Bedford Council Meeting: School Construction Update, Ellenwood Security Upgrades, Farewell To Councilman Fluharty

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BEDFORD, Ohio – The Dec. 15 Bedford council meeting brought a full agenda and full emotions, as the Bedford council meeting featured an in-depth update on the school district’s multi-year construction plan, approval of several public safety and infrastructure measures, and a heartfelt farewell to Ward 3 Councilman Victor Fluharty, who is stepping down after eight years on council.

Bedford Council Meeting Highlights School Construction Phases

A representative from the Bedford City School District and project architect Russell from GPD Group outlined where things stand with the district’s sweeping facilities plan, which includes:

• A new K–2 elementary school on the Heskett Middle School campus in Bedford Heights
• A new grades 6–8 middle school on the former Chanel High School site along Northfield Road
• A new Bedford High School to be built in multiple phases on the existing high school campus

Key timing and scope details shared with council:

• K–2 building at Heskett site (Bedford Heights):

  • Roughly 35% complete, on time and on budget
  • Targeted for substantial completion in June 2027, with students moving in for fall 2027
  • Existing Heskett Middle will be converted into a 3–5 school when the K–2 opens

• New 6–8 middle school on Northfield Road:

  • Located on the former Peter Chanel High School site
  • Construction also targeted for completion in June/July 2027, with students arriving in fall 2027
  • Student drop-off and staff traffic will enter from Northfield Road, with a new curb cut aligned to Bonnieview; buses will load in back on a separate drive to keep car and bus traffic separated

• New Bedford High School:

  • Planned as a 175,000-square-foot building that will house grades 9–12, replacing a high school complex currently totaling about 405,000 square feet
  • Will include a new auditorium and bring the district’s career-technical programs back into the high school
  • Design documents are nearing completion; construction documents will begin in January 2026
  • Demolition and early site work are scheduled to start February 2026, beginning with the North House and the current Board of Education building
  • Students will remain in the Central and South House sections until they move into the new building, anticipated in fall 2028, with final demolition and parking lot work wrapping up in spring 2029

Traffic safety and coordination have been a key focus. Project leaders said they have been working closely with Bedford’s transportation department, police, and fire departments, and will coordinate with the city on a traffic light relocation and other roadway changes near Northfield and Bonnieview.

Pool Decision: No Natatorium in New High School

Council members questioned why the new high school will not include a swimming pool, noting Bedford’s long history of swim instruction and the fact that many local children still do not know how to swim.

District officials explained that:

• The decision not to build a new natatorium was made in 2022 by a facilities planning commission of roughly 80 community members.
• A new pool would have added more than $10 million to an already tight project budget.
• Maintaining the existing high school pool would have required an additional $4–5 million in near-term spending just to keep it open for a few more years.
• Student participation in swimming had dropped dramatically; swimming is no longer a required course, and only a small number of students chose to swim.

Instead, the district has partnered with Bedford Heights to use that city’s pool at a very low cost, and has arrangements with other districts in case that facility is temporarily unavailable. The high school swim team continues to practice and compete using these shared facilities.

Admin Building Shift: Buying Rather Than Building

Another major facilities change involves the school administration offices. Originally, the district had planned a roughly 9,000-square-foot administration wing attached to the new middle school. As construction costs surged beyond state estimates, that portion of the project was cut.

Instead, the district purchased an existing 18,000-square-foot office building at 3 Hemisphere Way in Bedford, built in 2008, for about $2.5 million—roughly half the projected cost of the smaller new admin wing.

Officials told council this move:

• Doubled the available space for administrators
• Saved taxpayers millions
• Kept the district’s highest-paid staff and core administrative operations within the City of Bedford, preserving income tax and daily economic activity.

New Gym, Old Issues Addressed

Council members also raised questions about the new high school gymnasium.

The district said the main gym will be similar in size or slightly larger than the existing main gym, while the auxiliary gym will be somewhat smaller. However, the overall facility will be a significant upgrade:

• Completely new locker rooms designed to address past Title IX equity concerns between boys’ and girls’ teams
• Modernized amenities, replacing facilities that date back to the 1950s
• Potential addition of an indoor walking track above the gym, if the budget holds
• Reuse of the new scoreboards purchased in 2023 to save money

District leaders repeatedly thanked Mayor Stanley C. Koci, City Manager Michael S. Mallis, law and building officials, police, and fire for their cooperation throughout the planning and permitting process.

Council Approves Cybersecurity, Purchasing And Credit Card Policies

Council moved swiftly through a slate of ordinances meant to modernize city operations and comply with new state mandates:

• Cybersecurity program (Ordinance 087-25)

  • Adopts a formal cybersecurity program required under Ohio Revised Code 9.64(C).
  • The city has had protections in place for some time, but this ordinance formalizes and “beefs up” those practices to a new standard.

• Purchasing policy update (Ordinance 088-25)

  • Updates the city’s purchasing guidelines to align with current Ohio law.
  • Clarifies how sales tax exemptions must be used and puts more detail around employee responsibilities when making purchases.

• Credit card policy update (Ordinance 089-25)

  • Amends the city’s credit-card use ordinance to keep pace with state requirements.
  • Tightens procedures for receipts, documentation, and how purchases are reconciled with travel and other expenses.

• Employee travel and expense policy (Ordinance 095-25)

  • Revises the travel and reimbursement section of the employee handbook.
  • Emphasizes choosing the most cost-effective travel method and clearly defines which expenses are allowable.

Finance Director Jennifer Howland, who walked council through several of the measures, noted that passing the updates now allows the city to begin 2026 under the revised policies.

Ellenwood Security And Sewer, Plant Projects Move Ahead

Council authorized several capital projects, most using money already budgeted for 2025 and simply reallocating within those funds:

• Ellenwood Center door controls (Ordinance 092-25)

  • Approves a contract with Profant, Inc., doing business as Business Network Team, for a new access-control system at Ellenwood Community Center.
  • Staff will be able to remotely lock and unlock entrances, monitor visitors via video intercom, and better secure the building—especially critical during summer youth camps when around 150 children are in the building.

• Sewer lining on Center Road and McKinley Street (Ordinance 096-25)

  • Contracts with United Survey, Inc. to line sections of sewer that are showing signs of failure.
  • Lining now will prevent expensive emergency digs later, which were estimated at $60,000–$85,000 if the lines were to fail.

• Wastewater treatment plant improvements (Ordinances 097-25 and 098-25)

  • Replaces a leaking roof on one plant building through Barnes Roofing, Inc.
  • Replaces an aging HVAC unit on the plant laboratory building through WF Hann & Sons.
  • Both projects are covered within the existing wastewater plant budget.

Ambulance Fees Under Review For 2026

Council placed Ordinance 093-25—a proposal to update the city’s ambulance service fees—on first reading, with a likely vote early in 2026.

City Manager Michael S. Mallis said the city last adjusted ambulance fees in 2017 and is now well below regional averages. A consultant from Great Lakes Billing helped craft the proposed changes.

Mallis stressed that Bedford operates on an “insurance-on” policy:

• The city bills insurance, not residents directly.
• Residents are only billed if their insurance company sends them the payment directly.

He emphasized that residents should never hesitate to call 911 because of cost.

Council Praises Service, Police And Recreation Departments

In their reports, multiple council members praised the city’s frontline departments:

• The Service Department earned thanks for long hours plowing roads during recent heavy snow, with reminders that residents should move cars off the street whenever accumulation exceeds two inches so plows can safely clear streets.
• The Police Department and Parks & Recreation staff were recognized for successful Shop With a Cop and Breakfast With Santa events at the community center.
• Council members encouraged residents to support and volunteer with the Bedford Historical Society, especially after some misleading social media chatter about its future. The recent Christkindlmarkt fundraiser was described as both well-attended and profitable.

Emotional Farewell To Councilman Victor Fluharty

Much of the evening’s emotion centered on outgoing Ward 3 Councilman Victor Fluharty, who did not seek re-election and is leaving council after eight years of service.

Mayor Stanley C. Koci, City Manager Michael S. Mallis, and fellow council members Sandy Spinks, Steve Salvi, Frank Smith Jr., and Tony Longino each took time to thank Fluharty for his:

• Steady ward advocacy and accessibility to residents
• Willingness to pitch in at youth sports, camps, and community events
• Work with the Bedford Historical Society board
• Sense of humor—often on full display at council meetings

Several members shared stories from a memorable train trip to Kansas City for a conference, joking that Fluharty’s idea to save the city money by traveling by rail turned into a “trip from hell,” but one that bonded the group.

Fluharty, in a lengthy final report, went down the line thanking each colleague, the administrative team, and residents. He said he plans to spend more time golfing and visiting Florida, but made clear he won’t be far from Bedford.

“I’m leaving, but I’m not going away,” he said, adding that Bedford will always be his city.

The meeting ended with a unanimous vote to adjourn and, from the mayor, one last public “thank you” to Fluharty for his years of service.