Rosenberg to begin duties in January
Police officer Dave Warrick, left, school resource officer Alison Rosenberg, Mayor Steve Smith and police officer Connor Bailey
Strasburg Council passed an ordinance, by emergency, to hire a police officer to serve as the school resource officer. Mayor Steve Smith administered the oath of office to Alison Rosenberg during the Nov. 7 council meeting. Rosenberg has served as a police officer for nine years in the villages of Navarre and Brewster.
Rosenberg is looking forward to serving the students. She has visited the school and met the students. She is training and will begin her duties at the end of January. Police officer Kayla Willer is temporarily serving as an SRO until Rosenberg completes her training. Like Willer, Rosenberg will be at the school Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Smith said the firefighters had approached the village several years ago about establishing a full-time fire department with part-time staffers and 24/7 coverage. Residents in the village and Franklin Township passed a five-year fire levy. Smith said improvements to the department are ongoing.
A resident asked why several full-time firefighters, EMTs and paramedics cannot be hired. Smith said because the current levy does not collect sufficient funds for the part-time staff and the difference is paid from the general fund. A reduced full-time staff could not cover all the calls. Fire Chief Steve Laskey’s salary also is paid from the village general fund. When the full-time fire department with part-time staffers was established and a full-time fire chief was hired, it changed the way the fire department operates. A full-time chief must have 240 hours of training to be a chief. The fire department is no longer a volunteer department.
Council also did the following:
—By a 4-2 vote, the former green space on Wooster Avenue will be named Garver Square. Council members Marty Zehnder and Liz Dreher voted no.
—Learned the restrooms at Franklin Park are closed for the winter. Two outdoor portable units will still be provided.
—Heard a complaint about a cat problem in the 500 block of South Wooster Avenue. Zoning inspector Ted Foster said a neighbor is providing food and shelter for the cats.
—Heard the grant for sidewalks on Tiger Drive was denied.
—Heard a complaint about youths riding mini-bikes in the village, which is not permitted.
—Heard from Mayor-elect Bruce Metzger that a stove fire in October occurred at a house on North Bodmer Avenue. Several other fire departments responded to the call through mutual aid as Strasburg was short-staffed.
—Held the first reading of an ordinance to reappoint village solicitor Terry Seeberger to a two-year contract.
—Held the first reading of a resolution authorizing tuition reimbursement for Laskey for fire administration at a cost of $13,500.
—Passed a resolution as an emergency to enter a contract with the county sheriff for jail time.
—Adopted an ordinance approving an optional lump sum payment of certain accrued time-off benefits upon retirement. Zehnder and Liz Dreher voted no.
—Passed an ordinance updating billing rates for fire protection and emergency service charged by the fire department through Ohio Billing.
Other information
Leaves will be picked up every Monday and Tuesday through Dec. 12. Leaves should be raked to the curb and free from poles or mailboxes.
A Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. at Garver Square. The community choir will provide music.
Council reminded residents to have fire places and gas furnaces checked and make sure hydrants are clear of snow and debris. For questions call Laskey at 330-827-4026.
Police responded to 202 calls in October.
The fire department responded to 39 calls from Oct. 18 through Nov. 6, and 24 of them were EMS calls.
The next meeting will be held Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. at 224 N. Bodmer Ave.