Village of Thurston

Council Meeting Minutes

May 13, 2004

 

 

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

 

Roll call:          Robert Ortman – Present

Roger Aubery – Present

Warren Simpson – Present

Ed Vanek - Present

Kevin Ety – Present

Mary Barber – Present

Aaron Reedy – Present

1 open Council seat

 

Mary announced that Nona Buskirk submitted her resignation due to moving out of the Village last month.  Mary asked if there was anyone present for the open seat.  Rita Leindecker said she was interested.  She shared that she served on Council in the past and that she was interested in getting back on.

 

Roger made a motion to open nominations for the open Council seat.  Robert second.  All yea.  Warren made a motion to nominate Rita Leindecker for the open seat.  Ed second.  All yea.  Roger made a motion to appoint Rita Leindecker to the open Council seat.  Robert second.  All yea.  Mayor Barber swore Rita in to office.

 

Mary asked if any visitors would like to address Council.  Terry Prather asked about the status of the updated survey for Long St.  Mary said it was still with the Village Solicitor.  She will check with him on the status.

 

Keith Doll and Diana Derringer were present from ME Companies.  He said the Third St. Storm Sewer Project was approved, and knows the funding for Long St/Wilson Ave. project was soon going through the selection process.  He said he hoped ME would be chosen as the engineering firm for that project.  Dianna will the Project Engineer for the Village.

 

Keith said they will be surveying soon, followed by design, and then bidding by mid-July.  Construction should start in September.  The project should only take 30-45 days.  Keith asked if Council was interested in Park money, he can assist us with grants from the State.  Council said yes.

 

Council asked Keith to take a look at the hole at Maple & Second St. next to the storm sewer and give suggestions as to what to do about it.  He said he’d take a look.

 

Mary presented Donna Michelle Shumaker to the Council as the candidate chosen by herself and Aaron for the position of Village Secretary.  Roger made a motion to hire Donna Shumaker as the Village Secretary with a 6-month probationary period, and pending the positive results of the drug test and background check.  Kevin second.  All yea.  Council agreed with Michelle that the office hours of 9am – 1pm were acceptable.

 

Warren made a motion to approve the April 1, 2004 minutes.  Roger second.  All yea.  Rita abstained.

 

Ed made a motion to approve the April 22, 2004 special meeting minutes.  Robert second.  All yea.  Rita abstained.

 

Kevin made a motion to approve the April 26, 2004 special meeting minutes.  Ed second.  All yea.  Rita abstained.

 

Roger made a motion to approve the March 2004 financial statement.  Ed second.  All yea.  Rita abstained.

 

Warren made a motion to approve the April 2004 financial statement.  Kevin second.  All yea.  Rita abstained.

 

Aaron read the final reading of Ordinance # 2004-4, An Ordinance to Increase the Salary for the Position of Clerk-Treasurer.

 

Ed made a motion to adopt Ordinance # 2004-4, An Ordinance to Increase the Salary for the Position of Clerk-Treasurer.  Roger second.  All yea, except Warren voting no.

 

Council had 1st Reading of Ordinance # 2004-10, An Ordinance to increase the fee for returned checks due to insufficient funds.  This will increase the fee to $35.00 per check.

 

Council had the 1st Reading of Ordinance # 2004-11, An Ordinance amending Ordinance 9-24-89 and Ordinance 12-20-90 by increasing the rate charged for reconnecting service for non-payment of monthly charges.  This raises the water reconnect fee from $30 to $50.

 

Council had the 1st Reading of Ordinance # 2004-12, An Ordinance rescinding Ordinance 12-14-00-1 and 12-14-00-2 relating to the applications of interest on checking and/or savings accounts and certificates of deposit and to apply said funds to the “General Fund”.  This moves all interest earned to the General Fund, except where prohibited by State law.

 

Council had the 1st Reading of Ordinance # 2004-13, An Ordinance to increase the salaries of members of Council and Board of Public Affairs.  This increases Council pay to $50.00 per meeting and BOPA pay to $30.00 per meeting.

 

Roger made a motion to waive the 3-reading rule and declare an emergency for Ordinance # 2004-14.  Ed second.  All yea.

 

Warren made a motion to adopt Ordinance # 2004-14, An Ordinance to amend the 2004 appropriations Ordinance and the declaration of an emergency.  This ordinance appropriates more money to pay for the Village's liability insurance.  Kevin second.  All yea.

 

Kevin made a motion to waive the 3-reading rule and declare an emergency for Ordinance # 2004-15.  Roger second.  All yea.

 

Warren made a motion to adopt Ordinance # 2004-15, An Ordinance Authorizing the Mayor and Clerk-Treasurer to enter into an agreement with the Board of Commissioners of Fairfield County, Ohio, for FY 2003 CDBG Funds for the Long Street and Wilson Ave. Storm Sewer Basin Project and the declaration of an emergency.  Ed second.  All yea.

 

Report from Fire Chief - Mike Jackson was present.  He brought up the new conceal carry law.  He said it was illegal to carry in any government office, but Council needs to adopt the proper wording, and post sign.  Aaron said he just got the wording from the insurance company.

 

Mike said there has been a problem with disconnecting from the internet at the fire station.  Folks log on, but forget to log off, which is causing higher-than-normal phone bills.  He said a couple of his officers are doing this, but they don’t mean to do it.  Mike discussed a possible high-speed cable solution.  He and Aaron will check in the options.

 

Mike said the bunk rooms are progressing nicely.  Carpet has just been donated.  He asked about mowing at the firehouse.  Kent Lietnaker submitted a proposal for $110 per month.  Mike said he’s already been mowing for a month.  Roger made a motion to allow Kent to continue mowing services for the firehouse this year at $110 per month.  Robert second.  All yea.  Mike will send Mary a copy of the bid.

 

Mike said the Sheriff’s office is dragging their feet on a bid for the squad.  Mike reminded everyone that open burning is legal in the Village ONLY if it is being used to cook food.

 

Report from the Service Committee:  Robert said he’s very happy with his committee.  He discussed with Lowell Hite at their committee meeting that a company is coming in to re-line 3200 feet of sewer line.  Work will start on May 24th and hope to be done by July 14th.  He said there were lots of leaks in the current lines.

 

Robert said Bob Black was also at the committee meeting.  He’s going to begin refinishing the double doors in the hall to the back entranceway of the building.  He’s also going to begin work in the bathroom.  The committee gave their permission for him to proceed.

 

Robert said the committee would like to get a 20-yard roll-off trailer from Waste Management so clean-up can begin upstairs in the Municipal Building, and in the First St. building.  Aaron & Michelle will call on Monday.

 

Robert said that Ron Clouse was given permission to take the old jungle gym, so he’s going to take it.  Some of the big kids in the neighborhood are putting smaller kids in the pope out back and setting it up on end, trapping the kids.  We need to move the pipe.  The committee also did some clean-up out behind the Municipal Building so Blevins can mow closer to the building.

 

Report from the Safety Committee:  Did not meet.

 

Report from the Finance Committee:  Did not meet.

 

Report from the Rules Committee:  Did not meet.

 

Report from Board of Public Affairs President:  Lowell Hite wasn’t present.

 

Report from the Walnut Creek Sewer District Board appointees:  Lowell Hite, JoAnn Hite were not present.  Bryan Shook was present.  Kristi said they haven’t heard anything yet from FHA about allowing the park.  She said there was nothing much more going on.  The next Walnut Creek Sewer District meeting is on Thursday, May 20th at 6:00 p.m.  Kristi said they had to do emergency repair work at the booster station because the chlorine delivery system wasn’t working.  Parts were ordered and installed, and everything is working okay now.  Aaron told Kristi that the BOPA members complained that the tops to the meters weren’t being put back in place properly when the meters were read.  People have been complaining.  Kristi said she will pass the information on to Dustin.

 

Report from the Regional Planning Representative:  Robert said Brooks Davis wants to be on the June meeting agenda to discuss zoning.

 

New Business

 

Aaron asked Council if they wanted to renew the subscription to the Grant newsletter.  It’s $200 for a year, and he didn’t think it was really getting any use.  We can always re-subscribe at any time.  Council decided not to re-subscribe.

 

Aaron went over a bill from Walnut Creek Sewer District for the new computer and software purchased back in 2002.  We are responsible for paying for a third of it.  We’ll have to amend appropriations to allow for it.  Aaron will prepare the paperwork.

 

Ed made a motion to appoint Robert to the Walnut Township Fire & EMS Steering Committee as discussed at the April 26 special meeting.  Roger second.  All yea.

 

Aaron urged Council members to review the draft of the Water/Sewer Billing Procedures for future legislation.

 

Mary said MPW blew out the storm sewer problem on High St.  She said she also ordered street lights: 1 for Oak St., 2 for Holt St., and 1 for Third St.

 

Roger said we need to get potholes filled in the roads.  Kevin suggested calling the Walnut Twp folks and seeing what they would charge us to do this.  Aaron & Michelle will call on Monday.

 

Ed made a motion to adjourn.  Kevin second.  All yea. 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

_______________________________

Aaron L. Reedy, Clerk