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NEWTON FALLS -- The senior kitchen at the village municipal building has reopened after officials were able to obtain the required license.
Village Manager Pam Priddy said the building has "a fully licensed kitchen" after the village followed the proper steps to reopen it. In September, the kitchen was closed after officials noted its license was going to expire.
"We have done everything we had to do to make sure it is a licensed kitchen, and have passed all inspections," Priddy said.
The senior kitchen is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and provides meals to senior citizens.
Residents said the health district sent letters to Falls officials ordering it to be closed.
Resident Patricia Benetis said she thought it was a great idea to give seniors a chance to get out and mingle with others and have a meal. She said she spoke to a representative of the health district who told her the kitchen needed an industrial refrigerator, which she learned had been purchased, and an industrial stove. The district told her tile needed fixed or replaced and some plumbing under the sink needed work.
Priddy previously said she had made the decision to close the kitchen.
Priddy said the village had the appropriate license to run the kitchen but it was due to expire at year's end. She said the health department did not shut down the center.
She said the kitchen is used only by the village, noting in the past it was used by the Office of Elderly Affairs and SCOPE.
Resident Julie Lemon said she contacted the Trumbull County Combined Health District previously because seniors were being asked to make a donation when the meals should be free.
Resident Rick Kerlin, who previously had submitted a letter with more than 30 signatures asking for the kitchen's return, told council that seniors enjoy hot lunches and socializing. He said there was a request for a $3 donation, but if someone could not pay they did not have to.
ELECTRIC RATES
Village council voted 3-2 to table until the Nov. 15 a first reading to adjust the electric rates in 2024. Voting for the delay were council members Kevin Rufener, Tesa Spletzer and Julie Stimpert. Council members John Baryak and Gideon Fetterolf voted against the change in date.
Priddy said Bill George, superintendent of the electric department, and other officials will attend the Nov. 15 meeting for more discussion and to answer questions from officials.
Priddy said the proposed increase is based on an average usage of 600 kilowatt hours and takes the current rate of $76.14 per month to $79.20 per month, with a bill increase amount of $3.06.
However, Lemon said residential accounts will be paying $108 more per year at $9 per month, with commercial accounts paying $188 more per year at $15 per month, and a $1,200 increase for industrial.
In other matters, Chief Jim Williamson, Newton Falls Joint Fire District, said the renewal levy will raise $316,000 annually to cover day-to-day operations at the fire department. The 2.5-mill, five-year levy provides emergency medical and ambulance service to the village and Newton Township.
"We are the sixth-busiest fire department in the county," Williamson said, noting Howland, Liberty, Warren, Niles and Champion have more calls.
He said as of mid-October, the department had 1,850 calls for the year.