Medina Approves Airport Hangar Deal and Columbarium Funding as Residents Press for a Safer Square

Medina City Council approved eight ordinances on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The finance committee met first and sent a long list of new requests to the full council. The meeting moved to Tuesday because of the Columbus Day holiday. Six members voted on each item. Councilman Dennie Simpson was called at roll call but was not recorded on any vote. Airport Hangar Lease Runs 45 Years Council approved Ordinance 155-26, a hangar lease with Cold Stream Air Services, Inc. The company will build a hangar with 10 units at Medina Municipal Airport. Law Director Greg Huber said a long list of pilots want to keep planes at the airport. The airport does not have enough hangar space for them. He said the 45 year term is needed to cover construction costs, which he said have nearly tripled in two years. Cold Stream is the airport’s fixed base operator. Huber expects construction to take about a year and a half. The lease sets base rent at $1,800 per year and gives the company 24 months to finish construction. Runway Lights Get FAA Help Ordinance 157-26 authorizes Task Order 3 with Delta Airport Consultants, Inc. The firm will design replacement edge lighting for both runways. City Engineer Patrick Patton said the current lights are more than 40 years old. Replacement parts are hard to find. An FAA grant will pay 95% of the replacement. The ordinance lists $145,000 in total funding: $137,750 from the grant and $7,250 from the city. Construction is planned for next year. Columbarium Wall Gets $1.3 Million Advance Council passed Ordinance 162-26, which advances $1,335,380 from the general fund to the cemetery mausoleum fund. The money covers the columbarium wall project, phases 4 through 10, at Spring Grove Cemetery. Finance Director Keith Dirham said the city will repay the advance as niches are sold. This continues work from Sept. 28. At that meeting, council approved a $42,500 design contract and authorized bidding for the 1,120 niche wall. The construction estimate was about $1.3 million. Ordinance 161-26 amended the 2026 budget. The changes total about $4.16 million, mostly advances and repayments. They include $23,000 toward Christmas lights, $30,000 for courthouse furniture and $60,000 to refund bid and performance bonds. Feasibility Study for City Hall and Police Council hired Richard L. Bowen & Associates Inc. under Ordinance 158-26. The firm will study City Hall, the police department and the former municipal court building. The contract is estimated at $151,500. Patton said a committee reviewed submissions, narrowed the field to four firms and interviewed each. The committee chose Bowen as the most qualified. The proposal includes a needs assessment, conceptual floor plans and a cost estimate. It also calls for public meetings to collect community feedback. Next Step Up Shelter Funding Grows Council approved Ordinance 159-26, which commits up to $75,000 for 2027 operations at the Next Step Up shelter. The Medina Metropolitan Housing Authority runs the shelter. Mayor Jim Shields said the city gave $50,000 in 2026. He said Medina residents make up about half of the people using the shelter. Opioid settlement funds will cover $25,000, and the general fund will cover $50,000. The ordinance depends on Medina County and Wadsworth also contributing. Shields said Brunswick has already committed $90,000. The city is still waiting on the county and Wadsworth. Other Ordinances Passed Ordinance 156-26 adopted the yearly replacement pages for the city’s codified ordinances. The update brings traffic and general offense codes in line with state law. Ordinance 160-26 grants two easements to Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. for the North Huntington Street reconstruction. The 10 foot easement runs along the frontage of Ray Mellert Park. Patton said the city asked Columbia Gas to move its line so the project can continue. Rec Center Rates Head for First Increase Since 2016 The finance committee approved a 3.5% membership increase at the Medina Community Recreation Center. The increase would take effect Jan. 1. The full council still has to vote on it. Recreation Center Superintendent Christy Moats said rates have not gone up since 2016. Inflation rose about 40% over that time. A 2022 ordinance allows yearly increases tied to the Consumer Price Index, but the city has not used it. Moats said chlorine costs are up about 151% since the last rate increase. Carbon dioxide costs are up about 40%. Part time wages also rise each year under a 2022 council decision. “But we’re getting to the point where our expenses are going to start exceeding our revenues in the future,” Moats said. Coyne asked whether families were dropping memberships. Moats said membership has held steady at about 8,800, up from about 8,200. Shields said the city delayed the increase during COVID and recent renovations. Courthouse Electric Bill Split Set at 20% The committee approved a second amendment to the city’s lease of the 1969 Courthouse at 93 Public Square. Huber said Ohio