Atwater / Brimfield / Local government / Mogadore / Suffield
County roundup: Updates from work in Brimfield, plus news from Atwater, Mogadore and Suffield
- Roger Gordon
Atwater
State Representative Heidi Workman will speak at the next Atwater Township Trustees meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Atwater Town Hall at 1219 State Route 183. Workman will be speaking on current issues facing Atwater residents.
Atwater resident Hal Lehman was recently hired by the Atwater Fire Department as a member of the fire duty crew. He holds certifications as a Firefighter II, 240 Medic and Fire Safety Inspector.
New “Welcome to Atwater” signs were constructed and installed on state Route 183 in the township by Eagle Scout candidate Jacob Simonetti. Boxed and Branded, owned by Joseph Simonetti, Jacob’s brother, donated landscape timbers used for the project.
The new ramp to the Atwater Historical House is currently being built to provide easier access.
Upcoming meetings/events:
*Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Atwater Trustees meeting (Rep. Workman speaking), 7 p.m., Atwater Town Hall at 1219 State Route 183
*Wednesday, Oct. 1 – Atwater Zoning Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m., Atwater Town Hall
*Sunday, Oct. 5 – Atwater Fire Department Pancake Breakfast, 8 a.m. to noon at the station at 6570 Waterloo Rd.
*Tuesday, Oct. 14 – Atwater Trustees meeting, 7 p.m., Atwater Town Hall
*Thursday, Oct. 23 – Atwater Trustees meeting, 7 p.m., Atwater Town Hall
*Sunday, Oct. 26 – Atwater Township Trick-or-Treat, 2 to 4 p.m.
Mogadore
Fire Chief John Cain will retire Dec. 28 after 44 years of service for the Mogadore Fire Department, the last 13 as chief. Village council passed legislation to promote Seth Dowler, currently the assistant chief, to replace Cain beginning Dec. 28.
The Village of Mogadore’s 2025 Fall Limb and Branch Pickup will be from Monday, Oct. 6 through Friday, Oct. 10. Please place all limbs/branches on the curb and not in the street. Don’t place your limbs/branches on the curb until after Wed., Oct. 1. The service department will not pick up limbs larger than four inches in diameter. No root bulbs or entire bushes.
The Mogadore Historical Society will sponsor its first Soup and Sandwich Luncheon of the fall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8 at the Russ Pry Community Center. There will be soups, sandwiches, pies and cookies that will be available for dine-in or carry-out. The costs are $4 for soups, $5 for sandwiches and $1 for desserts.
Suffield
The Suffield Township Fire Department’s annual Open House will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. Fire truck rides will be offered, and the Duma Ranch Burger Dispatch truck will be there.
Suffield’s Trick-or-Treat will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26.
Brimfield
The Oakwood Estates housing development on Ranfield Road recently sold after it could not get approvals needed. The neighboring property owner purchased the property, and zoning is declaring it agricultural to extend his farm.
The property at 4618 State Route 43 was ordered by Judge Laurie J. Pittman to clean up scrap metal, junk and debris by Jan. 1, 2025. The owner is still working on it. The prosecutor’s office was notified of the status.
The proposed Fairfield Inn by Marriott was granted variances on the temporary fence it installed. The Fairfield obtained building permits and is working on the new fire alarm system and redesigning the sprinkler system.
There will be two new occupants for Brimfield Plaza: Wing Warehouse and Hallmark Ornaments, both of which will be renovating. The plaza parking lot is now complete.
The Portage County Engineer and PARTA continue working on a plan to connect International Drive to Mogadore Road.
The Dollar General building is now complete, and products will be moved in soon.
Wohlwend Engineering crews are continuing construction on its second building and are starting the third and fourth buildings on Mogadore Road. Metro Net (10-15 employees) is the tenant for the first new building. Outdoor storage is placed in Tallmadge. A TIF is currently being worked on for this project.
The Villas at Wyles Farm Apartment Homes on Town Square Drive continues site work and constructing apartments. Several tenants have moved into the apartments that are completed. The county engineer has approved the public roadway improvements from the TIF.
Kenda Tire construction is now complete. A ribbon-cutting date is TBD.
Ryan Homes continues to construct townhomes/condos at the Woodland Reserve Condominium Development at 5036 State Route 43. Ryan is working on different models to bring the price down. The model is open for anyone to see. Also, a TIF is currently being worked on to run water down state Route 43.
Pleasant Lakes of Ohio has been granted approval to continue with condominium development on Sanctuary Drive. The roadway is now in, and several condos are under construction. Also, this developer will start building behind the Holiday Inn. A zoning map amendment was approved at this location.
Items at 1203 Doralee Dr. will be auctioned by the road department once titles are received. Work is being done on obtaining the titles on the boat, motor and car from the court.
The VA Cancer Imaging & Infusion Center construction is nearing completion. Ribbon cutting is to follow.
Celebration Church purchased the property at 4494 State Route 43. Renovations will be starting soon. The Cleveland Clinic will continue renting the space.
The contractor continues to work on the structure and site work for Joe’s BBQ.
A new retail plaza is being constructed at Brimfield Crossing Drive across from McDonald’s. Construction has started on site work and the structure.
Construction continues on the new addition for The Hill Church at 3580 State Route 43.
Construction on the building and site continues for Discount Drug Mart. Plans for revisions to Falcon Drive are being discussed with Mike Collins (county engineer’s office), Dave Rufener (Brimfield Road Superintendent) and Brian Munger (Field Local Schools).
The old Rico’s Bar is being transformed into a restaurant/bar owned by KWT Commercial Real Estate LLC.
Hickory Hills Subdivision continues selling homes for this development. Phase two is now underway. Grading and site work has started.
Brimfield Commons site work is complete, and several potential businesses in this area are being worked on.
The TIF was completed with PrideOne to help build the Town Center Master Plan. Also, Wohlwend Engineering has developed a conceptual drawing for sidewalk and lighting areas as requested by the zoning commission, which continues to work on lighting plans. Several TIFs are being worked on to construct the sidewalks and lighting.
Construction on site work, underground plumbing and utilities has begun on The Village of Saint Edward senior living facility.
Zoning violation letters continue to be sent out, and there are several court cases with the prosecutor’s office.
Trustee approval is needed to appoint Anthony Ramos, Jr., as a board of zoning appeals alternate.
Twenty-two new homes have been permitted this year so far.
Permit fees as of Aug. 27 cost $48,117.85.
The Brimfield Township TIRC Board met March 31.
Upcoming meetings:
*Board of Zoning Appeals – 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17
*AMATS Policy Committee – 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25
*Portage Development Board – 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23
*Kent JEDD – 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29
*Portage County Stormwater Task Force – 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18
*Tallmadge JEDD – December (date TBD)
Roger Gordon