Streetsboro Officers Awarded; State Route 303 plans closing in 2018 at City Council Meeting

Chiamaka Uwagba

Here’s what happened at the Streetsboro City Council Meeting on Monday:

Glenn M. Broska honored four police officers and one firefighter with annual awards.

Scott Hermon, who started as a dispatcher in 2002, received the Chief’s Achievement Award. Broska said Hermon also serves as a field training officer, traffic crash investigator, maintains the department’s computer network and even takes tech-related phone calls off duty. Mayor Broska said, “Officer Scott Herman has never hesitated to take on new duties,” he said, “Scott has continued to perform extremely well in his primary role as a patrol officer.”

Aaron Coates, Streetsboro’s sole K-9 handler received The Distinguished Volunteer Service Cross. Broska said in 2015, Coates spent a lot of free time helping out by attending events and collecting donations with his dog Bo by his side. He organized a fundraiser for Dispatcher Kathy Smith when she was battling illness, and planned the department’s ‘Shop with a Cop’ program. Mayor Broska said, “Officer Aaron Coates demonstrates that being a police officer does not begin and end with law enforcement activities, it is also being a thoughtful, and generous member of your community.”

Sara Newpher was named the Dispatcher of the Year. This is her second time receiving this honor, previously being named in 2013. Mayor Broska said Sara recently helped solve a crash investigation with Ohio State Highway Patrol. “Sara has provided invaluable training and mentorship to new department dispatchers. Officer Sara Newpher is dependable, always willing to take the initiative to gather additional information when necessary,” Broska said.

Art Milner, a defensive tactics, and baton instructor was named the Police Officer of the Year. Mayor Broska said Milner has earned a reputation for being a hardworking, friendly and professional member of the department. In 2015 alone, and on the midnight shift, Milner was responsible for 44 OVI arrests and 162 misdemeanor arrests. Mayor Broska said Milner is, “a model for other police officers to follow.”

William J. Young who began his service for the Streetsboro Fire Department in 1993, was named the Firefighter of the Year. Mayor Broska said William is consistently demonstrating quick action, extensive fire service knowledge and professionalism. “It is Bill’s constant willingness to do more than is expected of him, that has allowed him to shine as a first-rate firefighter.”

The Ohio Department of Transportation presented a solution to State Route 303’s flooding issues.

Thomas Powell, the District Design Engineer at The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation and speech explaining through ODOT and Streetsboro funding, Streetsboro will be able to raise State Route 303’s roadway profile above flood elevation.

The flooding is caused by a fen wetland that is located next to State Route 303.

A fen wetland is defined by ODOT as a ‘rare wetland created by the flowing of mineral rich alkaline water through glacially deposited sands and gravels as groundwater.’

Powell explained fen wetlands are extremely rare and good for the environment but not a good thing to have next to a roadway.

The plan is for State Route 303 to close in April 2018 for an estimated 12 months. The official detour will be from State Route 14, to Interstate 480 to State Route 91.

Powell said the project will cost Streetsboro about $1.5 million.

Streetsboro Police will get 3 new Ford Explorers

Police Chief Darin Powers requested the approval for the Streetsboro Police Department to receive three new ford explorers to replace two current Ford Explorers and one Ford Taurus.

The Streetsboro Police Department has ten cars in their fleet and buy three new cars every year to keep the mileage and ultimately the maintenance costs down, Powers said. He said they are happy with the Explorers and chose to get an Explorer to replace the Taurus because they don’t like sedans.

Powers said, “They’re hard to get prisoners in the back seat because there is no room and our officers, especially some of the bigger guys, have a hard time getting in and out of the car because it’s small. The Explorers have much more room.

The Explorers will cost Streetsboro approximately $104k.

Powers said the city is saving money by transferring all the old equipment into the new cars. They also take the old cars out of service and reuse them for officers to drive to court and back or auction them off.