Mansfield City Council expected to vote on nearly $5k in damage claims Wednesday

MANSFIELD — City Council on Wednesday evening is expected to vote on nearly $5,000 in various damage claims made by five citizens.

Local lawmakers will meet one day later than normal due to Tuesday’s Election Day.

All five of the claims were recommended for approval by council’s claims committee in April, a three-member panel comprised of Rev. El Akuchie (3rd Ward), Shari Robertson (At-large) and Cynthia Daley (4th Ward).

Payments would go to:

— Sheryl Ogden, 300 Westgate Drive; $1,885, for “damages to her basement due to the main line being flushed on or about Nov. 13 and Dec. 30, 2024.”

— James Matthes, 747 Glenview Drive in Howard, Ohio; $129 for “damages to his tire after hitting a construction area around the intersection of Wood Street and Cline Avenue on or about Dec. 25, 2024.”

— Christie Shaffer, 633 Woodhill Road; $749.60 for “damages to her basement from a water main break up and clean up (around) Feb. 7.”

— Jeff Wright, 3684 Anderson Road, Bellville; $1,028.93 for “damages to his vehicle after hitting a construction area around the intersection of Wood Street and Cline Avenue or or about Jan. 31.”

— Kelly Brock, 57 Broadway St., Shelby; $1,200 for “damages to her vehicle on Trimble Road (after) hitting a pothole on or about Feb. 9.”

Also scheduled Wednesday, council is scheduled to:

— give the first read to a proposal from Mayor Jodie Perry that Mansfield adopt the International Property Maintenance Code. The code is a set of regulations developed to establish minimum standards for the maintenance of existing residential and also commercial buildings.

During a zoning committee meeting in April, Adrian Ackerman, the city’s community development and housing director, recommended adopting the IPMC.

“We severely need some updates to our maintenance code,” she said, adding the bulk of the existing ordinances were created in the 1970s.

“In my opinion, this is a step in the right direction. It may not be everything we need long-term, but it gives us some more provisions to try and assist with some of the preservation of our housing stock and prevent deterioration,” she said.

The proposal is scheduled for three reads with a vote planned for June 3.

— discuss in caucus appropriating $57,292 from the unappropriated parks and recreation fund. According to the legislation, $40,000 would go to contractual services and $17,292 to supplies and materials. A vote on the request is schedule June 17, according to the legislation.

— discuss during caucus an $18,487.40 “then-and-now” payment to Pacific Impressions. The city parks office contracted with the company in 2024 to assist with Christmas lights in downtown Mansfield before submitted a purchase order to the finance department. A vote on the request is scheduled May 20, according to the legislation.

— vote on $7,536.59 “then and now” payment to the Richland County Land Bank. The city’s permitting and development office contracted with the Land Bank to assist with environmental testing at 473 Sherman Ave. before submitting a purchase order to the finance department.

— vote on a proposal to enter into a contract with Stryker Medical of Chicago to purchase and trade in EMS equipment for the Mansfield Fire Department. The proposal is scheduled to be discussed during a safety committee meeting at 6:50 p.m.

— vote on the appointment of a new member to the city’s Police Review Commission — Sheila Kisor (4th Ward) — and reappoint Jack Soliday (At-Large). Kisor’s appointment would end Dec. 31 and Soliday’s at the end of 2026.

The safety committee meeting at 6:50 p.m. is expected to begin Wednesday’s meeting.

City Council caucus is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. with the legislative session following immediately thereafter.

Local lawmakers continue to meet in Mansfield Municipal Courtroom 1, while council chambers is being renovated. Residents planning to attend should park in the upper lot off Park Avenue and enter through the Park Avenue entrance.