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Village Passes Water Fund Changes Gates Mills Council passed an ordinance allowing the Water Debt Service Fund to be used for water system repairs and maintenance over $25,000. The fund previously had a $250,000 unexpended balance after major water improvement bonds were paid off. Recent emergency repairs cost $310,000.
Property Tax Levy Renewal Approved A 3.5 mill property tax levy renewal for general village expenses was approved for the November ballot. The levy would generate $616,000 annually over five years and costs $66 per $100,000 of property value.
Wastewater Rates Increase for First Time Since 2002 Council raised wastewater treatment rates to match regional standards. The minimum quarterly charge increased from $50 to $100, with per-unit costs rising from $6.56 to $12.05 per 100 cubic feet to align with Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District rates of $120.45 per 1,000 cubic feet.
School Resource Officer Program Extended The village renewed its agreement with Mayfield Schools to provide a police officer at Gates Mills Elementary and Environmental Education Center for the 2025-26 school year. The program covers 184 school days and is funded by the school district.
Solid Waste Management Plan Adopted Council approved Cuyahoga County’s Solid Waste Management Plan for 2026-2040, which includes recycling programs and waste reduction goals.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Road Repair Program Continues Specialized Construction began crack sealing and striping on county roads including Chagrin River Road, Brigham Road, and Old Mill Road as part of the 2025 road program.
Guardrail Replacement Project Lake Erie Construction will begin guardrail repairs categorized by road and prioritized by condition within the next two to four weeks.
Hill Creek and Andrews Road Work A&J Concrete started replacing concrete swale liners on Hill Creek Road. Specialized Construction will begin milling and repaving in approximately two weeks with resident notification planned.
TECHNOLOGY
Broadband Infrastructure Approved Council approved $32,000 in digital hardware upgrades to support the village’s fiber broadband project with CVG. The upgrades include new firewalls and network infrastructure.
CVG Broadband Update CVG will focus on community engagement this summer ahead of construction beginning early next year. They plan visibility at the July 4th parade and will conduct signups at year-end to align with service delivery.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Police Activity Summary – May
- 66 traffic citations issued
- 26 warnings given
- 22 incident/accident reports filed
- 7,501 patrol miles driven
- 1,219 house checks completed
Notable incidents included assistance with a vehicle return, mailbox damage from unknown vehicles, and juvenile problems at the St. Francis festival.
Traffic Camera Performance Mayfield Road traffic cameras issued 1,478 citations in May. Year-to-date collections are trending at 55% of citations issued, with plans for collection agency assistance.
Gas Well Leak Response Fire department responded to a gas well leak on Carpenter Road, shutting off a portion of the well until repairs could be completed.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Building Permits Seven building permits were issued in May with a total construction value of $343,210, compared to five permits worth $940,371 in May 2024.
Pickleball Court Water Fountain A $10,000 water fountain with dog bowl and bottle filler was installed at the tennis/pickleball courts, funded by player donations and the Gates Mills Improvement Society.
Fire Department Personnel The village swore in new firefighters Jarrod Fritz and Bryce Day, promoted Dylan Hustosky to Sergeant, and appointed Charles Spear as Tax Administrator and Assistant Treasurer.
Tree Canopy Grant Application The Tree Canopy Committee submitted a grant application to Cuyahoga County for tree planning services. Results expected around July 11th.
FINANCIAL
Village Financial Status May expenses totaled $451,580 with year-to-date expenses of $2.8 million compared to revenues of $3.67 million. The village maintains a general fund balance of $7.51 million.
Heritage Home Program The village participates in a program offering 2% financing for home repairs on houses built in 1976 or older, with income restrictions for properties valued under $750,000.
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