LORDSTOWN — Village Council has created the position of assistant fire chief and appointed Scott McCloud to the position starting Friday.

The new full-time employee will work with fire Chief Travis Eastham on day-to-day needs and operations of the department. McCloud served previously as a fire captain.

The assistant chief will be paid $69,111 in 2025, $71,256 in 2026 and $73,394 in 2027.

Eastham previously told village officials that with the increased number of businesses in the village, a full-time assistant chief position would help handle required fire inspections and also fill in when the chief is off for vacation or illness.

Eastham said other area departments have full-time fire inspectors and added that the state is now requiring additional training for fire inspectors, which can take up to six months. He said buildings are required to be inspected by the fire department for safety and fire code compliance.

FORMER LIBRARY BUILDING

Officials are also looking at a plan to use the former Lordstown Library Branch building off Salt Springs Road for village offices. The library officially closed in June, with items inside being removed this month.

Clerk William Blank said the library is expected to be vacated this week and gas and electric turned off.

Mayor Jackie Woodward proposed moving all village offices, such as planning / zoning, the water department, and the tax, mayor’s and clerk’s offices, to the one-floor building. However, no moves are official.

Right now, several offices are located on the second floor of the municipal building and require use of an elevator to get to them. Woodward said a work session should take place to discuss potential floor plans, costs for the move and remodeling of the building.

“This is a viable option to get all the offices on one floor and allow the public access on the ground floor. People will be able to walk right in and walk right out,” she said. “We have a vacant building available that will provide enough space to encompass everyone.”

Officials said any move to the building would likely take place in spring and summer 2026.

Eastham said officials need to stick to one plan, no matter what they decide.

Planning / Zoning Administrator Kellie Bordner said her office is located on the first floor of the municipal building and is ideal for privacy.

“I do not want to move from this building. The public comes here to the offices and has privacy. If we move to the new building, there will be less privacy with businesses and residents not wanting other people listening in,” Bordner said.

Council members said a plan needs to be developed and approved before any movement of offices. Woodward said it would benefit the public to have all the offices in one place for convenience.

She said they are only in the idea phase of the project. Woodward also reported that Foxconn will not be building a house in the village through Habitat for Humanity, indicating it is too costly because of village zoning codes. She said Foxconn will partner in other ways with the village.

ZONING CHANGE MATTERS

Council also approved three separate zoning change ordinances after hosting public hearings on each and giving each an initial first reading.

The first was to reclassify 14.6226 acres of property owned by Clean Energy Future LLC from industrial to residential. Woodward said it is always a good idea to put property back to residential.

Councilman Robert Bond said the surrounding areas are already zoned residential.

The second was to reclassify 3.588 acres of property and 2.3910 acres of property owned by Busey Bank, successor trustee of the Illinois Land Trust, from commercial highway business to industrial. The property is located at the corner of Tod Avenue and Hallock Young Road.

Woodward said there was no change in use of the property and no parcels being combined.

The third was to reclassify 185,245-square feet of property owned by HomeGoods, Inc., from industrial to residential. Woodward said this would allow a residential home there that is not being used. She said changing to residential would allow the structure to be used.