Village of Thurston

Council Meeting Minutes

June 13, 2002

 

 

Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Hite.  Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

Roll call:  Robert Ortman – Present; Nona Buskirk – Present; Mary Barber – Present; Roger Aubery – Present; Warren Simpson – Absent; JT Hilliard – Present; Jo-Ann Hite – Present; Aaron Reedy – Present.

 

Josh Friesner was present as the National Weather Service Office representative.  He said on May 10th none of the warning sirens went off to warn of a possible tornado.  He told the Council that the Village of Thurston did not have a plan or emergency system in place.  He said the tornado on May 10th was pretty close, and could have been a problem for the Village.  He said the Village only has a manual alarm system.  He said we should think about the public safety of the Village, and should discuss a plan with the Chief of the Fire Department.

 

Chief Mike Jackson asked if the Safety Committee wanted to meet with Fire Department personnel to discuss the issues raised by Josh.  JoAnn said it would be a good idea.  Mike said since May 10th, the County has changed their procedures for alerting all departments of sightings in the County.  Roger said we want to meet as soon as possible.  It was agreed that everyone would meet on Monday, June 17th at 7:30 at the Fire House.  It will be an open discussion that the community can attend.

 

Mike announced that the Walnut Township Trustees want to put the Fire District issue on the backburner for now.  They may bring it up again at the end of this year, or the first of next year.  At this point, they would rather look at doing joint training and/or joint purchasing.  Roger said he didn’t want to lose anything.  JoAnn said the Trustees want the Fire Department for nothing.  Mike said he likes the joint purchasing/training idea because we get to keep our identity.  JoAnn said no one had contacted her about how the Township decided.

 

Mike said they have about as many runs during the 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. time period as they do any other time of the day.  He said it justifies the need for part-time daytime personnel on the department.

 

As part of the State EMS reporting requirements, Mike said two Palm Pilots and a printer must be purchased.  He would like Council’s okay on that.  Council had no objections.

 

JoAnn brought up the two forms Aaron found online; Red Light Policy, and Personal Vehicle Insurance Verification.  Mike said it would be a good idea to implement them.  JoAnn said she also liked the idea.  Aaron will e-mail the forms to Mike.

 

JoAnn asked Mike if anyone on the department has been sworn in.  Mike answered no, and that he and JoAnn need to get together to see if they want to implement a Village Employee Policy.  Millersport has one, and he’ll get a copy of it.  Firefighters/EMS Personnel are considered Village employees.

 

JT made a motion to approve the May 2002 minutes.  Roger second.  All yea.

 

Mary made a motion to approve the May 30 Special Meeting minutes.  JT second.  All yea.

 

Roger made a motion to approve the May 2002 financial statement.  JT second.  All yea.

 

JT moved to adopt Resolution # 2002-06-13-1, a Resolution Authorizing the Transfer of Funds and the Declaration of an Emergency.  Roger second.  All yea.

JoAnn announced that on May 24, the Village was sprayed for mosquitoes.

 

JoAnn announced that a new sump pump was needed for the basement.  The old one quit working.  Lowell got some quotes, and Lowe’s has the lowest price.  He’d also like to get a couple of bags of blacktop to repair a hole in front of the Elam property.  Roger made a motion to allow Lowell to purchase a new sump pump and the blacktop.  JT second.  All yea.

 

JoAnn announced that she consulted with the lawyer about the Long Street extension that Owen Keller is putting in.  She said we do NOT have to accept the extension.

 

JoAnn said the state cut down the dead tree at 2308 Main St. before they started paving the road.

 

JoAnn announced that the lawyer said we should pass an ordinance to put up no-parking signs in front of the Municipal Building.  The ordinance is ready, and needs three readings before it can be put into effect.  Aaron read Ordinance # 2002-06-13-2, an Ordinance Amending the Traffic Control Map (No Parking on a Portion of the Parking Lot Located at the Municipal Building).  JoAnn said Council needed to vote.  Aaron said Council only needed to vote at the final reading, per Ohio Revised Code.  JoAnn said Council needs to vote on it at every reading.  Aaron reluctantly took a roll call vote:

            Robert – Yes

            Nona – Yes

            Mary – Yes

            Roger – Yes

            JT – Yes

 

JoAnn announced that she received the proof of insurance from the Thurston High Heritage Association on June 5, 2002.  It is through Edwards Insurance.

 

JoAnn announced that they started paving Rt. 256 on Monday, June 10th.  They have been fixing drains as they go through.

 

JoAnn announced that on June 7, the Village was sprayed for mosquitoes.  He may be spraying again this Friday, June 14th.

 

Copies of the proposals for the Long Street Paving project were reviewed.  We received two bids; D&B Paving, and Heiberger.  Council discussed the proposals.  Nona made a motion to accept the bid from D&B Paving.  Robert second.  Mary wanted to know if there was a warranty with D&B.  Their contract doesn’t state there is a warranty like Heiberger’s does.  JT said that $1,600 is not that big of a difference for a one year warranty.  Aaron tried calling D&B for warranty information, but no one was in.  Voting continued on the prior motion;

            Robert – Yes

            Nona – Yes

            Mary – No

            Roger – No

            JT – No

 

JT moved to accept the D&B proposal with the provision that they have a one-year warranty, in writing; otherwise, we accept Heiberger.  Mary said that the D&B proposal is still short 20 square yards than requested, don’t state ODOT specifications compliance, and don’t say if they have a warranty.  JT retracted his motion.  Roger made a motion to accept the Heiberger proposal.  JT second. 

 

Lowell said the Heiberger proposal was submitted one day late, so it shouldn’t be considered.  Mary asked why the proposal was even copied and given to Council if they weren’t to have consider it.  Roger left the meeting.  Lowell said he didn’t think we could accept the Heiberger proposal because one of the employees is related to Mary.  Mary said if that was the case, her best friend works at D&B Paving, so that would leave their proposal out, too.  Information was reviewed in regards to how many people it takes to pass a motion, since Roger left, and Council is now left with 4 voting members.  Aaron read from a Council Guidelines book from the Ohio Municipal League, which is based on the Ohio Revised Code.  Only a majority of present members was necessary.  Aaron also read the section that states that an Ordinance or Resolution must be voted on ONLY AFTER the third reading.  Voting continued on the prior motion;

            Robert – Yes

            Nona – No

            JT – Yes

            Mary – Yes

            Tiny – Abstain (he left just before the vote)

 

Since a majority of present Council members voted yes, this motion passes, and Council accepts the proposal of Heiberger Paving.

 

Aaron said he got another letter from Full Circle Services, who has found $2,000 of “lost” money for the Village.  Full Circle wants “limited power of attorney” in order to act as a collection agency on behalf of the Village of Thurston.  JT made a motion to allow Aaron to complete the necessary paperwork and proceed.  Robert second.  All yea.

 

Since there was no other business to address, Nona made a motion to pay bills and adjourn.  JT second.  All yea.  The time is 8:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

_______________________________

Aaron L. Reedy, Clerk