Mentor City Council Meeting: Safety Village Funding Approved, New Fire Station Plans Move Forward

The Mentor City Council gathered for their regular meeting on April 15, 2025, addressing several key community projects and initiatives. Council President Sean Blake presided over the session with all council members present.

Safety Village Seeks Support for Expansion

Ron Wasam, President of Mentor Safety Village, delivered a presentation requesting funding to complete renovations at the organization’s training facility. Wasam detailed how the Safety Village, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary this summer, has provided crucial safety education to third-grade students and has expanded to include parochial schools, homeschoolers, and the Deepwood Center.

“There have been many proven instances where the training that the third graders have received has resulted in them knowing how to correctly handle emergency situations,” Wasam explained, noting several televised reports of children who helped their families escape house fires safely because of their training.

Wasam requested approximately $30,000 in city funding to match the $20,000 already raised by the organization for facility improvements. The total project cost is estimated at $53,260, which includes plumbing, electrical work, and wall construction for the building that previously served as a mechanics garage and Lake County bomb building.

City Manager Ken Filipiak expressed strong support for the project, noting that the funding request was included in the evening’s appropriation ordinance, which was later unanimously approved.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Recognized

Nicole McKenna-Johnson, President and CEO of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, addressed the council regarding Sexual Assault Awareness Month. She highlighted the organization’s presence in Mentor and the free services they provide to survivors of sexual violence.

“We offer 24/7 support services through our crisis hotline, text, and online chat, ensuring that no one in crisis ever has to wait to be helped,” McKenna-Johnson said. She invited council members to use their voices to support survivors and champion prevention efforts in schools and workplaces.

McKenna-Johnson reminded council that the Rape Crisis Center’s Mentor office is located at 8224 Mentor Avenue, across from the library, with office hours Monday through Thursday.

New Fire Station Project Advances

A significant development was the approval of a contract with APP Architecture for design services for the new Fire Station #3. Fire Chief Sack described plans for the state-of-the-art facility, which will include expanded bays for vehicles, a training tower with balconies for elevated rescue practice, and specialized areas for confined space training.

“The new station will have four to five bays, housing two rescue squads, an engine, a ladder truck, and our heavy rescue unit,” Chief Sack explained. The project is expected to begin construction before the end of the year with completion anticipated by the end of 2026.

Infrastructure Projects Approved

The council approved several infrastructure initiatives, including:

• A roof repair contract for Fire Station #5 with RJ Kirkland Construction Company for $161,150
• A contract with CMG Contracting for removal and replacement of the concrete patio at Wildwood Cultural Center for $159,798, which council member Krueger noted came in nearly $100,000 under the original estimate
• A lease agreement with Northstar Towers for a cell tower installation at Fire Station #1 property to improve telecommunications in the area
• The annual street lighting assessment resolution, with council members Krueger and Freeman raising concerns about LED replacements being too bright in residential areas

State Representative Advocates for Issue 2

State Representative Daniel Troy made an appearance to advocate for State Issue 2 on the May 6 ballot, which would renew the Ohio Public Works Program. Troy highlighted that Mentor has received approximately $15 million from the program over its lifetime for infrastructure projects.

“This is not a tax increase,” Troy emphasized, explaining that the $2.5 billion program over ten years is fully covered by existing state resources. He noted that the council had already passed a resolution supporting the issue at a previous meeting.

During his update, Troy also expressed concerns about recent state budget decisions affecting school funding and libraries.

The next regular Mentor City Council meeting is scheduled for May 6, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.