Northfield eyes cleanup of plaza, other business sites

NORTHFIELD – In an attempt to keep local businesses looking aesthetically pleasing, village officials have met recently with owners to discuss sprucing up their properties.

At Council’s July 13 meeting, Mayor Jen Domzalski reported she and Fire Chief Jason Buss, Police Chief John Zolgus, engineer Dan Collins and service superintendent Jason Walters met with Summit Plaza property manager Howard Forman to address several violations of ordinances and the fire code.

Walters added he has met with a handful of other business owners, including MGM Northfield Park, to discuss issues of concern associated with their buildings and grounds.

“We walked the plaza property on July 7,” said Domalski. “There are a lot of items to be resolved, and plaza officials indicated they are willing to cooperate. We want to make sure residents can be proud of the village’s businesses.”

Some of the violations listed in a notice to plaza owner Howard Shafron involve garbage containment, weeds and high grass, buildings and pavement maintenance, fire zones around the buildings and air conditioning units not working properly.

The notice sent to plaza officials states they will have 60 days – or until Sept. 5 – to correct the violations.

A village ordinance states a property owner can be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both, for not correcting violations. Each subsequent period of 30 days that the violations continue constitutes a separate offense.

Walters said MGM Northfield Park officials have agreed to address some issues with ponds on the grounds, and may look at upgrading the fence/tree line adjacent to the residential area to the south of the property.

OTHER BUSINESS

Council OK’d a contract with Selective, Hanover, Cincinnati and Hudson insurance companies to provide village liability coverage from July 13, 2022 to July 13, 2023. The policy is through Wichert Insurance Agency and the premium is $48,760.

A contract with Cloudpermit Inc. also was awarded for building and code enforcement software and maintenance services at a cost of $2,500 for the first year and $5,000 for each of the remaining four years – for a total of $22,500.

The mayor’s appointment of Jaqueline Ashworth as a part-time paramedic with the fire department was confirmed. At Council’s June 22 session, Paul Wojtkiewicz’s appointment as a full-time fire department lieutenant was confirmed.

Council approved an exchange with the Auburn Career Center in which a retired fire truck will be given to the center for $12,500 worth of training for firefighters. The training must be completed within the next 2 ½ years.

Collins reported work is going smoothly on Coventry Drive sewer/road improvements, and “we’re looking forward to wrapping it up soon.” Law Director Brad Bryan reported he is looking at possibly drafting regulations regarding the use of drones.

Council agreed to discuss the future of the proposed fire station expansion after the initial 2023 budget review takes place July 27. Bryan said the initial estimate of $2.1 million for the overall expansion has risen to $3 million to $3.5 million.

Once Council looks at the proposed budget, it will decide whether to go ahead with the entire project or scale down to just parts of it, and then will start the bidding process.

Domzalski announced there will be two more days of community garage sales July 29-30. Signups for those wishing to participate are possible at the Ledge Road service department building.

She also announced a “book house,” where local residents can exchange books, is being constructed and will be placed either at Village Hall or the Ledge Road site, and a nails salon soon will open in Summit Plaza. Book donations are being accepted.

Councilwoman Renell Noack unveiled what the new veterans banners will look like. They are a little smaller than the ones now displayed along Route 8, and will be put in place before next Memorial Day.

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Northfield eyes cleanup of plaza, other business sites