The Ravenna City Council convened July 7 for their regular monthly meeting, hearing updates on major technology initiatives and receiving a detailed proposal for restoring the historic cemetery chapel.
Technology Infrastructure Moving Forward
IT Director Jonathan Bender provided an extensive update on the city’s fiber internet project with Lightseed hosting. The initiative, which will replace the current Spectrum service, remains on schedule pending permits from First Energy that could take up to six months to process.
“Spectrum was basically offering us, hey, we’ll increase your price for the same speeds. And Lightseed was like, we can offer you three and four times the speeds as spectrum for the exact same price as we’re paying now,” Bender explained.
The project will establish Ravenna as a network node between Kent and Streetsboro, providing redundancy and improved reliability. Lightseed plans to build residential fiber infrastructure next year, which would allow city residents to access the enhanced service.
Bender also reported progress on the Windows 11 conversion, with only 10 machines remaining to be upgraded citywide. Police vehicles and some engineering computers running older CAD software may remain on Windows 10.
Cemetery Chapel Restoration Proposal
The cemetery board presented a comprehensive restoration plan for the historic chapel, prepared by Rick Hawksley. The proposal totals between $350,000 and $430,000 and includes roof replacement, masonry repairs, electrical upgrades, and drainage improvements.
Council member Christina West, who serves on the cemetery board, noted that the windows are in excellent condition. The plan calls for making the interior handicap accessible by leveling the floor and installing radiant floor heating to maintain consistent temperatures year-round.
“The roof for sure has got to be done first because we’re getting a lot of water damage,” West said.
The board is exploring potential private donors who have expressed interest in contributing to the project. The restoration could be completed in phases, with the roof repair as the top priority.
Council member Tim Calfee strongly endorsed moving forward with the project. “We’ve got a dollar amount of $430,000. I very much say that I think we should work hard to do this without due delay,” he said.
Communication and Transparency Initiatives
President Pro Tem Amy Michael raised concerns about improving city communication with residents. She proposed forming a subcommittee to examine how the city sends information to residents and tracks incoming requests.
The discussion highlighted issues with the current system, including residents who receive water bills electronically missing printed communications and problems with the city website’s contact function.
Michael suggested implementing a comprehensive ticketing system that would track all calls to city hall, allowing for better follow-up and transparency. IT Director Bender confirmed such systems are available and could be integrated with existing municipal software.
Master Plan Update Requested
Resident Carmen Laudato asked for an update on the city’s master plan development. City Engineer Robert Finney indicated the plan should be presented by the end of August, with a public input session scheduled for July 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the theater.
Finney clarified that the master plan provides vision and direction, while the accompanying zoning changes will provide enforcement mechanisms.
Downtown Cleanup Efforts
President Rob Kairis praised Mayor Frank Seman for taking action on downtown cleanliness and loitering issues. He emphasized the need for community cooperation in maintaining downtown standards.
“We have to all work together. When we see something, say something,” Kairis said. “If we want better in our community, we all have to work together as council people, as employees, as residents.”
Other Business
The council approved the consent agenda, which included ordinances accepting Gatorade donations for fire and police departments, authorizing the school resource officer agreement, and appropriating funds for various infrastructure projects.
Mayor Seman announced that Kent State University researchers have been approved to conduct an algae study at Crystal Lake, building on research conducted 12 years ago.
The next council meeting is scheduled for August 4.
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