Green Confirms Flock Camera Contract Terminated, Advances Fire Hose Grant

Green City Council opened its September 8 meeting by celebrating a clean financial audit, then spent much of the evening listening to residents worried about speeding traffic and delayed emergency alerts in the Meadow Wood neighborhood. Auditor of State Honors Green's Finance Department Tina Ludwig, northeast Ohio regional liaison for Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber, presented Green with the Auditor of State Award With Distinction. Fewer than 4 percent of the roughly 6,000 entities the state audits each year receive the honor. Ludwig praised Finance Director Shelley Goodrich and her department for meeting strict criteria that include filing reports on time and avoiding findings for recovery, material weaknesses or ethics referrals. Mayor Rocco Yeargin and council members congratulated Goodrich's team for the recognition. Mental Health Awareness Marked on 988 Day Communications Manager Valerie Wolford used the September 8 date, styled as 988 Day, to remind residents that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available for any mental health crisis, not only for those in immediate danger. She announced a third round of QPR training, a free 90 minute course open to anyone 18 or older that teaches people to question, persuade and refer someone who may be struggling. Registration is limited. Residents Press Council on Speeding and Emergency Alerts Two Meadow Wood residents spoke during public comment. One described speeding traffic through the neighborhood, particularly around school bus pickup times, and asked council to consider speed humps similar to those installed in Spring Hill. She said the closure of Butler Road has pushed more traffic into the area and that a lack of sidewalks leaves walkers exposed. A second resident raised concerns about a lack of a no outlet sign at one end of the street and about a lack of awareness among older residents who do not use email or computers. The same residents also raised concerns about a recent search for a suspect in the neighborhood, saying they were unaware a law enforcement operation was underway nearby. Yeargin responded that the information the city received from the Summit County Sheriff's Office indicated the person being sought was unarmed and wanted in connection with a stolen vehicle, not that there was an active armed threat. He said the sheriff's office has access to the city's emergency alert system but makes its own judgment calls about when to use it. Yeargin said the city and sheriff's office plan to review communication procedures this week following the incident. On the traffic concerns, Yeargin said the city set aside funding for traffic calming devices during the Arlington Road project and has ordered a small number of speed humps to test in Meadow Wood before deciding whether to expand the program to other neighborhoods. Finance Committee Approves Budget Adjustments Totaling $141,184 Council adopted three routine annual measures on second reading: a resolution allowing Summit County to advance property tax funds to the city monthly, and a resolution certifying the city's 2.4 mill inside millage rate, which Goodrich said remains among the lowest in Summit County. Council also considered a supplemental appropriations measure covering budget shortfalls across multiple funds. Goodrich told committee members the largest single item was an additional $35,000 for legal services, driven partly by ongoing union negotiations and fact finding with the fire department's union and partly by two additional months on a contract with a lobbyist working on the city's single ZIP code effort in the state legislature. She said the city has budgeted $270,000 for legal services this year after two supplemental additions. Other adjustments included $34,000 for higher telephone and fiber costs, $28,700 to cover a secretary's move from part time to full time status, and additional funds for a medic unit that came in $17,784 over budget. Goodrich told the committee she prefers requesting supplemental funds only when needed rather than padding department budgets and returning unused money at year's end. Fire Department Seeks Grant for New Hose Council bypassed its normal three reading process to approve a resolution authorizing Fire Chief Jeffrey Funai to apply for up to $10,000 through Enbridge's Safe Community First Responder Program grant. The money would fund 19 sections of 2 and a half inch hose to replace aging equipment on the department's tanker truck. Funai told council the newer hose moves more water with less friction loss and is lighter, which lets smaller crews handle larger hose lines effectively. The application deadline was September 11, prompting the expedited vote. The department has applied for similar grants in each of the past two years without success. Flock Camera Contract Remains Terminated DeVitis confirmed that Summit County's contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate reader cameras remains terminated after council voted down a rela