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Council approves all but one union contract for 2021

At the February 2 City Council meeting, the North Royalton City Council approved all of the City’s union contracts for 2021, except for the Firefighter’s Union. All of the City’s union contracts expired on December 31, 2020. In addition, Council also approved ordinances following suit, for the following: Police and Fire Chiefs, Police Captain, Assistant Fire Chief, Police Lieutenant and any non-union full time city employee. At the time of this writing, the City is still in the process of negotiating with the Firefighter’s Union. The unions represented in the city include the Frate ....

Feb 9, 2021

Residents invited to Memorial Park Open House

The City of North Royalton is inviting residents to view boards that show potential improvements to Memorial Park. The Open House will take place on Monday, February 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. in City Hall’s Community Room. COVID restrictions will be in place. City administrators are looking for the opinions of residents regarding the proposed options. The North Royalton Recreation Board recently received a Summary of Preliminary Improvement Options for the upgrading of Memorial Park by Cleveland-based Behnke Landscape Architecture.  The price tag for what is initially proposed is between ....

Feb 9, 2021

COVID may potentially change your local taxes

Before submitting the 2020 tax year returns for local taxes, there are important changes that may possibly affect those residents who work outside the city. The Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) recently announced changes, which relate to COVID-19. The change involves those North Royalton residents who work outside the city. Last year, when COVID-19 began, many employees started working from home. Those employees may be able to request a refund on the taxes withheld from the city where their employer is located. This scenario is the result of a pending lawsuit, filed by the Buckeye Insti ....

Feb 9, 2021

Unlock your family history with the Historical Society

Everyone has a family history, and the North Royalton Historical Society wants to help residents discover theirs. The North Royalton Historical Society will be making family history forms available so residents can document their lineage and have a record of their past. The forms will be basic in nature, says Treasurer Georgia Viehbeck, and will serve as a starting point for residents to do their own family history research. Forms will list preliminary information including full names of spouses/birth parents, birth dates and places, marriage dates and locations, names of children/stepchildre ....

Jan 12, 2021

School Board News

The December meeting of the North Royalton Board of Education took place on Monday, December 14. The Board set January 11, 2021 at 7 p.m., as the time for the Organizational Meeting. The 2021 Tax Budget Hearing will be part of the regular January 11 meeting at 7 p.m. The Board authorized the treasurer to request advances on 2021 tax settlements. The Board appointed Dr. John Kelly as President Pro Tempore for the January 7 Board of Education special meeting work session and the January 11 meeting. The Board approved the following 2019-20 appropriation adjustments: - 467 Student Wellness an ....

Jan 12, 2021

Food Pantry thanks the community for unwavering support

Needless to say, 2020 was an extremely busy year for the North Royalton Food Pantry. While many people in our city may have been aware of the Food Pantry, it was the first time that they may have needed to ask for help because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “When the pandemic hit, we went from adding five new clients a month to five-to-seven clients a week,” said Terry Close, Mission and Ministry Manager at Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, where the North Royalton Food Panty is located. “At the start of 2020, we routinely served 100 clients a month. Now we serve between 190 and 200 clients ....

Jan 12, 2021

City chooses new engineering firm

The North Royalton City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance that would replace the firm that the city has been dealing with for many years that provided the City Engineer and Assistant City Engineer. The ordinance replaces Richard L. Bowen and Associates, City Engineer Mark Schmitzer and Assistant Engineer Dan Collins, with CT Consultants, Incorporated, as consulting engineer, providing engineering services to the city, and approving the appointment of Justin Haselton, P.E. as City Engineer. Bowen has served the city since 2008. “It has been a pleasure serving the City of North Royal ....

Jan 12, 2021

Research on jail feasibility continues

Although it’s been months since the initial announcement of the closing of the North Royalton Jail and the turn around that came later, research on the jail feasibility continues. A brief update was presented to City Council at a recent Finance Committee meeting. Last July, Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz formed the special fact-finding commission to study the workings of the jail and provide the information to City Council. He nominated Matt Stuczynski, a Municipal Advisor who has provided the city with financial information for many years. He also appointed Chris May, Anthony Rohloff, Ward 2 ....

Jan 12, 2021

School Superintendent Gurka announces retirement

North Royalton School District Superintendent Greg Gurka announced his retirement effective June 1, 2021. At the December 14 North Royalton Board of Education meeting, Gurka announced his resignation. In an emotional statement, he said “I had a wonderful experience in my time with the district, beginning in 2002 as Principal of Albion Elementary School. My role in the district has changed a few times from Principal to Director of Personnel in 2006, and finally to School Superintendent in July, 2013. Through all my 19 years in the District, I have found that this is a special place bec ....

Jan 12, 2021

Winter Breaks offer options for making great memories

This is our last issue of 2020 and like most of you, I am shouting “Hallelujah!” as I leave this year in the rearview mirror without a second glance. Though we’re all more than ready for a new year, let’s make sure we end this one on a high note. Winter Break starts next week for school families. The days between Christmas and New Year can be a great time to recharge with your loved ones with some simple yet memorable activities. Here are some easy ideas to get you started. Hot Cocoa Bar - Clear off the kitchen counter and make a hot cocoa bar that lets the kids concoct their own sp ....

Dec 15, 2020