North Canton meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

North Canton Council to vote on zoning overhaul at Monday meeting

The North Canton City Council will hold its regular meeting Monday, Aug. 24, with the second reading of Ordinance 16-2026, which would repeal industrial district regulations and amend business district regulations. The ordinance was the subject of a public hearing and first reading on Aug. 17. No final votes were taken at the council's three meetings last week, which were agenda-only.

Zoning overhaul

Ordinance 16-2026 would repeal Chapter 1139 (Industrial District) and amend Chapter 1137 (Business District) regulations. The council heard a public hearing and took a first reading on Aug. 17. Monday's meeting includes the second reading, making it the most consequential item on the agenda.

Other council business

At the Aug. 17 Committee of the Whole meeting, the council discussed a $175,100 supplemental appropriation, including $170,000 for fire suppression personnel (part-time, overtime, pensions), $5,000 for an Am250 events donation, and $100 for a fire donation. The council also discussed establishing a five-member Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, amending Chapter 373 (bicycles and motorcycles), and updating Chapter 911 (honorary street names). These items were for discussion only; no votes were scheduled.

Also on Aug. 17, the council reviewed the 2027 Alternative Tax Budget, which requests $1,743,500 in property taxes for the general fund, $200,000 for the fire levy, and $400,000 for the EMS levy. The council held a first reading of Ordinance 16-2026 and a second reading of Resolution 32-2026, which supports accepting the 2026 Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces (PROS) Master Plan. Andrea Legg presented on North Canton Public Library renovations and programming.

Monday's agenda

In addition to the second reading of Ordinance 16-2026, the council will consider a third reading of Resolution 32-2026, a second reading of Ordinance 39-2026 to establish a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and a first reading of Resolution 41-2026 authorizing the mayor to apply for funding through the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District's Connecting Communities Grant Program. Executive sessions may be held for property purchase/sale and pending litigation.

Other boards

The Zoning & Building Standards Board of Appeals will meet Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 5:30 p.m. to hear a variance request for a fence at 243 Sutton Ave NE. The request asks to reduce the fence setback from 30 feet to 23 feet along Randall Circle NE and allow a 6-foot white vinyl privacy fence.

The Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Sept. 2 has been cancelled due to lack of an agenda, according to a notice issued by Chief Building Official Martin B. Van Gundy IV.

Coming up

• City Council regular meeting, Monday, Aug. 24, at Council Chambers, North Canton Civic Center.
• Zoning & Building Standards Board of Appeals, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 5:30 p.m., to hear the fence variance request.
• Planning Commission, Sept. 2, cancelled.

North Canton Council Considered NOPEC Gas Program, $103,861 in Appropriations, and CDBG Agreement

North Canton City Council met July 13, 2026, to consider a packed agenda including a natural gas aggregation program through the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), more than $103,000 in supplemental appropriations, and an agreement to receive federal community development funding through 2029. Minutes from the meeting have not yet been published, so outcomes of the votes are not yet available.

NOPEC Natural Gas Aggregation

Council held public hearings on two ordinances related to joining NOPEC for a natural gas aggregation program. Ordinance 33-2026 would authorize a Natural Gas Program Agreement with NOPEC, and Ordinance 34-2026 would approve the Plan of Operation and Governance for the program. The proposals would establish opt-out and opt-in group purchasing options intended to lower gas rates for residents and businesses. Both were filed as emergency measures.

Supplemental Appropriations

An ordinance would approve $103,861.85 in supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026. The breakdown includes $9,025 for fire personnel unemployment, $9,025 for EMS personnel unemployment, $2,725 for an EMS equipment grant, $23,300 for overtime, $425 for a VA termination payout, $19,361.85 for park project donations, and $40,000 for sewer personal services.

Stark County CDBG Agreement

Council considered an emergency ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter an agreement with Stark County to receive Community Development Block Grant funding for fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029. The emergency filing deadline was listed as July 31, 2026.

Other Council Items

Additional items on the July 13 agenda included:

• **Ordinance 25-2026** — emergency authorization for a real-estate exchange with the North Canton City School District.
• **Ordinance 31-2026** — emergency establishment of Chapter 372, Mobility Devices.
• **Ordinance 16-2026** — repeal of Chapter 1139 Industrial District Regulations and amendment of Chapter 1137 Business District Regulations.
• A resolution authorizing the mayor to submit documentation to apply for the Ohio DNR NatureWorks Grant, filed as an emergency.
• A Q2 2026 finance report presentation.

Board of Control

The Board of Control met July 13 to approve minutes from its June 24, 2026 meeting and consider an administration proposal to renovate the Police Department and replace the HVAC system in City Hall. No other items were on the agenda. Minutes have not yet been published.

Zoning Variance Requests

The Zoning & Building Standards Board of Appeals met July 22 to consider three variance applications:

• **ZBOA-26-8** — Ian Smith, 1292 Lorrell Ave SW, requesting reduced rear and side yard setbacks for a shed.
• **ZBOA-26-10** — 700 N Main St, requesting relief to allow 3 additional building signs.
• **ZBOA-26-11** — Bruce Conery, 212 Donner Ave NW, requesting reduced rear and side yard setbacks for a detached garage.

Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published.

Coming Up

The North Canton Planning Commission meeting scheduled for August 5, 2026, at 6 p.m. has been cancelled due to a lack of an agenda. No other meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

*Note: All recent meetings listed above are agenda-only items. Minutes have not yet been published, so final vote tallies and outcomes are not available. Readers are encouraged to check the city's official records for updated minutes.*

North Canton roundup: Water and sewer rates, land swap with schools on Council's agenda

North Canton City Council has a packed July agenda, with five-year water and sewer rates, a 4.56-acre-for-20.18-acre land exchange with the school district, and a $103,861.85 supplemental appropriation all scheduled for consideration. Meeting minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent sessions below, so the items reflect what was on the agendas, not confirmed outcomes.

City Council — July 6 and July 13

Council's July 6 agenda included a third reading of Ordinance 24-2026, which would set water and sewer rates for the 2027–2031 billing cycles, and Ordinance 25-2026, a third reading authorizing an exchange of 4.56 acres of city land for 20.18 acres of North Canton City School District land.

Also scheduled July 6: second readings of Ordinance 33-2026 and 34-2026, which would create a Natural Gas Program Agreement with the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) and approve the program's Plan of Operation and Governance; a first reading of Ordinance 31-2026 establishing Chapter 372 on Mobility Devices; and a resolution supporting the 2026 Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Master Plan.

A July 13 Council agenda added three emergency measures: an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter a Stark County Community Development Block Grant agreement for fiscal years 2027–2029, with a filing deadline of July 31, 2026; an ordinance approving $103,861.85 in supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026; and a resolution authorizing the mayor to submit documentation for an Ohio DNR NatureWorks Grant.

The $103,861.85 supplemental appropriation, as listed on the agenda, includes:

• $9,025 for fire personnel unemployment
• $9,025 for EMS personnel unemployment
• $2,725 for EMS equipment grant
• $23,300 for overtime
• $425 for a VA termination payout
• $19,361.85 for park project donations
• $40,000 for sewer personal services

A separate July 13 agenda also lists public hearings on the NOPEC natural gas aggregation ordinances (33-2026 and 34-2026), described as opt-in and opt-out group purchasing options for residents and businesses. That agenda additionally carries the school-district land exchange, the mobility-devices ordinance, and Ordinance 16-2026 repealing Chapter 1139 Industrial District Regulations and amending Chapter 1137 Business District Regulations, along with a Q2 2026 finance report.

Planning Commission — July 8

The Planning Commission was scheduled to approve June 3, 2026 minutes and hold a public hearing on Ordinance 16-2026, the business and industrial district regulations update. The meeting was set for Council Chambers at the North Canton Civic Center, with a livestream on the city's YouTube page.

Board of Control — July 13

The Board of Control agenda listed approval of June 24, 2026 minutes and consideration of two administration proposals: a Police Department renovation project and a City Hall HVAC system replacement. No other items were listed.

Coming up

• **Zoning & Building Standards Board of Appeals — July 22, 2026:** Three variance requests are scheduled: Application ZBOA-26-8, Ian Smith at 1292 Lorrell Ave SW, seeking reduced rear and side yard setbacks for a shed; Application ZBOA-26-10 at 700 N Main St, seeking relief to allow three additional building signs; and Application ZBOA-26-11, Bruce Conery at 212 Donner Ave NW, seeking reduced rear and side yard setbacks for a detached garage.

Note: All recent meetings listed above are marked "agenda only" in city records, with minutes not yet published. Outcomes, vote tallies, and any final dollar amounts may differ from what appears on the agendas.