Ashtabula County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Ashtabula Council Agenda Includes Insurance, Road Repair Contracts; No Votes Taken Last Week

No formal decisions were taken at Ashtabula City Council meetings during the past week, but the council's August 17 regular meeting agenda included several proposed contracts for road repairs, insurance, and security cameras. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published, so the outcome of those items is not yet known.

Safety Forces Committee (Aug. 13)

The Safety Forces Committee met for an informational session and took no formal votes. The committee discussed the denial of a $40,000 grant for boat engine replacement, noted an intent to hire at least one firefighter from a certified list, and discussed the status of the Coast Guard station reopening. It also considered the potential adoption of new state hiring flexibility, pending further definition.

City Council regular meeting (Aug. 17)

The council's regular meeting agenda included several proposed ordinances:

• Ordinance 2026-144: a contract with Rocky Road Paving for road deck repairs (Round 4)
• Ordinance 2026-145: change order #1 with ProLine Technology for security cameras at the city annex
• Ordinance 2026-146: law enforcement liability insurance with Acrisure and Kinsale, $186,765 for one year
• Ordinance 2026-148: liability, property, and casualty insurance via PEP through Acrisure, not to exceed $302,889
• Ordinance 2026-147: disposal of obsolete equipment from the Water Pollution Control Department

A resolution honoring a retiring finance department employee was also on the agenda. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published.

City Council pre-meeting and work session (Aug. 17)

The pre-meeting covered administrative reports from the city manager, finance director, solicitor, and clerk, along with committee reports. No specific legislation was listed. A separate work session discussed a draft ordinance creating a Thriving Communities Commission; no voting items were scheduled.

Finance & Personnel Committee (Aug. 21)

The committee received the finance director's report on income tax, cash position, revenue, and expenses, plus the city manager's report. New business included a surety bond for the finance director. The next meeting is set for Sept. 18.

Coming up

The Public Works/Public Utilities/Cable/Schools Committee meets Aug. 25 to hear reports from the city manager, water pollution control, and public works. No specific decisions or proposals are listed on the agenda.

Ashtabula Council to weigh tax abatement, vehicle purchase; committees discuss recycling truck lease

In the past two weeks, Ashtabula City Council and its committees met to discuss a range of topics, from a potential recycling truck lease to a data center moratorium. No formal votes were taken at the committee level, but the full council is scheduled to vote on several ordinances, including a tax incentive for new homes and a vehicle purchase.

Public Works Committee (July 28)

The Public Works/Public Utilities/Cable/Schools Committee met July 28 and discussed several items, but took no formal votes or approvals. The committee considered a potential lease of a split rear loader truck at $9,000 per month for combined refuse and recycling collection. It also discussed issuing a separate bid for sidewalk replacement on Collins Boulevard after a $130,000 change order.

The city manager noted that the annual paving levy yields approximately $800,000, while a full rebuild of Lake Avenue would cost over $2 million. The committee heard that the EPA raised questions about mixing zone study data for the Outfall Relocation Project, with a response being prepared by Amendola. The lateral push camera was damaged and will cost about $6,000 to repair versus $15,000 to replace. The county completed striping on multiple corridors using six barrels of white paint, with one additional barrel ordered for touch-ups. The next round of tree removal was approved by Council, and contractor work is pending.

City Council Pre-Council Meeting (August 3)

The City Council held a pre-council meeting on August 3. The agenda consisted of procedural boilerplate, including administrative reports and committee updates. No minutes have been published yet.

City Council Regular Meeting (August 3) – Agenda

The City Council is scheduled to vote on several ordinances at its August 3 regular meeting. Key items include:

• **Ordinance No. 2026-136:** A tax incentive agreement with River & Rail Development, LLC for 100% abatement for 7 years at 725 E. 15th Street.
• **Ordinance No. 2026-137:** A contract with AM Ford for the purchase of a Ford Maverick.
• **Ordinance No. 2026-139:** Adoption of the City of Ashtabula Budgetary General Fund Reserve Policy.
• **Ordinance No. 2026-140:** Supplemental appropriations for the 205 State, County, Municipal Roads fund.
• **Ordinances No. 2026-134 and 135:** Updates to tobacco sales regulations for under-21 individuals.

Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published.

Community Development Committee (August 5)

The Community Development/Economic Development/Parks & Recreation Committee met August 5 to hear a presentation by Molly Bryden of Policy Matters Ohio on data center impacts and to discuss a proposed data center moratorium. No votes were taken; the meeting was agenda-only.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. Residents should check the city’s official channels for future meeting notices.

Ashtabula Council Set to Vote on Tax Abatement for New Homes at 725 E. 15th Street; Recent Meeting Outcomes Not Yet Available

Ashtabula City Council is scheduled to vote today, August 3, on a tax incentive agreement that would provide a 100% property tax abatement for seven years for new residential dwellings at 725 E. 15th Street. The agreement is with River & Rail Development, LLC, under Ordinance No. 2026-136. Minutes from the council's July 20 meeting, where several ordinances were on the agenda, have not yet been published, so outcomes from that session cannot be confirmed.

What Happened Recently

Three meetings were held in the past two weeks, but minutes have not been published for any of them. Based on the agendas:

• **July 20 — City Council (pre-council meeting):** The agenda listed administrative and committee reports, discussion of new business, proposed legislation, and legislation on second reading. No specific items were listed.

• **July 20 — City Council (regular session):** Council was scheduled to vote on five ordinances:
• Ordinance 2026-131: Contract with Brobst Tree & Stump Service for tree removal.
• Ordinance 2026-132: Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) agreement for wastewater facilities.
• Ordinance 2026-133: Disposal of obsolete and unneeded vehicles.
• Ordinance 2026-134: Repeal of tobacco sale penalties for persons under 21, to impose new fines and license suspension criteria.
• Ordinance 2026-135: Adoption of a new codified ordinance chapter regarding tobacco sales to persons under 21.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not possible to confirm whether these ordinances passed, failed, or were tabled.

• **July 28 — Public Works/Public Utilities/Cable/Schools Committee:** The committee was scheduled to receive reports from the City Manager, Water Pollution Control, and Public Works. No specific legislative actions or contracts were listed on the agenda.

What's on Today's Agenda

The August 3 City Council meeting includes two sessions. The first is a pre-council meeting with administrative reports and committee updates — described in the agenda as procedural boilerplate.

The second session includes votes on several ordinances:

• **Ordinance No. 2026-136:** Tax incentive agreement with River & Rail Development, LLC, for 100% abatement for 7 years at 725 E. 15th Street. This item involves new residential construction and a multi-year property tax exemption.

• **Ordinance No. 2026-137:** Contract with AM Ford for purchase of a Ford Maverick.

• **Ordinance No. 2026-139:** Adoption of the City of Ashtabula Budgetary General Fund Reserve Policy.

• **Ordinance No. 2026-140:** Supplemental appropriations for the 205 State, County, Municipal Roads fund, which would direct additional money toward road maintenance.

• **Ordinance No. 2026-134 & 135:** Updates to tobacco sales regulations for under-21 individuals. These ordinances also appeared on the July 20 agenda; their current status depends on prior council action for which minutes are not yet published.

No vote tallies, dollar amounts beyond those stated, or other details are available in the provided agendas.

Coming Up

• **Today, August 3 — City Council:** Pre-council meeting and regular session with votes on the tax abatement, vehicle purchase, reserve policy, road appropriations, and tobacco regulations. Residents interested in the residential development at 725 E. 15th Street or city road funding may want to attend.

• No other upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days beyond the August 3 sessions.

Ashtabula City Council set to vote on wastewater loan, tree removal contract; recent meetings remain without published minutes

Ashtabula residents are awaiting confirmation of several pending City Council actions — including adoption of a county hazard mitigation plan and approval of the 2027 tax budget — after a stretch of meetings where minutes have not yet been published. Meanwhile, Council has scheduled votes for July 20 on a wastewater facility loan agreement and a tree removal contract.

Recent Meetings: Agendas Only, No Confirmed Votes

Four public meetings were held between July 6 and July 17, but all are listed as agenda-only with minutes not yet published. That means no outcomes, vote tallies, or dollar figures from those sessions can be confirmed at this time.

The July 6 City Council agenda included several notable items slated for consideration:

• **Resolution 2026-124**: Adoption of the Ashtabula County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• **Ordinance 2026-129**: Approval of the 2027 tax budget.
• **Ordinances 2026-127 and 2026-128**: Municipal court employee compensation and wages.
• **Ordinance 2026-121**: Disposal of obsolete vehicles, round 2.
• **Resolution 2026-122**: Repeal of a prior resolution on accessory structures over 200 square feet.

The agenda also listed renewing a prescription benefit consultant contract, purchasing recycling containers, authorizing HVAC repairs at the Annex Building, and continuing public hearings on ordinances removing background check requirements for certain permits. None of these outcomes are confirmed until minutes are published.

A separate pre-council meeting on July 6 included administrative reports from the city manager, finance director, solicitor, and clerk, plus committee reports from five standing committees. No votes were scheduled.

Safety Forces Committee (July 9)

The Safety Forces Committee agenda called for monthly statistical reports from the Police and Fire departments for June, along with updates from the city manager and city solicitor. Minutes are not yet published, so the specific statistics are not available in the record provided.

Finance & Personnel Committee (July 17)

The Finance & Personnel Committee was scheduled to review the Finance Director's Income Tax Report, Statement of Cash Position, and Revenue and Expense Reports. The committee also planned to discuss developing a policy on General Fund borrowing practices. No outcomes are confirmed.

Coming Up: July 20 Council Meetings

Two City Council sessions are scheduled for today, July 20.

A pre-council meeting will include administrative and committee reports, discussion of new business, proposed legislation, and legislation on second reading.

The regular Council meeting includes votes on five ordinances:

• **Ordinance 2026-131**: Contract with Brobst Tree & Stump Service for tree removal.
• **Ordinance 2026-132**: Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) agreement for wastewater facilities.
• **Ordinance 2026-133**: Disposal of obsolete and unneeded vehicles.
• **Ordinance 2026-134**: Repeal of tobacco sale penalties for persons under 21, to impose new fines and license suspension criteria.
• **Ordinance 2026-135**: Adoption of a new codified ordinance chapter regarding tobacco sales to persons under 21.

The wastewater loan agreement and tree removal contract are the items most likely to affect city finances and services. Residents interested in the tobacco sale ordinance changes — which would establish new fines and license suspension criteria — may also want to attend.

No additional meetings are listed in the record for the next 14 days beyond the July 20 sessions.