Tallmadge council adopts ordinances for equipment leases, vehicle sales and a property purchase

Tallmadge City Council on Feb. 27 approved five ordinances that the administration said were already included in the 2025 budget. The measures passed by voice roll call votes of 7-0.

The ordinances authorize the sale of surplus vehicles and equipment, lease-purchase financing for a leaf collector and a berm mower, the purchase and upfitting of a police cruiser using cooperative purchasing, and the city's purchase of 28 Southwest Avenue from private owners.

Council leaders said the equipment purchases and lease arrangements were budgeted items and routine. The ordinance authorizing the sale of unneeded or obsolete vehicles will allow the city to use the online auction service GovDeals to dispose of the items.

Votes at a glance: 1) Ord. 2025-33 (sale of unneeded/obsolete vehicles and equipment) — approved 7-0. 2) Ord. 2025-34 (lease-purchase: leaf collector) — approved 7-0. 3) Ord. 2025-35 (lease-purchase: berm mower) — approved 7-0. 4) Ord. 2025-36 (purchase and upfit of police cruiser, partially grant-funded) — approved 7-0. 5) Ord. 2025-37 (purchase of 28 Southwest Avenue; appropriation) — approved 7-0.

Mayor Kilway and department directors said the purchases are part of routine fleet and capital renewal. Finance staff said the police cruiser purchase was made possible in part by a grant that allowed the city to add an extra cruiser to this year's fleet plan. Council members did not request additional hearings on the ordinances and recorded unanimous roll-call approvals.

The ordinance to purchase 28 Southwest Avenue places the property in the city's name to add to adjacent city-owned parcels, the mayor said, and officials characterized the acquisition as a strategic asset for future economic development.