Tallmadge Council Meeting: Cold Case Investigation, 2027 Budget Season, and Summer Infrastructure Updates

The Tallmadge City Council met for its regular session on June 11, 2026, to address pressing community concerns, financial reporting, and upcoming infrastructure plans. The legislative body, operating with four present members, moved forward with crucial municipal business, including updates on a historic local cold case, the official launch of the 2027 municipal budget forecasting cycle, and capital updates regarding parks and local infrastructure maintenance.

During the community input portion of the evening, a local resident urged the city to maintain focus on a 63-year-old cold case involving the abduction and murder of Ruth Guthrie. Mayor Carol Kilway and council members acknowledged the significance of the request, committing to coordinate directly with the Tallmadge Police Department and Police Chief Douglas T. Bohon to evaluate current investigative leads.

Comprehensive Financial and Administrative Updates

Launch of the 2027 Budget Season

Mayor Kilway officially announced that department heads have commenced preliminary meetings to construct fiscal forecasts for the 2027 budget season. This early-stage planning ensures that all city operations, public services, and capital improvement programs align with projected revenue streams before formal presentation to council later this year.

Income Tax Growth and Revenue Stability

Finance Director Mollie Gilbride presented the financial reports for the period ending May 31, 2026. The comprehensive reports encompass municipal transfers, appropriations, income tax comparisons, and the Maca Pool profit and loss summaries. Income tax collections continue to show consistent growth, aligning precisely with the administration’s initial budget expectations. Council voted 4-0 to formally adopt the financial records as submitted.

Upcoming Civic Schedules and Events

The administration highlighted several key dates and logistics for the community:

• Tallmadge Farmers Market: Open every Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Center through October 8, 2026.
• Juneteenth Holiday Observance: Tallmadge City Hall will be closed on Friday, June 19, 2026.
• Mayor’s After-Hours Meetings: Scheduled for the fourth Thursday of every month. The next opportunity for resident engagement is June 25, 2026, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:50 p.m.
• Circle Fest and Parade: Confirmed for August 8, 2026, featuring low-speed vehicles and decorated golf carts.

Public Service, Infrastructure, and Zoning Reports

Recreation Facilities and Seasonal Maintenance

Public Service Director Jasson Urey delivered a comprehensive operational report detailing heavy utilization of city assets:

• Thomas Center Membership: Currently boasts 7,884 active members, representing a 7% year-over-year increase, averaging 628 visitors daily.
• Maca Pool Operations: Opened on May 24, 2026, and maintains 236 active members, averaging 251 daily visitors despite uncooperative early-summer weather.
• Facility Improvements: The HVAC system at the main center was successfully repaired for summer operations. Technicians are awaiting a single heating unit component to finalize a secondary indoor space.

Planning, Zoning, and Code Enforcement

The Planning and Zoning Commission reported robust administrative activity through May. A structural modification was recommended and approved for a new church building located at 356 Eastwood Avenue. Additionally, a conditional use certificate was finalized for 771 Dunbar, and a compliance variance regarding signage was successfully resolved at 49 Midway.

Code enforcement cases experienced a seasonal spike, with 39 new property complaints registered in May—a 30% increase over April. The department successfully closed 19 active code violations and is actively managing 87 open complaints.

Utilities and Stormwater Management

The Streets and Utilities departments faced significant operational demands due to a severe storm system that brought heavy rainfall on June 10. Crews spent the morning clearing sediment and debris to prevent the obstruction of city manholes. In continuous infrastructure maintenance, teams completed 320 linear feet of sanitary sewer jetting and 315 linear feet of televised sewer inspections.

Additionally, director Urey noted that the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will close the State Route 91 bridge at the Munroe Falls border beginning June 22, 2026, with construction anticipated to extend through October 15, 2026. The official truck detour route will utilize Main Street, Bailey Road, and State Route 59.

Legislative Action and Committee Reports

Finance Committee: Ordinance 2026-53

Council unanimously passed Ordinance 2026-53 to amend public service code fees for residential sewer rates in Sewer District 3B. This legislative correction fixed a typographical error in a previous ordinance regarding the tier rate over 2,000 gallons. Officials confirmed that no residents were mischarged or financially impacted by the clerical error.

Personnel Committee: Scheduled Public Hearings

Councilman Jonathan Bollas introduced two pieces of legislation and scheduled subsequent public hearings:

• Ordinance 2026-52: Amending civil service rules for weighting educational degrees (associates, bachelors, and masters) during the police patrol officer hiring process. A public hearing is set for July 9, 2026, at 6:01 p.m.
• Ordinance 2026-55: Establishing the specific headcount of non-collective bargaining employees by department. A public hearing is set for July 9, 2026, at 6:02 p.m.

Public Service Committee: Ordinance 2026-54

Sponsored by Director Urey, this ordinance expresses the city’s intent to sell unneeded, obsolete, or unfit municipal vehicles and equipment. The legislation was given its first reading and left in committee to fulfill legal notification timelines before final passage.

The meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m. The next regular session of the Tallmadge City Council is scheduled for June 25, 2026.