WHAT: Village council meeting Thursday

PRESENT: Sean Schmidt, John Metzinger, Kyle Joynes, Chad Jones, Don Smith and Mayor Ray Lewis

ABSENT: Kerry Reckard

Council:

• Heard from resident Kathy Miskell, who asked council if her 19-year-old special needs autistic grandson would be able to use the splash pad, which limits the age of use to those under 13. She said her grandson can use splash pads in Niles, Austintown and Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, which is calming for him. Lewis said the park committee will review the matter at their next meeting.

• Approved hiring Jason Miller as a firefighter / paramedic and Matthew Bykrish as a firefighter / EMT.

• Heard from Village Administrator Tom Domitrovich the 2025 paving of Dakota, Utah and Nebraska avenues will begin shortly. He said a sewer replacement project on Nebraska will be done in two weeks before paving begins.

• Announced safety day for children will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the park.

• Approved accepting a $9,100 grant from the Last Call Foundation for a power cot for the ambulance. Schmidt said efforts are underway to get additional grants for police vests and shields.

• Heard from Joynes residents will get quarterly billing for trash collection starting Aug. 1 for September through November. This is the first time residents will pay for trash collection, which used to be covered by the village.

• Reported the village received a $50,000 grant for a generator at the water tower.

• Reported the fire department received a $3,746 emergency medical service grant for equipment.

• Heard from Jones that power washing and painting of the community room have been completed.

• Entered into an agreement with Capital Recovery Systems to handle unpaid mayor’s court collections.

• Heard from Lewis the village is waiting on word about grants for a park trail improvement project.

• Thanked village residents who stepped up and helped with the firefighters festival pancake breakfast and other events.

• Rescheduled the next meeting to 6 p.m. Aug. 20, with committee meetings at 6 p.m. Aug. 19.