Medina Meow Fix (new feral cat program)
We are going to be working with Medina Meow Fix, a non-profit that will assist the city with our feral cat situation. Chief Shows and I have spoken to one of the co-founders, Keri Huff, and I have spoken with Michelle Mayer, as well, and are looking forward to begin controlling our feral cat population in Rittman. Medina Meow Fix has worked with several cities but most notably with Medina County where they have a TNR (Trap/Neuter/Release) program that has been very successful. Chief Shows and I will meet with Jesse Robertson, our local Animal Warden to discuss the program with him.
How Meow Fix works is that they will educate the citizens of Rittman and their first opportunity will be at Sleepwalker where they will have a table set up to meet with our residents. Meow Fix supplies the traps and the education and works with Mission Possible Vet Hospital in Medina. I look forward to working with all of the wonderful volunteers and residents who want to participate in this extremely humane program. There is no cost to our residents as the city will pay $55 for each cat trapped and treated through Meow Fix. Heather Swank, one of our Rittman residents has been very instrumental in trapping cats and tending to sick cats, working with Meow Fix and I want to thank her for her assistance over the years.
Wayne County Community Foundation Grant Award
Thank you to the trustees of the WCCF for awarding the city with $48,391.15 to be used toward the purchase of our new Ventrac Tuff Cut brush hog, boom mower and contour mower with the possibility of purchasing more attachments out of these grant dollars. This is to help maintain our parks and Nature Preserve. Thank you to Garrick for putting in the application. We appreciate his hard work in obtaining this grant
Splash Pad update
Garrick has sent to Council the different configurations of the water attachments for our new splash pad. We anticipate this going in Fritz Park on Industrial…exact location to be determined. As a reminder, we received a $40,000 grant from Senator Kristina Roegner’s office to go toward the purchase.
Police Officer Jared Holtzman
Rittman Police Officer Jared Holzman has taken a full-time position with the City of Barberton. Jared is a very fine officer who will be truly missed. We do wish him the best of luck in Barberton and I am very happy that Chief Shows has reported that Officer Holzman will work part time for the city, when his schedule permits. Part time officer Chance Sigler has been promoted to full time and we wish him the best in his full-time role.
Sleepwalker
The Fire Department will have blood pressure checks and other safety programs that the Fire Department offers. Both Police and Fire will have vehicles at the intersection of Ohio and Main Streets for our citizens (and especially our children) to see and experience. Thank you ahead of time to the Recreation and Service Departments for their ongoing assistance to Sleepwalker.
We look forward in showing our citizens (and hopefully potential new citizens!) all that Rittman has to offer so we will be manning a table and have a raffle for a kayak that was donated anonymously by one of our fine citizens. Kris Fetter will be asking for an hour of Council’s and staff’s time to help at the table. She will be sending out an email later this week with available times.