Norton Council places new police levy on May ballot

NORTON — Norton residents will be asked to vote on an additional 1-mill levy for the police department in the May 3 Primary Election.
Norton City Council approved placement of the 10-year levy on that ballot at Council’s Jan. 24 meeting.
According to the Summit County Fiscal Office, the levy, if passed, would raise approximately $307,128 annually for the Norton Police Department. The revenue from the new levy would be used to fund the acquisition, construction, improvement or maintenance of buildings, equipment and supplies for the department, according to the resolution.
During a Jan. 23 Council Committee work session, Police Chief John Dalessandro spoke on the need for a new building, citing a leaking roof during heavy rains and adding the department has outgrown its current facility.
If approved, the levy would begin this year, with collections to start in 2023. According to Finance Director Pamela Keener, the 1-mill levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 property $35 annually.
At the Jan. 24 Council meeting, Law Director Justin Markey noted the resolution had to come to a vote before Council prior to a Feb. 2 Summit County Board of Elections deadline, roughly three months before the election, in order to accommodate military and overseas ballots. This meant that Council either had to vote on the resolution immediately or schedule a special meeting for Jan. 31 to allow for a third reading of the resolution. Charlotte Whipkey (at-large) stated she would rather schedule another meeting than vote on the matter at that time, but Council waived the third reading and voted 5-1, with Whipkey voting no and Scott Pelot (at-large) absent.
Council also unanimously passed the following at the meeting:
• an agreement with the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office to provide auditing services to Norton for $20,100;
• a real estate purchase and sale agreement for the sale of .65 acre of city-owned land to David and Tessie Creighton for $8,000; and
• resolutions of appreciation for the service of former Council members Jack Gainer (Ward 1), Dennis McGlone (Ward 2) and Dan Karant (Ward 3). Karant and Gainer chose not to seek re-election and McGlone failed to win re-election in the November 2021 General Election.
Also during the meeting, Mayor Mike Zita announced the city is beginning to work on this year’s Adopt-A-Spot program and letters are being sent out to potential sponsors asking for a $150 donation. Zita also is seeking volunteers to care for the flowerbeds paid for by the sponsors. In addition, he stated a community cleanup day is scheduled for April 23, with a backup day set for April 30 in case of inclement weather.
Council also entered into executive session to discuss matters pertaining to an employee, but no action was taken afterward.
Norton City Council will hold its next regular meeting Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Safety-Administration Building, located at 4060 Columbia Woods Drive.