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SOUTH RUSSELL VILLAGE Village Hall
5205 Chillicothe Road
Mail: South Russell 44022
338-7843
FAX: 338-8776
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.Visit the South Russell Village website Demographics and History The 1990 census found the population of South Russell to be 3,402 with 1,144 households. The median household income in 1989 was $69,034. The Village is 4.1 square miles in area.
Russell township was named in 1827 honoring the Gideon Russell family who were the first settlers. Russell and his five children moved here in 1818. The northeast corner of Russell was known as Fullertown around 1821, named for Thomas Fuller
The first election was held on the second day of April, 1827 with 12 people casting ballots. Ebenezer Russell was elected clerk, and Gideon Russell, Clark Robinson and John Lowry were elected trustees. Jonathan Rathbone and John C. Bell were chosen as overseers of the poor, while Thomas Manchester and James M. Smith were elected to be the fence viewers.
According to the Pioneer History book of 1880, Chagrin Falls in 1841 was equally divided between Russell and Orange, in Cuyahoga County. Dr. Vincent, who was a member of the Ohio legislature and lived in Chagrin Falls, got a bill passed transfering 900 acres in the southwest corner of Russell to Orange. Nine hundred acres from the northeast part of Orange was given to Russell, but Russell lost good farm land and half of its village in the exchange. The land transferred to Russell from Orange was rough, and hilly, cut up with deep gulleys. Geauga County officials tried to appeal, but lost the battle.
While the Russell Township part of the Village's past is important, the Village has its own history. South Russell separated from Russell Township and became incorporated in 1923. The primary reason had to do with schools. Prior to that time, the residents did not feel existing Russell schools met their needs. In 1925, South Russell asked to be annexed into the Chagrin Falls School District, and, in 1926, our children began attending Chagrin Falls Schools. It has been said by others that, "South Russell was born in controversy over educational issues, proving that over 75 years ago people in the Western Reserve considered a good education paramount."
Village Clerk:
Nancy Gallagher, 338-7843
(Term expires: March 2004)
Mayor:
William S. Young, 338-4110
(Term expires: 2003)
Treasurer:
Lawrence A. Lechman, 338-7843
(Term expires: 2001)
Village Council:
Kathleen O'Donnell, President Pro-tem, 338-3241
(Term expires: 2001)Sally Butz-Voss, 247-8403
(Term expires: 2001)
Matthew E. Brett
(Term expires: 2001)
Lawrence "Adam" Lechman, Jr.
(Term expires: 2003)William Howell
(Term expires: 2003)
John E. Dishong
(Term expires: 2001)Nancy Gallagher, Clerk
(Term expires: March 2004)Council meets the second and fourth Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Hall.
Village Solicitor:
Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan, 942-1034
David Ondrey, Council BusinessVillage Prosecutor:
Dennis M. Coyne Co., LPA (216) 781-9162
Dennis M. CoyneEngineer:
CT Consultants, 951-99000
Ned FoleyBuilding and Zoning Department
338-1312
FAX: 338-1606David T. Hocevar, Building Commissioner
James Holt, Building and Zoning Inspector
Dixie Lee Kenyo, Secretary/Clerk
Street Commissioner and Service Department:
Darrell Johnson, 338-3891Planning Commission
Walter Sutliff, Chairman, 543-8793
Ike Tripp IV
Kathleen O'Donnell
William Young
Maggie Tomaro, SecretaryThe Planning Commission meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
Zoning Board of Appeals
Lee Johns, Chairman, 543-8790
Bruce Bartter, 338-6922
David Withrow
Sandy Luby
Gregory Gamm
Maggie Tomaro, Secretary
Architectural Board of Review (ABR)
Joseph Franzese, Chairman, 338-3821
David Holzheimer, 534-1610 (work), 338-8997 (home)
Ann M. Dunning
Maggie Tomaro, SecretaryThe Architectural Board of Review meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
Board of Building Code Appeals
Gus Stern
William O'Donnell
Ray Arnold
Police Department
5205 Chillicothe Road
South Russell, OH 44022James Wetzel,Chief
Emergency calls: 911
Dispatch: 247-7321
Non-emergency calls: 338-7611
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