Stow Greenlights Public Arts Master Plan, Firefighter Hires and New Staff Appointments

Arts Take Center Stage in Stow

The centerpiece of the June 18 committee meeting was the unveiling of Stow's first Public Arts Master Plan, developed in partnership with Sabertooth Public Art, a women-owned creative placemaking firm based in Akron.

Sabertooth co-founders Marissa McClellan and Elisa Gargarella presented more than a year's worth of research, community surveys, focus groups and site assessments to the council. The plan is a guiding document for how the city invests in and manages public art going forward. It does not change any existing zoning codes or regulations.

The team identified four core themes that emerged from community input: community pride, local history, arts and culture, and nature and environment. Those themes will shape the content of future public art projects across the city.

A Toolkit Built for Action

Beyond the master plan itself, Sabertooth delivered a comprehensive public art toolkit covering planning, implementation, evaluation and maintenance. The toolkit includes a workflow with 23 steps for moving a project from concept to completion, a fair pay practice guide based on a survey of approximately 15 Northeast Ohio public artists, and a site assessment catalog with photos and ratings for potential art locations across Stow.

Site ratings range from one star (needs significant work before art can be placed) to three stars (ready for art immediately). The catalog also identifies potential art clusters in different parts of the city to build critical mass in targeted areas.

Among the most practical additions is an artist pay guide built from direct feedback from working public artists. The guide addresses project tiers, budget line-item breakdowns, fair compensation standards and contract basics including payment schedules and copyright ownership.

Five-Year Implementation Roadmap

The plan outlines a phased approach to growing Stow's public art program. Year one focuses on adopting the plan, launching pilot projects and building administrative systems like an artist registry. Years two through five envision expanding permanent installations, developing art clusters, securing signature projects and eventually integrating public art into the city's broader capital planning.

Sabertooth also identified a site near the Stow Amphitheater as the location for a case study mural project that will serve as a practical model for working through the plan's processes.

The plan was funded through an Arts Forward grant from Arts Now, the county's arts advocacy organization. Council moved Resolution 2026-114 onto the evening's full council agenda.

Community Energy Legislation Advances

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Lower Electric Bills

Council also considered a resolution calling on the Ohio General Assembly and governor to pass legislation creating a community energy pilot program. The measure is supported by cities across Ohio, and Monroe Falls recently passed an identical resolution unanimously.

A resident representing a coalition of supporters explained how community solar, one form of community energy, works. Residents who cannot install rooftop solar, such as apartment dwellers or those with heavy tree canopy, could subscribe to a solar project at a nearby church, business or municipality. Participants receive a credit on their Ohio Edison bill, while the host organization receives subscription revenue to help offset project costs.

The program operates in 24 states and has been shown to reduce utility bills by 5 to 20%. Supporters noted that electricity costs in Stow have climbed sharply, with the generation portion of residents' bills up 83% since 2025 and delivery costs up 63% this year alone.

The legislation passed the Ohio House with broad bipartisan support and is currently before the Senate Energy Committee. The resolution, numbered 2026-11, was moved onto the council agenda.

Indigent Burial Rules Updated

State Law Requires Changes to City Policy

The law department presented proposed updates to Stow's indigent burial ordinance, driven by a need to come into compliance with state law and recent court decisions.

Under the previous code, the city limited payments to funeral homes handling indigent remains to $800. That cap is no longer permissible under Ohio law. Going forward, the city must pay the full cost charged by funeral homes, or enter into contracts with them. The city intends to pursue those contracts.

The state reimburses municipalities for indigent burials through a fund capped at $250,000 statewide. That fund was exhausted five months into the current fiscal year, meaning significant reimbursements are unlikely.

To manage costs, the city will move toward cremation as its default method of disposition. If family members prefer a different arrangement, they may pay for it themselves. The city also noted that if it pays for cremation, it retains discretion over the remains if families do not make arrangements for pickup.

The city handles approximately 10 indigent burials per year. Council moved Ordinance 2026-113 onto the evening's agenda.

Fire Department Hires Approved

Retirements Prompt Immediate Action

Fire Chief Mark Stone informed council the department is facing a wave of retirements, including two already confirmed and additional separations anticipated on the horizon. One firefighter retired in May, and another is set to retire July 6. Both were hired as part of a levy-funded class from 2000.

Council approved the hiring of three firefighters, combining candidates from an existing eligibility list with a new entrance exam process. Chief Stone noted he would likely return with additional hiring requests as more retirements materialize.

Two New City Staff Members Appointed

Following an executive session, council moved to approve two staff appointments. Brianna Lemley was nominated as the city's AMP coordinator, overseeing work connected to the Stow Amphitheater project. Jessica Simmons was nominated as parks and recreation director, filling a position left open after longtime director Linda Nahrstedt retired in May after more than four decades with the city.

Both appointments were moved onto the full council agenda as ordinances 2026-115 and 2026-116.

All-America City Presentation Set

Stow Competes in Denver This Month

Law Director Drew Reilly also noted that Stow is one of 20 finalists nationwide for the 2026 All-America City Award, presented by the National Civic League. The city's presentation to the award jury is scheduled for Sunday, June 28, at 12:50 p.m. Eastern time via livestream on the National Civic League's website. The award announcement follows that evening at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Reilly also highlighted two recent community service initiatives from the law department. The annual Wills for Heroes event, co-hosted with the Akron Bar Association and Community Legal Aid, provided 34 estate packages to first responders, healthcare workers, nursing home workers and veterans in May. He also co-presented a legal education program at the Stow Senior Center using popular TV shows and movies to explain real legal concepts, with plans to repeat the program next quarter.

Mayor's Report: July Events and More

Mayor John Pribonic previewed several upcoming city events. A public reading of the Declaration of Independence is planned for July 8 at 6 p.m. on the green at City Hall, as part of a nationwide reading event. The fire department's ladder truck and color guard will participate, and two residents will be selected by random drawing to take part in the reading.

The Joshua Stow Fest community event was scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21. The city is also collecting new and gently used clothing at City Hall and through local businesses during Celebrate Stow Week and the week of the Fourth of July, with donations going to students in the Stow-Munroe Falls school district.

A ribbon cutting for a new food waste drop-off shed in the parking lot near Skip Playground is set for 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 23. The program is among the first of its kind in Ohio and stems from the work of the city's environmental commission.

The mayor also extended congratulations to Bev Hurst of the service department, who is retiring after many years with the city.

Residents Speak on Zoning Density

During the public comment period, two residents addressed council regarding a proposed change to the city's zoning code that would allow unlimited multifamily dwelling units per acre. Both expressed opposition to the proposal and raised concerns about the potential impact on traffic, property values, city services and the overall character of Stow. No council action on the zoning proposal was taken at this meeting.