Meeting Minutes: April 20, 2010
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:
Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 7:30 pm at the Rockford Village Hall.
Invocation was given by Gene Steiner Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Steiner, McKee, Pontsler, Searight, Heitkamp Gehle – absent
Also attending: Sergeant Stetler, Judy Koesters, Jeff Long
Motion Steiner. Second Pontsler to accept Agenda as Orders of the Day. McKee called for the question. Steiner = y, Pontsler = y, McKee = y, Searight =y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.
Motion: Searight. Second McKee to accept the minutes from the April 6, 2010 meeting as presented. Heitkamp called for the question. Searight = y, McKee = y, Heitkamp = y, Steiner = y, Pontsler = y. Passed 5 yes.
Visitors to Address Council:
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
Village Administrator’s Report – Jeff Long
Village Administrators from Mercer County met with DP & L regarding costs. DP & L is offering an Energy Resource Supply Agreement that will gives us a 10% discount through 2012. Projected savings are $9,000. This savings comes from the transmission and generation charges.
Motion: McKee. Second Searight to approve the DP&L contract. Steiner called for the question. McKee = y, Searight = y, Steiner = y, Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.
The poles are being set at the ball diamond.
Training is taking place for the different areas of the water plant. Training today was calibrating the flow meters and tomorrow we will be working with the drive pumps. Also scheduled this week will be the testing of the high service pumps
Start date for the new Shelter house should be the week of May 3rd if all revisions get approved at the state level in the next week. Several requirements needed to be met. We already have a drinking fountain and bathroom near that met the requirements. Need to make handicap accessible and will be putting in sidewalks to the bathroom. This will really dress up the park. Is going to be a good addition.
Springers will be in to remove and grind out stumps around the Village. Alleyways are completed and look good.
Committee Reports:
Finance Committee – Todd McKee
- RESOLUTION 04-10
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO, AUTHORIZING AN AMBULANCE SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY OF MERCER, OHIO.
Motion Searight. Second Steiner to approve ambulance contract. Pontsler called for the question. Searight = y, Steiner = y, Pontsler = y, McKee = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.
Motion Steiner, Second Heitkamp to pay bills as submitted by the Fiscal Officer in the amount of $10,308.20 (Majority of which consists of Ambulance Contract and DP &L) Searight called for the question. Steiner = y, Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, McKee = y, Pontsler = y, Passed 5 yes.
ServiceCommittee: SteveGehle-absent
Message from Steve:
Reminder – Clean up Day – May 8th from 8 am – noon.
Resident Meeting regarding sidewalks on Holly Lane at the Community Building on April 27th at 7 pm. (This has been changed from the Village Hall)
Health Department – No updated information regarding Trailer Court. Pictures were taken and given to Judy for the Columbia St. house.
Plans for the new Shelter House are at the Village Hall if someone would like to review them.
Safety Committee: Ron Searight
Held a Safety Meeting on Tuesday April 13th at 7 pm. The following items were discussed:
Discussion on the speeding problem on Franklin Street. The committee decided to recommend that a three-way stop sign be installed at the tee of First Street and Franklin Street. They want to introduce the ordinance at next council meeting as an emergency measure.
Reviewed the placement of four-way stop sign at Front Street and Race Street as said would be done when it was first installed. Everyone feels it is working out as desired.
Jeff handed out a Snow Plow Safety Overview to be in our Village safety plan. Council and employees need to get ID badges.
- ORDINANCE 03-10
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION ONE ITEM 56 OF THE ORDINANCE 05-94, WHICH ESTABLISHES THE LOCATION OF POSTED STOP SIGNS WITHIN THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Motion Steiner. Second McKee to suspend the rules of 3 readings for the safety of the Village. Pontsler called for the question. Steiner = y, McKee = y, Pontsler = y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y, Passed 5 yes.
Motion Steiner. Second McKee to adopt Ordinance 03-10. Pontsler called for the question. Steiner = y, McKee = y, Pontsler = y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.
Economic Development Committee: Eugene Steiner
Held Economic Committee Meeting on April 12th at 7 pm. Discussed the following items:
A public meeting will be held in July during the week of the 11th, 18th, or 25th. We need to look at calendar to avoid any conflicts. The theme of the meeting is what we can be done to improve the Village and what the Village can do to help. Specifically we want to address what can be done to entice people to move into the many vacant homes throughout the Village.
Discussion thoughts were presented and the committee and Jeff to work on more ideas before next meeting. Some ideas were:
- Waive utility tap fees utilities for new construction on vacant lots.
- Consider waiving water bill, not including debt service, for a given period
of time.
- Contact banks to see if they could be part of a financial incentive.
- Contact County to see how the CHIP program could be part of the
package.
- Inform people of our Community Reinvestment Area incentives.
- Work with and educate realtors of the incentives.
- In essence develop a program that markets our available homes and empty
lots.
Next Economic Committee meeting will be May 17th at 7 pm.
Public Utilities Committee: Greg Pontsler
Held Committee Meeting on April 13th at 7:30 pm. Following items discussed:
Discussion was held on land repair of water leaks. Water plant is scheduled to begin operation last week of May. Target date for meter billing is August. Discussed proposed wastewater plant. We would like to see a similar plants operation. We are looking at funding options.
Also –
Several questions today regarding the sewer smell in the Village coming from the Wastewater Treatment plant – we have turnover every spring and fall thus the bad smell for a day or two.
Rules Committee: Chris Heitkamp
ORDINANCE 02-10
AN ORDINANCE ENACTING SECTION 90.09 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO PERTAINING TO THE LIMITATION ON KEEPING ANIMALS, FOWLS, AND BEES WITHIN THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD CORPORATION.
- 1st reading – 03/16/10
- 2nd reading – 04/06/10
- 3rd reading – 04/20/10
Motion Searight, Second McKee. Pontsler called for the question. Searight = y, McKee = y, Pontsler = y, Steiner = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.
Ordinance will be in effect in 30 days.
Old Business
New Business:
Meeting adjourned 8:06 pm.
