CORTLAND — City council has approved an agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Watercraft to proceed with improvements at Mosquito Lake State Park.

Law Director Patrick Wilson said grants are in place for the park improvements, which include a restroom facility, planting new grass areas for picnic tables and benches, and adding pathways to connect the recreation area to the existing Turkey Run Trail.

Cortland received a $404,000 capital improvement award for the park improvements appropriated through House Bill 687. The project location is at the intersection of West Main Street and McCleary Jacoby Road, west of the city limits.

The property is owned by the state.

Mayor Deidre Petrosky signed a license agreement with the state and ODNR for a five-year period to allow the city access to Mosquito Lake State Park to construct the restroom facility improvements.

In other business, council voted 4-3 amending and updating the purchasing procedure for the city, raising the threshold purchasing amount that triggers the need for advertising and contracting procedures

The changes are to increase the departmental expenditure levels from $5,000 to $7,500 while expenditures of $7,500 or more shall require obtaining three quotes and will need to be submitted to council for approval. Voting for the change were council members Kevin Piros, Don Moore, Scott Rowley and Jim Bradley, and voting against the change were council members Richard McClain, Kathy Fleischer and John Picuri.

In other action, council:

• Approved fire Chief David Rea to purchase three sets of firefighter turnout gear for active duty from Municipal Emergency Services Inc. not to exceed $11,200 through the state cooperative purchasing program. Rea said turnout gear lasts 10 years and then needs to be replaced.

• Heard from police Chief David Morris he hired a full-time officer to replace another officer who resigned. He said having the new officers cuts down on overtime.

• Announced the splash pad is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.