09/15/2026
**Village Council Early September Meeting Recap**
Council approved a WWII memorial restoration concept, infrastructure actions, and grant applications while continuing review of hillside protections.
**WWII Memorial Restoration**
Council unanimously approved the Chagrin Falls World War II Bronze Monument Project for Bell Street Park. American Legion Post 383 and the Springfield VFW proposed refurbishing the current WWII memorial and replacing its missing top feature with a custom bronze American flag sculpture, shown at rest on a spear tip with a gold cord. The original top was a sundial installed by the Blue Star Mothers in 1953; it later went missing, and a subsequent small infantry-soldier statue was vandalized. The new sculpture is planned to be drilled about nine inches into the existing 11-by-11-inch stone base, and the base itself may need root and ground work to be leveled and secured. The project will stay in its existing park location. Lighting is feasible using nearby conduit but was left for a later decision. A donation agreement will be prepared after costs are established.
**Infrastructure Funding Plans**
Council passed two emergency change orders. For the wastewater treatment plant, the standalone change order was $454,282.51, but prior project credits reduced the net contract increase to $167,810.81. This represents a 1.8% increase to the original Union Industrial Contractors contract for $9,123,872. Staff said the work reflects deterioration and equipment needs identified after a project designed more than eight years ago was delayed by EPA approval and other factors. The overhaul replaces aging equipment at a facility built in 1971, supports capacity and clean-water compliance goals, and is primarily funded through the Water Fund and an EPA low-interest loan. Geauga County covers 22% of the total cost and had tentatively approved its portion.
Continue reading:
