Fire Department Honored, Financial Challenges Discussed at Stow Council Meeting

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The Stow City Council met June 12 for multiple committee meetings addressing key issues ranging from fire department recognition to potential state-level tax changes that could significantly impact city finances.

Fire Department Recognition

Mayor John Pribonic presented two major proclamations recognizing the Stow Fire Department’s exceptional service. Firefighter Melissa Campbell was honored as Ohio’s 2025 Fire Safety Educator of the Year for her comprehensive community outreach efforts.

Campbell, known as “Firefighter Mel,” educates every child attending school in Stow through fire prevention programs and coordinates the annual fire safety poster contest. She also manages the Shop with a Hero program and partners with local retailers for community safety initiatives.

The council also recognized multiple fire department personnel and police officers who received the Ohio EMS Star of Life Award for saving a resident’s life following a cardiac arrest incident on June 30, 2024. The team performed CPR for over 21 minutes before the patient regained a pulse.

Property Tax Concerns

Finance Committee Chair John Baranek raised significant concerns about proposed state legislation that could eliminate property taxes in Ohio. The city currently receives approximately $8.3 million annually to the general fund through inside millage, plus $422,000 to police and fire pension funds and $3.4 million for EMS services.

“Should they eliminate the inside millage we would lose that money coming in,” Finance Committee Chair John Baranek explained. The proposed changes would force municipalities to either raise sales taxes up to 1% or seek voter approval for income tax increases.

Infrastructure Updates

Public Service Director provided detailed updates on several major infrastructure projects affecting city residents:

The Echo Road Stormwater Management Study has been completed, with the consulting firm DLC scheduled to present their findings to City Council on June 26. The study addresses ongoing drainage and water management concerns in the Echo Road area.

Darrow Road construction continues to move forward with the intermediate course paving scheduled for the day after the meeting. Temporary striping will follow the paving work. The construction zone will shift to the west side of the road Sunday night as the project progresses. Weekly updates from the contractor are being posted on the city website to keep residents informed of construction schedules and potential traffic impacts.

Kent Road infrastructure work has reached a milestone with test poles now completed. However, underground utility work has been postponed until August while the city waits for specialized equipment to arrive. Weekly progress updates for both the Darrow Road and Kent Road projects are being provided by the contractor and posted on the city’s website.

During the meeting, council members expressed appreciation for the weekly communication updates, noting that keeping residents informed about construction timelines helps manage expectations during ongoing infrastructure improvements.

Business Approvals

The Planning Committee approved a conditional use permit for a chiropractic office at 3653 Darrow Road. The medical office will operate with minimal parking requirements, as the chiropractor and his wife plan to walk to work and see only two patients at a time.

Several financial authorizations passed council including:

• $25,000 for AT&T fiber optic services
• Construction inspection services agreement with Accenture LLP
• $197,500 for Bob White pond dredging project
• $25,000 for public arts master plan development with an Akron-based company
• $20,000 for jail live scan system replacement

Charter Review Process

The council decided to postpone action on charter review commission recommendations, choosing instead to schedule a special committee meeting to address all proposed amendments collectively.

Council President Cyle Feldman explained the strategy aims to “compartmentalize all of them and have a meeting where we discuss them all” before moving forward with votes.

Looking Ahead

The capital budget review is scheduled for July 10, with all city departments having submitted their requests. Guardrail repairs are underway at Fish Creek and Route 8 locations following recent damage.

The next regular council meeting will address the charter amendments and other pending business items currently held in committee.