CANFIELD — City Council hosted an informational session on department requests for the 2025 city budget. Each department gave a brief overview of its funding requests.

Police Chief Chuck Colucci spoke on behalf of the IT Department’s request for $164,530. He said a significant part of that amount would be for essentials to keep the city’s computer system working properly and to update the website to make it more user-friendly.

“Included in the request will be the equipment needed to place Wi-Fi and cameras at Greasel Park, Fair Park and on the Village Green,” Colucci said. “It’s been talked about for some time.” He said Armstrong’s fiber-optic lines in the city would be used.

Colucci then outlined his own department’s request for $211,726 to purchase and outfit two new cruisers. He stated the cruisers alone would cost $107,526 combined.

Included in the request was $18,000 for five new rifles. He said the rifles in use in the cruisers are about 23 years old and need to be replaced.

Next, John Rapp from Public Works presented his request for $373,226. The majority of this funding would be allocated toward a new F-450 cab, chassis and utility body.

“It will replace the present 2011 utility truck that we use on a daily basis,” Rapp said. “It carries all the tools and equipment we need to handle any project, including waterline breaks.”

Rapp also noted that part of the budget would go toward acquiring a Bobcat to replace an aging backhoe, which will be used for loading salt into the trucks.

Rapp also mentioned a trade-in of two old mowers and an aging tractor on two new zero-turn mowers with a 54-inch cut.

“Our mowers are used,” he said. “Once we start cutting grass it’s nonstop to the end [of the season].”

The Parks Department turned in a request for $132,965 that will cover pickleball court crack repairs, LED light conversions in the parks, activities and the annual parade and a new columbarium at the cemetery.

The final request was made for $500,000 allocated for a street-repaving project. City Finance Director Christine Clayton said the city will receive $150,000 from an Ohio Public Works Commission grant for paving to add to that amount.

Council viewed the proposals and Council President Christine Oliver said the requests and acceptance of the budget could be addressed at the March 19 meeting when all five council members will be present.

On a different matter, City Attorney Mark Fortunato said he researched legislation regarding the use of golf carts on city streets. A request had been made to allow golf carts to operate within the city.

“I am not comfortable with the issue,” he said. “Motor vehicles have to meet a ton of safety requirements like side panels and other protections required of manufacturers. We would be allowing vehicles without all those safety features to operate on our roads. I recommend we don’t allow golf carts.”