Obama's Overnight Stay Racks Up Major Overtime Costs for Fairlawn

If you were anywhere near the on West Market Street last week , you know there was lots of security.

We previously reported that Obama was shacking up at the for the night, but he actually stayed at the Hilton, according to Mayor William Roth.

Fairlawn's Deputy Service Director Ernie Staten said he got a call earlier last week that Obama "could be coming" to Fairlawn. When Staten found out he was really coming, then the work began.

"There was so much security because Obama was staying overnight," Staten said. "It wasn't like he was just stopping by. The Secret Service told me the Hilton was the White House for a night."

The Secret Service required the city to buy 4,800 feet of snow fence (the orange fencing) to block anyone from ramming a vehicle into the hotel. The snow fence cost Staten $32 per 100 feet. They also required a certain number of security personnel to be around for the entire night.

Staten said he recruited help from , Copley Copley, Ohio Highway Patrol, Summit County Sheriff, HAZMAT, and more.

Staten also had to use manpower to erect the snow fence, detour signs and police signs. He also had Copley-Fairlawn school buses in the parking lot to prevent people from getting through to the hotel.

"Our labor costs and overtime shot through the roof," Roth said. "Ohio is a swing state this year, so we're going to get a lot of visits. We're going to keep track of those visits and send a bill to try and get reimbursed."

Staten said the Service Department averaged about 30 hours of overtime and he worked almost 48 hours straight.

Obama even requested his bus be washed in the Service Department's wash bay.

Both Roth and Staten were reluctant to guess how much overtime pay was accrued because it still had to be tabulated within the police and fire department.