Council debates advisability of electric vehicle stations

by Sue Serdinak

July 16 village council meeting

Richfield Village Council passed Ordinance 27-2024 in April to enforce a six-month moratorium on accepting applications to open gas stations and truck service centers. Councilperson Marty Kruszynski initiated the effort and cited the resources these facilities require of the safety forces. 

Kruszynski said in six months, between November 2023 and April 2024, police were called to the Pilot Service Center on Brecksville Road 127 times and to the Tru North station on Wheatley Road 157 times.

The moratorium will expire in September, and council has not agreed on what the final zoning regulation should include. Council has debated whether electric vehicle charging stations should be permitted if fueling stations are prohibited.

Mayor Michael Wheeler and councilmembers Sue Ann Philippbar, Ralph Waszak and Rick Hudak said new zoning rules should allow for charging stations, but Kruszynski said they are not needed. Philippbar suggested that charging stations could be restricted to certain areas.

Kruszynski said he was concerned that the moratorium would expire before council agrees on the details of a new zoning regulation.

“The people of Richfield are more important than the people who drive through and want to recharge their cars,” he said, adding that there are 40 charging stations within eight miles of Richfield.

Council will continue working on the proposed regulation with Law Director Ben Chojnacki and Planning and Zoning Director Brian Frantz.

Economic development

Wheeler reported that he has had five phone calls from representatives of two Japanese companies, following his economic development trip to Japan in June.

He also said he had a round-table discussion with Summit County Executive Eileen Shapiro, Congresswoman Emilia Sykes and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to solicit federal funds for improvements to the intersection of Rtes. 303 and 176.

Sewer charges

Council read but took no action on proposed legislation to charge property owners an additional amount for sewer services.  Two proposals have been introduced:  a fee based on property frontage or a higher rate for treatment of wastewater discharged into the municipal system.

Council is holding an additional public meeting on July 30 to explain the proposals.  

Health insurance

Council passed legislation to provide online physician services for full-time employees from Teledoc Health at an annual cost of $7,148. The village pays 100% of the cost.

Cul-de-sac

Council approved a license agreement regarding residential land on Logwood Trail. The property lines of the home and a cul-de-sac have, apparently, overlapped since the 1980s, when the home was built on the property.

Fireworks disposal

Fire Chief George Seifert said the fire department received one call related to personal fireworks when a spent incendiary was disposed of in a dumpster inside a large barn. The dumpster caught fire but the blaze was extinguished before it spread to the barn.

Seifert reported that the department held an educational session for medical residents of several local hospitals to show how rescue teams extricate victims of car accidents.

He said a retired fire truck sold for $91,000, an amount higher than expected because departments are waiting over three years to get new trucks.

Dispatchers

Police Chief Michael Swanson reported that full-time dispatchers Jacqueline Racut and Emma Noffsinger resigned. Racut asked to work part-time. Noffsinger recently accepted a position with federal law enforcement. The department is accepting applications for the positions.

Grant Street

Frantz said the village is accepting bids to install permeable pavers and temporary bollards on the east-west section of Grant Street. He hopes to have construction done when The Richfield Brewing Company opens around Labor Day.

He also reported that employees of Snap-On in the Kinross Lakes Business Park have again requested that sidewalks be constructed along the roadways, replacing on-street pavement markings. 

Frantz said off-street sidewalks would be included in the 2025 budget.

Gaga ball pit

Park and Recreation Director John Piepsny said that Boy Scout Troop 3871 has installed a gaga ball pit at Richfield Woods.

Internet

IT Director Tim Baker reported that Summit County is installing an internet-fiber ring in all communities. The internet ring would be accessible only to county governments.

The village has installed a second internet connection with Spectrum as a back-up to the Windstream connection, to ensure the safety departments are always online. ∞