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Council updated on COVID-19 affected employees



Richfield Village Council heard an update at the July 21 meeting on two village employees who tested positive for COVID-19.
Mayor Michael Wheeler said that one employee, a police officer, had been cleared by Summit County Public Health to return to work, while the other was resting comfortably at home.
As a result of the two employees testing positive, Assistant Fire Chief George Seifert said he and Assistant Police Chief Paul Fister helped set up drive-thru testing July 13 with assistance from University Hospitals. He said 50 village employees and five employees from other jurisdictions got tested for COVID-19.
Police Chief Mike Swanson also said a scheduled July 14 American Red Cross blood drive was canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date.
The police building also was given a deep clean, according to village officials.
In other news, Finance Director Sandy Turk announced the village received an almost 22 percent increase in income tax collection this month compared to last July due to the extension of the income tax deadline to July 15.
Turk said the increase reduced the year-to-date deficit of income tax collections from 9.7 percent to 6 percent, with year-to-date individual collections up from 2019.
“We are moving in the right direction,” said Turk.
Through mid-July, the village has collected $421,000 more than it has spent, according to Wheeler.
In other business:
• Wheeler reported the demolition of the former BP gas station on Brecksville Road had to be delayed due to a gas issue.
• McLean said a grant of $3,093 was received for EMS supplies.
• Council agreed to continue the village’s employee garden after a discussion during a work session.
Council approved the following:
√ a donation of $160 in Panera gift cards by the Charles Schwab company to police officers and dispatchers;
√ a conditional zoning certificate to Columbus Equipment;
√ accepting a Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council Energized Community Grant;
√ selling surplus equipment online; and
√ a memorandum of understanding and funding agreement with Bath Township and Revere Local Schools Board of Education to continue the School Resource Officer program.
Council will next meet virtually Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. To access the meeting, visit www.richfieldvillageohio.org.