Arson investigator Lt. Donnie Sullivan was awarded his service weapon Monday afternoon by Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland at the City Council meeting.

Sullivan is retiring from the Cleveland Fire Department, effective June 30, after 30 years of service.

The resolution to award Sullivan the weapon was passed by a vote of 7-0. However, the city’s former fire chief, 4th District Councilman David May, paused before casting his vote as he remembered being told Sullivan was a good shortstop and he was very qualified for the job at the department.

Sullivan said when he was hired, the late Fire Commissioner Kenneth Tinsley asked if he could still play ball.

“I said, ‘Yes sir, I can,’” he said.

Tinsley then asked if he could still play shortstop.

“I said, Yes sir, I can,’” Sullivan said. “He then told me to go see Chief May to give me a job. That was back in the good old days.”

Rowland said during the presentation the weapon should have been declared surplus the day it was issued.

“It’s made of plastic,” the mayor quipped before turning serious. “This is a small token of our appreciation for your many years of service.”

Sullivan said there was nothing compared to the fire hall family and being raised in a fire hall family. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for them and there is nothing they wouldn’t do for me.” He also thanked police detectives he worked with during the past 12 years since being promoted to arson investigator. “Without these guys, I wouldn’t have been able to make a lot of my cases.”

Other business conducted by the Council included the unanimous approval of the following new business and consent agenda items:

- Awarded the plumbing maintenance contract to Goodaker Plumbing, Cleveland, at an hourly rate of $32.

- Awarded the electrical maintenance contract to Hancock Electric, Cleveland, at an hourly rate of $30.

- Awarded the HVAC maintenance contract Emergency Mechanical Services, Hixson, at an hourly rate of $48.

- Resolution 2012-85 authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with the Cleveland Housing Authority for supplemental police services. The housing authority will reimburse the city $50,000 a monthly for salary and fringe benefits for the additional officer.

- Ordinance No: 2012-14 amending the site plan for PUD2 zoning district (Mouse Creek Crossing) for a supermarket. The Cleveland Municipal Planning Commission approved the site plan revision on May 22.

The revision shows a grocery store for an unidentified tenant and improvements to Valley Head Road. The revised plan shows a 53,785 square-foot building west of existing townhomes between Valley Head Road and shops fronting Paul Huff Parkway. The revision also calls for 10,000 square feet of additional retail space and more than 320 parking spaces.

A new entrance to the development would be located on Valley Head Road, perpendicular to Forestview Drive N.E. The westbound lane of Valley Head Road will be widened between the entrance and Peerless Road. A sidewalk and right turn lane onto Peerless Road will be added.