Businesses recognized before council approves intersection improvements
by Sue Serdinak
March 3 village council meeting
Three businesses that took a chance on the Richfield Historic District during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic were recognized by Mayor Michael Wheeler at the council meeting.
Olesia Pochynok significantly renovated the Taverne of Richfield and opened its doors in April 2020, just months into the pandemic. She persevered, offering “authentic Eastern European cuisine, fostering cultural appreciation, and creating a welcoming gathering place …,” read the mayor’s proclamation.
Wheeler continued by honoring Pascal King-Smith for opening the Ohio Hardwood Furniture showroom at 4050 Broadview Rd. in 2022. The company … “has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, quality and customer satisfaction … and excellence in American-made furnishings,” the proclamation read.
Mike Lytz opened Richfield Brewing Company most recently, in December 2024, after facing many building delays, material shortages and increased pricing due to the pandemic. “That initiative and investment demonstrate confidence in the future of the community and embody the spirit of local leadership and civic pride,” the proclamation stated.
The meeting was paused while cake was served, and the business owners were personally thanked.
Moratoriums
Council suspended readings and adopted two moratoriums at the meeting. The first provides a 180-day moratorium on zoning certificates for NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) 518 data centers.
Recent news sources have reported that data centers often require large buildings, use extreme amounts of electricity and water, and are noisy.
The ordinance states it would be necessary for the village to have resources and infrastructure in place to address the demands of a data center.
The second moratorium restricts, for six months, applications for zoning certificates for multifamily dwellings to allow the village to regulate them according to state and local law. This is the same moratorium that ran for all of 2025 and expired in January 2026.
Council also approved using Summit County as the legal defender for the village and making vehicle fuel stations a conditionally permitted use in the commercial-2 zoning district.
Sewer fines
Council had the first reading, and suspended the second reading, of an ordinance to charge a $10 per day fine on properties that have water wells but do not have a meter to determine wastewater discharge. Wheeler said he would like council to pass the legislation at the next meeting so the fines can begin in April.
Residential property owners who participate in the Ohio Homestead Exemption Program may apply for up to $1,000 for a loan from the village to pay for meter installation. The loan must be repaid over five years with 3% interest per annum.
Service Director Scott Waldemarson said meters have not been installed on about 70 properties. The administration has said that they will conduct a rate study after all properties have meters and the exact amount of discharge into the system can be measured.
“They have had two-and-a-half years to do this. It isn’t fair to the 273 people who have installed their meters,” said Wheeler.
During public comment, Marilyn Bode, a resident who lives on West Streetsboro Road, said her sewer bill doubled after she installed a meter.
Waldemarson advised her that water softeners and undetected water leaks often increase the amount of water measured in the system and gave her suggestions for checking for those leaks.
Garbage cans
Council had a first reading of an ordinance to require that garbage cans be taken away from the tree lawns in residential neighborhoods by 6 p.m. on the day of trash collection. Councilperson Marty Kruszynski said that frequently cans roll into the roadways and aren’t taken away for several days.
While most of council spoke in favor the ordinance, Councilperson Campbell said she would prefer just to communicate with the public about the problem rather than creating another ordinance.
Council President Rick Hudak said it would help the service department to have an ordinance to cite when they notify property owners to remove their cans from their tree lawn or roadway.
Law Director Ben Chojnacki was directed to change the ordinance to allow the time to remove cans to 6 p.m. on the day following trash collection.
Water lines
Councilmember Marty Kruszynski read a letter from resident Leisha Burrows, a frequent attendee at council meetings, who wrote that she was writing the letter from a hospital room.
Burrows wrote that Campbell should not have circulated a survey to residents on the south end of the village asking if they would like to have city water lines installed in their neighborhoods.
Councilperson Bobbie Beshara agreed with Burrows, saying a survey should be done administratively.
Campbell said Wheeler had asked her to find out if the residents of Richfield Heights and Richfield Estates would like the Cleveland water line extended into their neighborhoods before the village continued efforts to find the funds to build the lines.
The Heights encompasses the roads Monica, Paula, Richlawn, Donna and Amelia. Richfield Estates encompasses the roads Muriel, Virginia, Harold, St. Nicholas and Christine.
Wheeler said many residents have complained about their well water and the engineering for water lines in Richfield Heights has already been completed. However, the residents would need to pay a substantial cost for the installation to their homes and then pay the city of Cleveland for the water.
He added that it would cost the village about $3 million to install the lines in Richfield Heights and he has applied for a grant to do so.
“I did not do that on my own. … I shared that survey with other council members,” said Campbell.
After continued discourse, Wheeler said he would ask the service department to conduct a formal survey.
Council President Rick Hudak said that a councilperson has the right to talk to residents in the community and gather information.
After the meeting, Campbell told the Richfield Times that about 65 residents in both the Heights and the Estates completed her unofficial survey.
Parking lot and lights
Planning and Zoning Director Brian Frantz reported that bidding would be opened to create a parking lot off Grant Street to serve the center of town. The entry drive will be between two homes, and the lot will connect to the existing lot in front of the library.
He also reported that trees will be felled off South Wheatley Road in preparation for building a road in anticipation of a Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant being built and a new access to the AMVETS Post 176 being created.
The village is getting quotes to install dark-sky streetlights at the two entrances to the Appleridge subdivision off Broadview Road.
Safety forces
Wheeler swore in Jacqueline Schuld as a part-time police officer. Police Chief Michael Swanson said that Schuld worked as a full-time criminal investigator for the Ohio Board of Pharmacy for eight years and as a patrol officer for the city of Beachwood for seven years.
Fire Chief George Seifert reported that in one day the department responded to two accidents on I-77 and one on the Ohio Turnpike.
He said that Fire Medic Daisy Stiegelmeyer became certified to teach ice rescue and will work alongside Fire Medic Tom Sullivan to provide training.
Eastwood barn
Wheeler reported that plans are almost complete to build a gable-roof barn on the Eastwood Preserve property. The $60,000 cost has been budgeted.
Routes 303/176 intersection
In the work session, Frantz provided a summary of the engineering study that was done for the main intersection in the historic district, West Streetsboro and Broadview roads.
He said Phase 1 of the project calls for improved turning lanes at all four corners, sidewalks and ADA ramps, new signals, and storm sewers. Phase 2 would include new pavement, curbs, additional storm sewers, and sidewalk continuation to Richfield Woods and Library Drive.
No buildings at the intersection would be touched by the changes.
Frantz said they explored the idea of a roundabout for the intersection but determined it would require significant property acquisition and create a big impact on surrounding properties. They stopped considering them.
They did consider burying the utility lines, but they removed them from consideration because of the estimated cost of $2 million per mile.
The cost estimate for the full project is $4.6 million.
Wheeler said the administration is watching closely state legislation that might impact tax collection for municipalities. He has applied for federal funding for the project and hopes to get an answer this spring.
“I said I was not going to spend the money [for the engineering] if you are not going to do the project. … You can’t put your life on hold,” Wheeler said.
Finance Director Sandy Turk said the village’s debt is low with only a $3 million loan for the sewer pump station.
From the audience, former mayor and council president Ralph Waszak urged council to move forward on the project. “We’ve been kicking around this project since I was mayor [from 1988 to 1995]. … The water lines are in; it is time to do the project,” he said.Waszak suggested that replacing the traffic lights could be delayed until Phase 2.
Photo caption:Mayor Michael Wheeler presented the first proclamation to Olesia Pochynok for operating a very successful business and starting it during the COVID pandemic. Photos by S. Serdinak.