Village of Thurston
Council Meeting Minutes
July 8, 2004
Meeting called to order at 7:05 pm by Mayor Barber. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Roll call: Robert Ortman – Absent
Roger Aubery – Present
Warren Simpson – Present
Ed Vanek - Present
Kevin Ety – Present
Rita Leiendecker - Present
Mary Barber – Present
Aaron Reedy – Present
A Budget Hearing for Fiscal Year 2005 was held. Aaron presented the proposed budget to Council. Roger made a motion to bypass Finance Committee review and accept the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2005 as presented. Rita second. All yea.
Chris Whightsel was present and asked Council to approve a transfer of a strip of property from Owen Keller’s property to Mr. Whightsel’s property. This was referred to the Service Committee and the Village Solicitor for review.
Diana Dieringer was present from ME Companies. She brought a couple of forms to sign for the Third St. Storm Sewer Project. She said the next round for OPWC funding is due October 1, 2004. She wants to know if the Village wants to submit a project. The reconstruction of Maple Street is the next project on the list. Roger made a motion to have ME submit an application for to OPWC for the Maple Street Reconstruction Project at a submission cost of $1,000. Ed second. All yea. Diana said she hopes the other two projects start construction in September.
Ed made a motion to approve the June 2004 minutes. Rita second. All yea.
Warren made a motion to approve the June 2004 financial statement. Roger second. All yea.
Council had 3rd and Final 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. Ed made a motion to adopt Ordinance # 2004-10. Kevin second. All yea.
Council had the 3rd and Final 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. Rita made a motion to adopt Ordinance # 2004-11. Ed second. All yea.
Council had the 3rd and Final 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. Roger made a motion to adopt Ordinance # 2004-12. Kevin second. All yea.
Council had the 3rd and Final 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. Warren made a motion to adopt Ordinance # 2004-13. Rita second. All yea.
Report from Fire Chief - Mike Jackson was present. He asked Council to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel issues. Rita made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel issues. Ed second. All yea. The time is 7:30 p.m.
At 7:58 p.m., Rita made a motion to come out of Executive Session. Kevin second. All yea.
Mike was not able to attend the last Walnut Creek Steering Committee meeting due to a fire run, but spoke with those that were there. It looks as though a joint fire department is favored, but no one wants to lose their identity. He said it is possible they could do a merger instead. Council discussed the advantages and disadvantages of a merger versus a normal fire district.
Mike brought up using a point system to pay volunteers. Council will look into that later.
Report from the Service Committee: The trash trailer was delivered on June 28th. It’s already two-thirds full, and Bob Black would like for Council to go through some more items on the second floor of the Municipal Building to see if he can trash it. They discussed the tree trimming project. It was decided to get a couple more bids before continuing.
Roger made a motion to request that the Village Secretary be present during Council meetings and to pay her the normal hourly rate so that she can perform certain tasks required by Council during the meetings. Kevin second. All yea.
Council discussed proposals from Heiberger Paving for catch basin repairs throughout the Village. Kevin made a motion to accept the proposal from Heiberger Paving for storm sewer catch basin repair, minus the 10’x15’ pavement work quoted for the fire department. Rita second. All yea.
Mary will ask them to re-quote on the Oak Street patch – possibly using concrete instead. She will also ask them about a cheaper, temporary alternative for the bigger holes on Maple Street, since we are asking for funding from OPWC for total reconstruction of that street in 2005.
Council discussed the proposals submitted for the roofing job on the First Street building. Some discussed selling the building. Council wishes to table this issue for now.
It was agreed to call a special meeting on Saturday, July 17 at 6:00 p.m. at the First Street building to discuss the items that should be thrown out and/or auctioned.
Report from the Safety Committee: Rita said they met, and had discussed the fire dept. merger issue as already discussed with Mike Jackson.
Report from the Finance Committee: Meets next week, but was agreed no meeting was necessary, there is nothing to discuss.
Report from the Rules Committee: Didn’t meet. It was agreed there would be no further Rules Committee meetings unless something came up to discuss.
Report from Board of Public Affairs President: Lowell Hite wasn’t present.
Report from the Walnut Creek Sewer District Board appointees: No one was present.
Report from the Regional Planning Representative: Robert wasn’t present.
Old Business
The nuisance issue at 2093 Main St. (Thomas) was discussed. Julie Thomas signed for the certified letter on July 2nd. Jeff Feyko, Village Solicitor, advised Council to allow 2 weeks before starting to accrue the charges. Then we will begin regularly scheduled observations of the nuisance issue. A letter will be sent on a regular basis showing the charges. If not paid in a timely manner, they will be assessed to the property taxes. Fines will begin to accrue on July 16th.
New Business
Mary said she had a meeting with Sheriff Dave Phalen about the options the Village has for police protection. He pushed having a contract through his office. She said it’s too much – around $22.50 an hour. That’s too much, and we need to look at a different plan.
Council then continued the meeting on the second floor of the Municipal Building so they could all decide what items should be thrown out, and what should be kept. A few old items that were deemed “unrepairable” were thrown into the dumpster by Council members. Everyone agreed the items left could fetch some money in the auction.
Roger made a motion to adjourn. Rita second. All yea. The time is 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
_______________________________
Aaron L. Reedy, Clerk