Village of Hiram
Hiram council is overhauling the village’s zoning code, and a public hearing about it will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7 at Village Hall at 7108 Wakefield Rd. The key aspects that will be discussed are parts of Phase 1, including adding a mixed-use zoning code to the books and village council’s proposal of changing from a college research district to an institutional district.
“We’re not designating any properties, but we’re adding it as an option,” Mayor Anne Haynam said. “Businesses interested in coming into town can apply for a mixed-use where there’s a residence. Mixed-use allows for certain kinds of businesses as well as residences to be in properties. For example, the first floor of a home could have an accounting office, and there could be a residence upstairs, or the whole building could be either a residence or a business. The code outlines what kinds of businesses can be in mixed-use.
“An institutional district is a zoned area connected with an educational institution. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a college. College ‘research’ is confusing as not all activities are connected to what is a mainstream concept of research. Thus, [the village is] modernizing language as well as clarifying for a broader educational use.”
Village council recently passed a system to modernize and conduct its parking tickets system electronically. This is in conjunction with the parking bureau that council passed earlier this year.
“It’s going to allow for electronic payments without having to come to Village Hall, and it’s going to improve our documentation system significantly,” Haynam said. “It’s a more efficient system, just all the way around a better experience for both us and those that might receive parking tickets.”
Chris Perme recently replaced Chris McCreight as a village council member. McCreight resigned because he is moving out of the village.
The village’s Trick-or-Treat will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.
Hiram Township
Six to seven miles of roads in Hiram Township were recently chip-and-sealed at a cost of $167,334.
“We do a third to a half of the township roads each year,” township Chair Jack Groselle said.
A grant from the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council is being used to change the township’s streetlights to LEDs.
Village of Mantua
The Portage County Water Resources Department (PCWRD) has completed its annual inventory of water-pipe material for every water service line in the Village of Mantua. The overall objective was to identify any potential lead exposure. The PCWRD has just mailed its annual notice of the findings to Mantua customers. Details about its findings and general information on lead contamination are contained in the notice along with contact information for anyone who has further questions.
The Mantua Village Police Department is currently hiring for full-time and part-time officers and dispatchers. Anyone interested in applying should go to mantuavillage.com, fill out the application and email it to [email protected]. You can also send the application by mail to Mantua Village Police Department, PO Box 775, Mantua, OH 44255, or you can drop the application off at the police department at 4650 High St.
At the Sept. 17 village council meeting, citizen Dawn King was administered the oath of office by Solicitor Bill Mason. King now occupies the council seat vacated by Chuck Peterson, who was absent for much of this past summer serving on a mission trip and wanted to extend his service on the mission. He resigned his council seat earlier this month.
The Portage County Health District will bring health nurses to the lodge at Buchert Memorial Park from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16. The park is located on East High Street. The nurses will give free flu shots (regular and high doses) and pneumonia shots.
The Portage County District Library Bookmobile will be at Buchert Memorial Park from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesdays for the foreseeable future. Your support is needed in order to keep Mantua on the regular weekly schedule. If you cannot make it Wednesdays, check out the Library Express near Mantua Corners (at Farmers Bank) for your convenience, too.
A lunch and presentation by Kelly Termaine of the Better Business Bureau about identity theft and fraud will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 at the lodge at Buchert Memorial Park.
The monthly Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce meeting will be held at the lodge at Buchert Memorial Park at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17. The topic will be age-friendly business. The public is invited.
The village’s annual Halloween bash will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 at Town Hall at 4650 W. High St. The event is put on by the Mantua Village Police Department.
A Treats and Trails Scavenger Hunt will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 on the green space on Main Street. The cost is $20 per team. For more information, go to arhs.us.
“Cider, Donuts and More” will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 on the green space on Main Street. Children can decorate pumpkins and enjoy complimentary donuts and cider. The event is sponsored by the Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Mantua Township
Mantua Township will hold a fall clean-up community day from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 for township residents only. It will be at 16211 Mantua Center Rd. Proof of residency is required (please bring your ID). Trash dumpsters are available (self-serve only). No tires, paint, hazardous materials, concrete, dirt, roofing material or garbage will be accepted. Refrigerators that have been evacuated and have a sticker will be accepted.
You must be able to offload your own materials. Township residents are welcome to use the waste facility containers provided on site that day only. There are no limits for disposable allowable refuse, and there is no cost to township residents.
The Mantua Community Roast will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8 at Mantua Corners Catering at 11845 state Route 44. The topic will be some of Mantua Township and the Village of Mantua’s leading citizens. It will be like an old-fashioned roast in which anybody will be able to stand up and tell funny stories about these people.
Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased at mantuarotaryclub.org.
The Sisters of St. Joseph Catholic Church will host their annual Christmas Boutique craft show from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10. The church is located at 11045 St. Joseph Blvd. The event is a 39-year tradition of handcrafted items, baked goods, raffles, door prizes and food (breakfast and lunch).
Garrettsville
Garrettsville Village Council is looking into installing one, or maybe two, tornado sirens to add to the one it already has.
“The village has grown,” Mayor Rick Patrick said, “and we feel there’s a need for another one or two to cover the rest of Garrettsville.”
There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 6 for the Tom Collins Trail, a walking trail in Bill Phelps Park. The trail is behind the ballfields. Tom Collins was a council member who passed away a couple years ago.
“That was always Tom’s vision,” Patrick said, “to put that trail in there.”
Construction of the new AutoZone at Sky Plaza on Windham Street has begun.
Trick-or-Treat will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.
Windham Township
A committee consisting of Windham Township residents Todd Phillips, who is on the board of zoning appeals; pastor Greg Coleman; Mandy Berardinelli; and Portage County Emergency Management Agency Director Ryan Shackelford recently dispersed more than $18,000 of donation money from the Portage County Disaster Relief Fund, which was sent to help residents whose homes suffered damage in the April tornado.
Windham Township used some of its American Rescue Plan Act grant money to have all the streetlights changed to LED at a cost of $4,000.
“There will be a reduction of the utility bill,” township Vice Chair Rich Gano said.
The chip-and-seal of Bryant Road has been completed.
Nelson
The Portage County District Library will bring its bookmobile to the Nelson Township Community House at 11642 Windham Parkman Rd. from 9:30 to 11 a.m. every other Wednesday for the foreseeable future.
A Swiss steak dinner fundraiser for the local boy scouts will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Nelson Township Community House at 11642 Windham Parkman Rd. Cost is $15 for adults. Children under 5 will be admitted free.
Freedom
Freedom’s annual Fall Festival was held Sept. 28 at Town Hall. The event included food, a car show, crafts and vendors, and singers and dancers. The Portage County Sheriff’s Office brought its K-9s.
