The Independent
MASSILLON – A contingent of city firefighters, officials, as well as friends and family, lined up Friday afternoon to welcome the city s new fire chief.
More than three dozen people were spread out inside Fire Station No. 1 to see Matt Heck be sworn in by Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry as the city s 12th chief.
Heck, 49, replaces Tom Burgasser who officially retired Friday, 31 years to the day he was hired as a Massillon Fire Department firefighter. He served as the agency leader for more than 14 years. Looking forward to working with everybody
The new chief praised his predecessor and thanked those who came out.
The Independent
MASSILLON Developers wanting to purchase the former Kmart property for new business opportunities nabbed the endorsement of a key city group Wednesday night.
The Massillon Planning Commission voted 6-0 to approve a proposal aimed at building an indoor/outdoor storage facility and grocery and retail shops at the Kmart site, 2600 Lincoln Way E.
The decision sends the issues to City Council, which must approve the zoning change needed to move forward with the storage center plan.
The final decision on rezoning from general business (B-3) to light industrial (I-1) on a northern, seven-acre section of the 11.7-acre property will head to City Council.
The Independent
MASSILLON Summer concerts have a chance to return in 2021 to the city s downtown, following a one-year, COVID-19 hiatus.
Much of the decision whether to proceed with the annual Summer Concert Series will depend on Gov. Mike DeWine s orders, according to Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry, who said Monday that getting funds in line for the event is the main priority now. We need to be patient but still get ready, said Catazaro-Perry, noting that the number of possible shows is also in question. I think we re going to play it by ear until we get closer (to June).
The Monday and Thursday evening concerts typically run from early June through late August. However, the city event, along with many others, were canceled last year due to the virus pandemic.
The Independent
MASSILLON The former Affinity Medical Center facility will move to a new ownership group as early as this week, once the transaction is recorded with Stark County.
The Massillon Community Improvement Corp. and new owners Daniel Beers and Brandon Fabris operators of MediShield Solutions wrapped up final details of the sale of the city-owned property Tuesday afternoon. The CIC has acted as the city s agent for the sale.
The total cost for the property, which was sold at auction in November, was $467,500. This is a chapter I think we can close now, Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry said. We re happy to repurpose the building, and feel good about its future.