insurance

Council passed legislation to purchase accident and sickness insurance for $4,909 through VFIS for part-time village firefighters. The coverage extends to full-time employees. 

Council also accepted a proposal for property and casualty insurance from Ohio Plan Risk Management at a cost of $102,885 for 12 months.  

Senior center

Kruszynski suggested that the $10 fee charged to Richfield Village and Richfield Township residents for membership in the senior center be eliminated. 

Wheeler said he has not heard any complaints about the fee, and it makes members feel like they are a member of something. Carol Campbell, who works at the center, said no one complains about the fee.

Finance Director Sandy Turk reported that membership fees generate about $3,000 annually for the center. The operating expenses are about $81,000 and payroll is $122,000. 

Wheeler said Richfield Township contributes nothing to the cost of the center. Several years ago, the township paid $2,000 annually.  The mayor recently approached the township about contributing something.

Bath and Hinckley do not have a senior center, and residents from those communities pay $15 annually to participate in Richfield Senior Center.

Appointment 

Council approved Wheeler’s appointment of Steve Hofman to the park board.

He announced that summer camp reservations are going quickly. He added that there is a plan to professionally clean the Johnson Barn to have it available for an expanded summer camp in 2026.

DORA

At the Feb. 18 meeting, council plans to discuss creating a designated outdoor refreshment area, a DORA, in the center of town.

Parking lot lights

Service Director Scott Waldemarson reported that temporary parking lot lights near the library are being used because a contractor made wiring mistakes on the permanent lights. 

Waldemarson acknowledged that the lighting is so bright, it is creating issues for neighbors and people entering the parking lot.He also said service department employees have finished work on Fellowship Hall by painting the interior.