Aurora City Council Roundup: School Funds, FEMA Buyouts, Road Levy and More

Destination Imagination Team Earns City RecognitionMayor Ann Womer Benjamin opened the April 27 meeting with a proclamation honoring Destination Imagination Team YAAASSS!!! from Layton Elementary School. The team competed in the improvisational category, Casting Shadows, and earned first place at the Northeast Ohio Regional Competition before finishing second out of 14 teams at the state tournament, qualifying for the 2026 Global Finals. The team’s record also includes first place at the 2025 Ohio State Tournament and a 16th-place finish at the 2025 Global Finals.Team members Isha Gupta, Pranav Rachakonda, Mila Silvers, Levi Yates, Hazel Zangaro and Desiree Dara, under the leadership of team manager Vikas Gupta, will represent Aurora and the State of Ohio at the 2026 Global Finals, scheduled for May 21 through 24.School Resource Officer Funding ApprovedCouncil adopted Ordinance 2026-064, authorizing payment of $297,334 to the Aurora Board of Education for its share of income tax collected from property tax abatements on commercial and industrial properties in 2025. The city offset $60,704 for the cost of providing School Resource Officers to the school district, resulting in a net payment of $236,630 drawn from the Capital Improvement Fund.The ordinance passed 7-0-1, with Councilman John Kudley abstaining. Kudley noted he is part-time employed by Aurora City Schools’ athletic department and that his daughter serves on the school board.Development and Road Legislation ApprovedCouncil approved two ordinances from the Planning Commission on third reading. Ordinance 2026-066 approved a revised development plan for Aurora Development RS, LLC, located on the northeast corner of State Route 43 and Treat Road in an M-1 Mixed-Use District. Ordinance 2026-067 amended Aurora’s codified ordinances to prohibit the use of concrete for new residential streets.Council also approved Ordinance 2026-078, renewing a farmland agricultural district application filed by Brian and Michelle Doskocil for property at 925 Centerville Trail.Audit Fees AuthorizedCouncil adopted Ordinance 2026-080, authorizing payment of up to $40,000 to the Ohio Auditor of State for fees associated with the city’s 2025 financial audit. The measure was declared an emergency to allow the audit to be completed in a timely manner.Wastewater Plant Equipment Purchase ApprovedCouncil adopted Ordinance 2026-081, authorizing a contract with Bearing Distributors, Inc. in the amount of $33,737.28, plus shipping costs not to exceed $1,000, for bearings and couplers needed for a recently purchased ditch drive at the Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant. The purchase was declared an emergency because the quote was set to expire April 30. Funding comes from the Sewer Capital Fund.Road and Bridge Levy Renewal Moves ForwardCouncil began the legislative process for Resolution 2026-082, which declares the need to renew an existing 0.9-mill tax levy for construction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads and bridges. Finance Director Tim Clymer told council the levy, which generates just over $600,000 annually, is part of a road and bridge budget that exceeds $2.5 million per year.The resolution advanced to a second reading at the April 27 meeting and was adopted at the May 11 meeting. Clymer explained that approval of the resolution authorizes the county auditor to certify current tax valuation figures, which will then be used in a subsequent measure to place the levy renewal on the November 2026 ballot.Meijer Water Easement ApprovedCouncil adopted Ordinance 2026-083, accepting an easement from Meijer Stores Limited Partnership to allow city access to water vaults and meters on the Meijer property in Bainbridge. Mayor Womer Benjamin clarified for those in attendance that while the Meijer store is located in Bainbridge rather than Aurora, the city provides water and sewer service to the property and collects income taxes from it through the city’s Joint Economic Development District agreement.2027 Tax Budget AdoptedCouncil adopted Ordinance 2026-084, approving the city’s tax budget for calendar year 2027 and authorizing its submission to the Portage County Auditor. Clymer emphasized the document is a routine submission to the County Budget Commission and does not reflect the city’s actual operating budget for next year.He highlighted one notable item: the final year of bond payments on debt issued in 2002 for a property acquisition. Due to refinancings and modest over-collections by the county, the city has accumulated enough in its bond repayment fund to cover the final payment of approximately $390,000 without levying additional property taxes on residents next year. A public hearing on the tax budget was held at the May 11 meeting, with no public comment received.PARTA Board Appointment ConfirmedCouncil confirmed the reappointment of Victor Baerman to the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority board of trustees for a term ending June 30, 2029, via Resolution 2