Meadowbrook Lake Improvements, Additional Recreational Opportunities Proposed
Residents Voice Dismay Over Council Flag Vote and other Feb. 22 Council News
Input from Stow residents and evaluation from a Columbus civil engineering firm may lead to improvements at Meadowbrook Lake that could increase recreational opportunities while also improving stormwater management.
Consultants from Columbus civil engineering firm EMH&T gave a presentation at City Council's Feb. 22 meeting regarding the outcome of their evaluation of the lake and its dam as well as the input received from residents who attended a “Pop-up in the Park” event on July 25, 2023.
The impetus for the engineering firm’s review was to comply with a request by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for a study on the dam’s capacity during a severe rain event. The hydrologic study determined that the dam on the Hudson Drive side of the lake does not meet current standards to handle the runoff from a severe storm event of up to 12 inches within 24 hours – putting nearby neighborhoods at risk for flooding.
The outcome of the consultants’ review and residents’ input was a proposal for a number of improvements:
Structural improvements to the dam, which would cost an estimated $2.2 million; shoreline stabilization around the lake; and dredging the lake to remove built-up sediment.
Improved park entrances via Darrow Road, Meadowbrook Blvd. and Mac Drive.
New playground equipment at Meadowbrook Lake Park – a recommendation the city has already acted on and for which there will be ribbon-cutting on Saturday, April 20.
Increased amenities such as restrooms, covered piers, porch swings, a gazebo, nature trails, a pedestrian bridge to Goose Island; and increased facilities to provide access for water sports like kayaking, canoes, paddle boards and fishing.
According to Assistant City Engineer Mike Jones, the city’s first priorities would be to make the improvements to the dam embankment and implement the dredging recommendations, although the city has not yet finalized a plan, timeline or bidding process.
Meadowbrook Lake is a 19-acre lake with a 4.5 acre park along Hudson Drive, just South of Seasons Rd. The lake is nestled between Hudson and Darrow Rd. and Meadowbrook and Mac Drive. Much of the lake front property is privately owned by homeowners along the lake.
OTHER NEWS FROM FEB. 22 COUNCIL MEETING
Residents Question Council Members’ Motives on Flag Vote
Stow City Council members who voted against creating a flag commission to address design-related concerns presented by a Stow-Munroe Falls High School student had one last chance on Feb. 22 to revisit their decision or to explain it.
They chose not to. After hearing from residents who attended the Council of the Whole meeting to express their support for the flag commission, neither of the two council members in attendance – Council At-Large Jeremy McIntire and Ward 4 Councilman Mario Fiocca -- opted to make a motion to revisit the issue.
Six residents, including four high school students, spoke during the public comment period of the Feb. 22 Council of the Whole meeting, expressing their dismay that three council members who had previously voiced unqualified support for the creation of the flag commission reversed their position and voted down the proposal on Feb. 8. See story about that meeting.
Andrew Brantsch, the high school junior who made the original presentation on April 12, 2023, to City Council on reasons why the city flag should be updated, said he emailed the three council members who reversed course to find out why they had voted against the proposal. He said the council member representing his ward (Ward 1 Councilman Matt Riehl) never responded to his email. Riehl also did not attend the Feb. 22 council meeting.
Brantsch said he received a response from one council member, who said that when they went back and looked at the presentation, they didn’t have a problem with the current flag, which was why they voted against it.
Brantsch argued that the response he received was unacceptable because the council member was making a decision using his own subjective opinion rather than making a decision based on facts and the input of Stow residents. He said that his own motive in recommending changes to the flag was based on objective criteria from experts in flag design, the North American Vexillological Association’s Five Principles for Flag Design, and not on a subjective dislike for the city flag.
“When you say something is not a priority, it shows that you aren’t willing to put forth the effort for something that does in fact bring about a positive impact. When we get the community involved, that’s when we see good change,” he said.
Another high school student, Jacob Licate, added: “As a young person, to see people in government go back on their word, it’s just disappointing to me and it makes me feel like the government doesn’t have my back.”
Bob Brantsch, the father of Andrew and a member of the city’s Urban Forestry Commission, cited several prior examples where members of city council ignored the recommendations of the administration, city commissions or residents to push their own agenda.
He described council last year pushing through a charter amendment that requires the city’s all-volunteer commissions to videotape their meetings. “In this case, some members of council pushed their agenda and ignored the mayor, ignored the law department and ignored 54 volunteers from 9 commissions. This seems to be happening again. And this doesn’t seem to be about a flag,” he said.
He pointed out that the City of Kent had just recently successfully updated its flag through community input that included a commission, 68 flag submissions, 30 community members and then community input on three final designs.
“So, I ask our council members that voted against this, could you focus a little bit more on people you serve, maybe less on your own political careers. Avoid your personal agendas. Can our council members that represent us be more supportive of our citizen-led efforts,” he concluded.
Following the Council of the Whole meeting, city council members had an opportunity to make a motion to revisit the issue during the main City Council meeting just 15 minutes later.
City Council President Cyle President asked council members whether they had any Old Business to bring before council. After 14 seconds of silence and no motion by either McIntire or Fiocca, Feldman moved on to the council’s business for the night.
Council Approves Change for Police Applicants
City Council approved legislation that would allow the police department to solicit applications for full-time police officer positions from current police officers working part-time in other jurisdictions.
According to Stow Chief of Police Jeff Film, the city has been unable to get as many qualified applicants as it would like for open positions because officers working part-time in nearby communities are prevented from applying for the Stow jobs. He said two recent retirements had wiped out the city’s current pool of qualified applicants.
City Council voted to suspend the rules to allow an immediate vote on the legislation and voted unanimously 5-0 to support the change. Council members Matt Riehl and Kelly Coffey were absent.
City Council Approves New Appointments
Council Council unanimously approved two new administration appointments:
Steven Hooten as Deputy Law Director, at a pay rate of $39 per hour;
Nicole Blunk as Deputy Director of Development, at a pay rate of $35.50 per hour.
Other Stow News
New in Public Policy Corner
Ever wonder why City Council goes into Executive Session for discussions we never hear about later? Learn when and why Executive Sessions are used in this new article "When the Sun Stops Shining - The Skinny on Executive Sessions" by Dr. David Licate.
