Aurora City Council & COW - 5/12/25

Aurora, Ohio City Council and Committee of the Whole
​May 12, 2025

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Chairman John Kudley with Council members present: Brad Duguay, Peter French, Sarah Grdina Gilmore, John Seitz and Scott Wolf.  Reva Barner, George Horvat and Dennis Kovach were absent. There were 11 City Officials and Employees present. There was 1 citizen present.

Minutes from April 28, 2025 were adopted.

 There were 6 Ordinances proposed for action that evening on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance amending Employees Generally. Rachel Miller will be the Mayor’s new Executive Assistant and there were 2 new Seasonal hires for Parks and Rec. A 4th individual was removed from the agenda.
  
• An Ordinance rejecting all bids received for the FEMA Floodplain Restoration and Stormwater Control Project as the 4 bids received exceeded the engineering estimate by 20%. The project will be re-bid with a few modifications.
  
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of Hejduk-Cox and Associates, Inc. in the amount fo $141,430.00 to provide professional surveying services for the design of Aurora Park and Geauga Lake phase 1 utilities, lift station, reconfiguration of north trunk line lift stations and stormwater outlet modifications.
  
• An Ordinance granting an easement to Ohio Edison Company for the purpose of installation of tri-phase power along Squires and Brewster Roads. Mr. Stark said this will be good for the City since it will be needing tri-phase service.
  
• An Ordinance selecting the bid and awarding a contract to Perram Electric, Inc. in the amount of $178,733.17 for the installation of streetlights on South Chillicothe Road from Aurora Hudson Road to West Pioneer Trail. The project will start this summer.
  
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of Advanced Irrigation & Lighting in the amount of $48,800.00 for the purchase and installation of an underground Rainbird irrigation system on the soccer fields at Hartman Park.
  

There were 5 Ordinances proposed for 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance authorizing payment to National Driving Training school in an amount not to exceed $100,000.00 for providing community education classes through December 31st, 2025. The City collects a 20% service fee for this class and the classes mentioned after this.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing payment to Connmack Inc in an amount not to exceed $40,000.00 for providing community education classes through Dec 31, 2025.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing payment to Prism Collective, LLC in the amount not to exceed $30,000.00 for providing community education classes.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing payment to Progress with Chess in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00 for providing community education classes.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing payment to June Lucal in an amount not to exceed $40,000.00 for providing community education classes.
  

Miscellaneous: Department Reports Proposal discussion. This proposal is an attempt to improve communication and dialogue with Department Heads. One comment suggested it be at the regular City Council meeting instead of COW. Mr. French said he likes the idea of an expanded Mayor’s report, perhaps quarterly as we might not need reports just to have reports. The Directors could have an opportunity to give reports also, perhaps, quarterly. Mr. Kudley said he is sometimes frustrated about not knowing what is happening in the city, especially when citizens ask about something e.g. a new business opening up, activities for seniors or other neat things that are happening, suggesting some things should be highlighted. He asked that for the next meeting Council members propose suggestions for how citizens can respond as now they have to wait til the end of Council meetings to express concerns in a 2 minute time frame. The Mayor said the Economic Development report is sent out monthly and they will always get questions they don’t know the answers to but can contact the Department Heads as they do now.

Meeting adjourned at 6:24 pm

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City Council (CC):  Clerk of Council Marie Lawrie presided over the election of a Presiding Officer of Council in the absences of Council President George Horvat and Vice President Dennis Kovach. Scott Wolf was nominated and elected unanimously. He called the meeting to order at 6:29 pm with the Pledge to the Flag of the United States of America. All Council members were present and absent as noted in the COW report. There were 11 City Officials and Employees present and 1 person in the gallery.

April 28, 2025 Meeting Minutes were adopted.

There was an 18 minute Executive Session to discuss the Acquisition of Real Property and to discuss Union Negotiations.

Mayor’s Report: The Mayor called attention to City News: Brush pickup began on April 21 and continue through October; No start date has been given for road paving but by contract will be completed by July 4; Monday May 26 Memorial Day Observances will be held at 10:15 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park followed by a procession to the Aurora Cemetery for another program held at about 11:00 a.m.; The Splash Pad will open on May 24; The Sunny Lake Boathouse also opens May 24. Grand Marshal nominations for the 4th of July celebration can be made on the city’s website by May 31; Food Truck Wednesdays begin June 11, held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays through August from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Summer Concerts begin June 12 on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays through August at 6:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. A Thank You to the Aurora Pastors’ Fellowship for planning and participating in the National Day of Prayer; Five Sessions of Safety Town will begin June 9, a free program for Aurora residents; Aurora sponsors several assistance programs with applications available on the city’s website or by calling City Hall; The Sidewalk Repair program is resuming with the city sharing the cost with the homeowner of qualifying repairs after the owner’s application to participate in the program; Aurora Trail work is progressing with grading and preparatory base work accomplished and paving to proceed soon. The Mayor attended Heinen’s ribbon cutting on May 3 to reopen its renovated store. She met with GLIA residents to discuss the park project and to better understand their use of the lake. She attended Rotary’s Taste of the Western Reserve. She swore in Officer Scott Brown who was promoted to Sergeant. She taped her Community Forcus program for May.

Law Director’s Report: Mr. DePiero called attention that there was a favorable ruling for the city concerning the Public records suit which was dismissed by the court.

Citizens Comments – None

 Council Remarks – None

Ordinances on 3rd  Reading:

• The Ordinance from Planning Commission for Trentstone approving the revised architectural design portfolio was adopted.
  

• An Ordinance accepting the bid for the replacement of the southernmost water tower was adopted.
  

Ordinance on 2nd Reading: 

• An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor and Finance Director to compensate the Aurora Board of Education $200,895.00 for its portion of the income tax received from property tax abatements went to 3rd Reading.
  

Ordinances on 1st Reading: 

• The 6 Ordinances proposed for action that evening were adopted with rules suspended. See COW for details.
  
• The 5 Ordinances authorizing to pay for education classes went to 2nd Reading.
  

Citizens Comments: None

Council Members Remarks: None

Meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m.

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