Almost $2 million in funding awarded by Medina County Drug Advisory Committee

MEDINA — The Medina County Drug Advisory Committee has funded seven law enforcement agencies in the county with $1.9 million for 2021. The Medina County Drug Task Force was awarded the largest grant with $910,000, which funds its operation for the year. The Medina Police Department received $259,321 and will use that for three school resource officers. Police Chief Ed Kinney previously said one school resource officer will be at the high school and one at each of the middle schools at A.I. Root and Claggett. The department already has two school resource officers and will hire a third. The new officer also will teach D.A.R.E. in Medina Schools, as well as ALICE training. Montville Township police received $67,391, which will fund one school resource officer and D.A.R.E. instructor at all seven Medina Schools' elementary schools (two in Montville and five in the city). Dave Pinkas has been in that position for the last 15 years. Additionally, he is the school resource officer at both buildings of the Medina Christian Academy, and teaches driving-related health classes for two weeks a year at Medina High School. The Medina County Sheriff's Office was awarded $253,066 for four resource officers. Sheriff Terry Grice said there are school resource officers at Highland, Buckeye, Cloverleaf and the Medina County Career Center. Brunswick police was awarded $194,592, which will fund two full-time school resource officers and a team of support officers. Brunswick Schools will get a third full-time officer with Brunswick Hills Police Department's $51,494.81 grant. Brunswick has one school resource officer at the elementary schools, middle school and high school. Wadsworth police received $164,135 for two school resource officers. Black River's school resource/D.A.R.E. officer is paid through the Ashland County Sheriff's Office. In other news After Gov. Mike DeWine's relaxing of his COVID-19 mandates for vaccinated Ohioans, the Medina County commissioners said they will open up the administration building June 1. They will also allow visitors to their weekly meetings starting with June 8."It makes no sense to wait much longer," Commissioner Steve Hambley said.If people haven't been fully vaccinated, they are requested to wear masks. If they have, they can discard them if they wish in the administration building after June 1. One thing the commissioners don't want to become is "mask police.""We're not in the practice of policing people," Commissioner Bill Hutson said. The county accepted the guaranteed maximum price of $2.1 million from Gilbane Construction Co., construction manager at risk, for the first phase of the Medina County Courthouse project.County Administrator Scott Miller said the first phase will entail fencing, a ramp and preparation for a staging area, among other things.The entire cost of the project remains around $30 million."I'm happy to see it moving along and shovels going in," Hutson said.The county will likely offer a lease to the city of Medina for $1 to move its municipal court into the 1969 courthouse. Miller said he'll soon open talks with the city on what its expectations are, including possible use of the old municipal court building.Hutson wants to pass a resolution to start negotiations with the city.Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell wants to work directly with architect Brandstetter Carroll Inc. instead of going through the county. He'll bring that proposal to the city's Finance Committee on Monday, May 24.The county has asked to see any final drafts. Miller has been given a raise to $62.50 per hour. His annual salary will jump from $119,080 to $130,000. According to the monthly report from Chief Building Official Richard Nelson, the average construction costs for new homes in April was $386,749. The year-to-date average for new homes is $430,296.There were 41 new dwellings in April, up from April 2020's 31 new homes.There were 365 total receipts in April worth $114,130. That was greater than April 2020's 274 total receipts worth $81,920. That was an increase of 39 percent.Lafayette Township's seven residential permits for new homes in April was tops in the county. Year to date, York Township leads with 19 new homes.In regard to commercial new construction, the largest project in April is in Hinckley Township with a truck queue and guard house for Aldi's worth $300,000. Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 or rfinnan@medina-gazette.com.