Aurora Council OKs Fire Engine Fix, K9 Sale and Overturns Roof Denial

Aurora City Council met for its Committee of the Whole and regular session on August 17, with Council President George Horvat presiding over a packed agenda that ranged from a nearly $40,000 fire engine repair to the sale of a police dog to his handler. Council members Brad Duguay, Dennis Kovach, Reva Barner, Sarah Grdina Gilmore, John Seitz, John Kudley Jr., Ralph Ware and Scott Wolf were all present. Finance Director Reports Clean Audit, Strong Revenue Finance Director Tim Clymer opened the meeting with good news for the city's books. Revenues are running almost 15 percent ahead of pace for the year, while expenses sit about 4 percent below pace. The city also passed its 2025 audit with a clean opinion, a notable result since the Ohio Auditor of State's office conducted the review this year instead of the independent firm the city has used in the past. Clymer said state auditors tend to be more thorough than the outside firm the city previously used. Auditors flagged a handful of minor items, including a need for better service on air conditioning in one of the city's server rooms, but nothing serious enough to appear in the written report. Clymer thanked his finance team, including Jenny, Leah, Marcy and Hallie, for their work through the transition. Council Confirms a Slate of Employee Promotions Karen Pope, director of personnel and chief of staff, brought a group of personnel actions to council for approval. Josh Famageltto moves from service tech into the Parks Coordinator role, and Thomas Alleshouse also moves into a Parks and Recreation position. Curtis Biltz is promoted to Service Tech I in the Service Department, while Nicholas Eagle and Brian McCoy take Service Tech I roles in Wastewater and Griffin Pritchard and Zane Veon take Service Tech I roles in Water and Parks and Recreation, respectively. Two part time EMTs, Steven Snyder and Keaton Thieding, recently passed the Ohio Paramedic certification exam and will move into firefighter paramedic roles while remaining part time employees. Council approved forwarding the promotions without discussion. Consent Calendar: Council Accepts Youth Soccer Goal Donation On the consent calendar, council gave second reading approval to an ordinance accepting a donation of four 8 foot by 21 foot Kwikgoal soccer goals from Next Play Soccer, valued at $13,220. Council Approves Nearly $40,000 Fire Engine Repair The most detailed discussion of the night centered on a proposal from F&S Automotive to repair rust damage to the frame of Aurora's 1999 reserve fire engine, at a cost of $39,468.65 from the general fund. Fire Chief Matthew McBirney explained that the repair request grew out of an unrelated problem. After the department put its retired 2024 model year engine up for auction, the buyer returned it days later, complaining that the frame was severely rusted despite having passed inspection. That discovery prompted the department to take a closer look at other vehicles inspected by the same vendor, including the 1999 engine, which had also been rated satisfactory. A follow up assessment found major frame damage hidden beneath an aluminum body that still looked sound. McBirney said the department wants the engine to remain in service through roughly 2033, when the next new engine purchase is expected. F&S Automotive was the only one of three shops that submitted an estimate. The other two did not respond for more than two months. McBirney said F&S has served the city for more than 30 years and that its estimate, while formatted like an invoice, was in fact a proposal that has not yet been paid. Council members pressed McBirney on the timeline and the emergency clause attached to the funding request. He said the truck is unsafe for regular road use because a pothole or other stress could cause parts of the suspension to separate, though it can still be driven short distances between the station and the repair shop. Council Member Sarah Grdina Gilmore praised the documentation the fire department provided, saying it answered her questions even though she was initially startled by the price tag for a 1999 truck. The rules suspension needed to fast track the ordinance passed 8 to 1, with Duguay opposed. The ordinance itself, Ordinance 130 of 2026, passed unanimously after Council Member Ralph Ware said he rarely supports suspending the rules but found the emergency justification compelling in this case. Council Moves to Collect Unpaid Water, Sewer and Lawn Bills Council also approved the city's annual submission of unpaid water and sewer bills, as well as unpaid lawn maintenance invoices, to the Portage County Auditor for collection through property tax assessments. Clymer said the city has limited leverage against repeat nonpayers, since many of the accounts involved are sewer only customers who cannot simply be shut off. Council members noted that some of the same names appear on the lists year after year, including one property whos