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LORDSTOWN -- Village council has approved pay increases for part-time police dispatchers and is reviewing a new agreement with full-time dispatchers for next year.
In the agreement, part-time dispatchers will receive $15.86 per hour in 2025, $16.34 in 2026 and $16.83 in 2027.
Part-time dispatchers who work 150 hours during 2025 will receive a lump sum payment of $350 in January 2026, with $350 lump sum payments in January 2027 and January 2028 for working 150 hours the previous years.
The new agreement is effective Jan. 1 and also includes Emancipation Day, or Juneteenth, on June 19 as a holiday.
Police Chief Brent Milhoan thanked council's negotiating committee for reaching an agreement with the dispatchers
"I understand there is a fine line between being conscientious in taking care of the taxpayers' dollars and also taking care of the employees. We thank you for what we feel is a fair contract," Milhoan said.
Village council members said the full-time dispatchers agreement is set to be acted on at the Dec. 16 meeting.
Council's negotiating committee has scheduled a special meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday for an executive session on negotiations.
In other business, Parks and Grounds Superintendent Martin Nelder said the electric for the new water department building has been turned on and the building is awaiting an inspection by Ohio Edison. The village approved the purchase of the property from Tri County Real Estate at $174,500. It was previously a pizza business.
In other action, council:
• Approved having Solicitor Matt Ries send a letter to the Ohio Power Siting Board objecting to any third power plant in the village, with officials noting Lordstown already has two such plants.
• Will be reviewing what streets to pave in 2025, including Lyntz Road and parts of state Route 45 and Salt Springs Road.
• Announced the mobile food market will be noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of the village administration building.
• Approved purchase of 40 sets of Lion V-Force gear from Isodry Moisture Management System and 40 pairs of leather boots from Phoenix Safety Outfitters in Springfield at $186,400 for the fire department.
• Approved updates to the "use regulations'' of the planning and zoning code to prohibit open air collection of machinery, vehicles, equipment and similar types of property for storage purposes be stored in enclosed structures except for items connected with farming operations.
• Approved extending water utility service to Aaron Holmes, 2123 Pritchard Ohltown Road in North Jackson.