Cuyahoga Falls City Council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Council committee meetings are held on the first and third Mondays in order to allow councilmembers to publicly discuss pending legislation that will be voted on at regular meetings. The public is free to comment on pending legislation during the allowed time set aside as part of committee meetings.
Finance & Appropriations:
A-105: An ordinance establishing annual appropriations of money for the current expenses, capital expenditures, and other expenses of the city of Cuyahoga Falls for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
More discussions on the 2025 budget in this week’s finance committee meeting included electric services and getting moved into their facility on Cochran Road, As for personnel in the electric department there will be the addition of another line foreman in 2025. Other changes in the budget for that department will involve a new protective clothing reimbursement method as a result of the last contract. The department’s superintendent, Mr. Troxell’s time at the podium included very good success at certain substations with the proper placement of “Critter Gards” on equipment where needed and the proper trimming of trees in areas of ward one have reduced outages.
Water and sewer had their budget presented by water superintendent Russ Kring. The largest highlight is replacement of the water softener l building, while other projects will include the repair of a 72” diameter storm sewer near Graham Road and another at 23rd street and Marcia Boulevard, both which need to be re-lined. Also in the budget are the removal of the water tower at Oak Park, all sewer lines along Cedar Hill, and in the near future the sewer line running through Babb Run Park will also be replaced.
The city’s IT director, Josh Kington, went over his department’s budget that should remain flat from last year with the exception of a new role for a GIS specialist. Kington said the department’s number one priority is staying one step ahead on cyber security for all the city’s IT systems.
Along with the other budget items discussed it was also brought up from engineering that this year the city plans on paving $4 million worth of asphalt roads and the sidewalk budget went from $200k last year to $400k for 2025. City Engineer Tony Demasi said that through his department’s grading system for streets and sidewalks the list of roads and sidewalks for 2025 is complete and they are ready to start as soon as possible.
A-108: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Fidelity Security Insurance Company and/or its subsidiary Eyemed Vision Care for the administration of the city’s self- insured employee vision care services insurance plans, for a period not to exceed three years.
Human Resources Director Viki Steiner went over the next four pieces of legislation and took time to explain that these were all discussed with the Healthcare Committee (a group of employees both bargaining and non-bargaining that work with the city and employees to help keep health costs in line) and with some small exceptions these will remain close to what last year was with a few minor expenses that both the city and committee agreed upon. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council November 25.
A-109: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract or contracts with Medical Mutual Services, LLC for the administration of the city’s self-insured employee medical plans for a period not to exceed one-year. Steiner stated there was only a 3% increase that the committee accepted. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council November 25.
A-110: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract or contracts with Medical Mutual of Ohio for stop-loss insurance coverage for the city’s self-insured medical and prescription drug plans, for a period not to exceed one year. With only one exception this will operate as it did in 2024. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council November 25.
A-111: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract or contracts with Benefit Resource, LLC., for the administration of the Section 125 Flexible Spending Account Plan, Health Reimbursement Account Plan, Health Savings Account Plan, Retiree Medical Reimbursement Account Plans and COBRA services, for a period not to exceed three years. Steiner explained this vendor provides for the city with both current and past employees. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council November 25.
Public & Industrial Improvements:
A-112: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, according to law, for the Curtis Avenue sanitary sewer replacement. Water Superintendent Russ Kring explained this will replace 200 feet of sanitary sewer from 1416 Curtis Avenue to Myrtle Avenue. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council November 25.
A-113: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, according to law, for the Cochran Road reconstruction. City Engineer Tony Demasi described this measure as “good business” when it comes to infrastructure improvements. With the new electric service center and other businesses looking to relocate to this area it will be a good investment on a street that actually had a 400-foot gap of unfinished road when acquired by the city; it is well on its way to being the city’s newest industrial park. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council November 25.
A-114: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, without competitive bidding, with AT&T for telephone service lines which support alarms, elevators and dispatch non-emergency numbers throughout the city. IT director Josh Kington presented this to the committee. With the current vendor that does much of the fiber work for his department closing, a new vendor has been selected for a three-year contract and they will also be bringing the repair of some equipment and terminating connectors back in house. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council November 25.
Public Affairs:
A-115: A resolution opposing Enbridge Gas Ohio’s proposed 30% rate increase and requesting that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio deny Enbridge Gas Ohio’s request for the same. Cuyahoga Falls Resident Michael Bowman presented this resolution to the committee. His presentation included the rate increase Enbridge is proposing, while showing in the past they have added service charges and other fees to the bills that cannot be regulated by use. PUCCO will look at the increase when it meets in January. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council November 25.
