Mayor Justin Cline called the 10th Regular Session of Council to order on Monday, May 20, 2024. Mayor Cline began the meeting by asking Councilman Josh Smith to say a prayer, then lead attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. This public meeting is being recorded. Members answering roll call were Carla Carl, Joseph Kammer, Abigail Caldwell, Daniel Rouse, Josh Smith and Molly Lehman. Also attending the meeting were Fiscal Officer Kim Meek-Obed, Village Solicitor Attorney Terry Seeberger, Village Administrator Blake Dibell and Zoning Inspector Michael Turner, residents Bryan & Valerie Minor and Chauni Skirtich.
Mr. Kammer made the motion to approve the minutes of the 9th session of council held on May 6, 2024 and Ms. Caldwell seconded. Carl yes, Kammer yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith abstain. Five yes votes. Motion carried. Minutes approved.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Bryan & Valerie Minor wanted to talk about the situation on Keeferview. Mr. Minor said that the street has not been taken care of for about 10 years. He is asking for a commitment of when the village is going to do something about it. Mr. Dibell stated that the street department has been having trouble getting asphalt this spring and that they are getting some this week and will address some of the holes. Mayor Cline stated that it was discussed by the Street Committee that Keeferview is going to be on the 2025 paving project. Mr. Smith stated that the village has engaged the engineer to design the drainage system for that area because it is a drainage problem that causes the problems with the street. Mrs. Minor also wanted to know about the speeding issue on that street also, because there is a lot of speeding and she feels it will be worse when the street is repaired. Mayor Cline stated that he will contact Chief Shetler and ask that he has patrolmen watch that area. Mr. Minor asked what the residents of that area should do about their driveway aprons at this time. Mr. Smith proposed to council and Mr. Dibell that we take street grindings and fill the residents’ aprons while they are patching the streets until something more can be done.
POLICE _ SAFETY
Mayor Cline stated that Chief Shetler could not make it tonight but he had passed out the April month-end reports. He also reported that the speed enforcement is still up on Fohl Road and they have been getting a lot more heroin and methamphetamine on traffic stops, which is getting that off the streets. Chief Shetler has Wood Electric running electric for their kiosk and replacing some bulbs at the police department.
Kim Meek-Obed reported that the Permanent Appropriations Ordinance is prepared and ready for approval tonight. She also reported that the Vasco invoice for the walking path has been paid. She reported that a few weeks ago when our IT guy, Andrew Marcelli was in to update the anti-virus on all village computers, he couldn’t put the anti-virus on her computer because it was so old and outdated, so he gave us a quote for a new computer and Mr. Dibell approved it and she now has a new computer. She stated that once she submits the appropriations to the county auditor, she can put them in the accounting system and then will be able to run reports to monitor spending, etc.
SOLICITOR
Ms. Lehman made the motion to approve Ordinance 7-2024, an ordinance approving the re-plat of Outlot 918 and pass as an emergency. Mr. Smith seconded. Lehman yes, Rouse yes, Caldwell yes, Kammer yes, Carl yes, and Smith yes. Six yes votes. Ordinance passed.
Mr. Smith made a motion to approve Ordinance 8-2024 and pass as an emergency, an ordinance amending Ordinance 6-2022 to raise part-time employees’ wages to $17.50/hour and Ms. Lehman seconded. Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes, Carl yes, Kammer yes. Six yes votes. Ordinance passed.
Mr. Smith made a motion to pass Ordinance 9-2024 as an emergency, the Permanent Appropriation Ordinance for 2024 Expenditures. Mr. Kammer seconded. Lehman yes, Smith yes, Carl yes, Kammer yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes. Six yes votes. Ordinance passed.
Ms. Lehman made a motion to have the second reading of Resolution 2024-11, a Resolution Authorizing Participation in Gas Aggregation Contract with the assistance of Buckeye Energy Brokers, Inc. Ms. Carl seconded. Caldwell yes, Kammer yes, Carl yes, Smith yes, Lehman yes, Rouse yes.This is the second reading.
Ms. Lehman made a motion to have second reading of Resolution 2024-14, a resolution approving a Tax Increment Financing Cooperative Agreement. Ms. Carl seconded. Kammer yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes, Carl yes.This is the second reading.
Ms. Lehman made a motion to approve Resolution 2024-15 as an emergency, a resolution to authorize applying for a Nature Works Grant to redevelopment Underwood Park, including pickleball courts. Mr. Smith seconded. Lehman yes, Smith yes, Carl yes, Kammer yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes. Six yes vote. Resolution passed.
Mr. Seeberger stated that two weeks ago council awarded the Fohl/Sterilite project to United Earthworks. He would like to have the mayor sign the contract so the project is not being held up any longer and the work can get started.
Mr. Seeberger stated that Mayor Cline sent out a roster of the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Commission. He wants to know if council wants him to combine the two by drawing up an ordinance.
Mr. Smith made a motion to have Mr. Seeberger draw up an ordinance to combine the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Commission. Mr. Kammer seconded. Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes, Kammer yes, Carl yes. Six yes votes. Motion passed.
MAYOR
Mayor Justin Cline read a letter of thanks to the street dept. He also stated that he got a letter from Beth Alban of the YMCA reporting that people are driving over the walking path to get to the ball fields. Mr. Dibell reported that he put the chain back up so that people cannot drive on the path.
Mayor Cline reported that he was notified by Ben Bravis (the young man that is doing work at the park) that he found some patches of poison hemlock. The Navarre-Bethlehem Park Board is asking if we can get some “fish safe” herbicide to spray on it to try to get rid of it.
Mayor Cline complimented Blake Dibell by saying he has heard nothing but good things about the work he is doing as the Administrator.
ADMINISTRATOR
Mr. Dibell reported that he talked to Barbicas today and they explained that with the rain we have had and that they have also had trouble getting the catch basins they need, the start of the paving project has been delayed but they are certain that they will be starting on May 28th, the day after Memorial Day.
MISCELLANEOUS
Ms. Carl thanked Mr. Dibell for getting the fence around the garden. She said that she has had a few regular people coming out to help at the garden. She reported that Scott Kirby wanted to donate some plants for the garden. Ms. Carl asked Mr. Dibell if he heard anything about the water for the garden. Mr. Dibell reported that the water tanks he checked on will not work.
Mr. Kammer said that Living Grace would like to have an announcement put on the sign and he gave Blake the information. He also stated that they would like to get a PA system for the Memorial Day program. Blake is going to take care of getting it.
Ms. Caldwell reported that she has a speaker lined up for the Memorial Day program, it is Dave Caldwell (her husband’s uncle).
Ms. Lehman reported that during the Finance Committee meeting last week we met with Charlie Snyder who was the head of the JEDD (Joint Economic Development District) and learned that it was primarily started to represent the interests of the village and Perry Twp. The committee felt it would be a good idea to maintain the JEDD and get the roster fully staffed and ensure that it meets twice a year. Mr. Seeberger is going to contact some of the members that were involved previously.
Mr. Smith reported that because we are beyond the 10 years of the development of the JEDD, the money now goes into our general fund.
Ms. Lehman reported that she is not scheduling any Coffee with Council sessions during the summer months.
Mr. Smith asked for council’s approval to have Blake sign the Nature Works Grant and get that submitted.
Mr. Smith asked for council’s permission to have Kim & Blake look into getting a new copy machine/printer that would print in color.
BILLS AND CLAIMS
Ms. Lehman made a motion to pay the Bills & Claims. Mr. Smith seconded. Rouse yes, Caldwell yes, Carl yes, Lehman yes, Kammer yes, Smith yes. Six yes votes. Motion passed.
Mr. Lehman made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Carl seconded. Kammer yes, Lehman yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Carl yes, Smith yes. Six yes votes. Meeting adjourned at 8:28 pm.
______________________________ __________________________
Kim L. Meek-Obed, Fiscal Officer Justin G. Cline, Mayor
