Meeting Minutes: April 6, 2021
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:
Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph, Tuesday, April 6, 2021
at 7:30 pm also on Facebook live.
Invocation – The Lord’s Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Young, Pontsler, Now, Heitkamp
Yoder and Stephenson absent
Also attending: Srgt Stetler and Marge Gehle
Motion Young Second Pontsler to accept the agenda as orders of the day.
Now called for the question. Young = y, Pontsler = y, Now = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 4 yes.
Motion Now. Second Heitkamp to accept the minutes from the March 16, 2021 council meeting as presented. Pontsler called for the question. Now = y, Heitkamp = y, Pontsler = y, Young = y. Passed 4 yes.
Visitors to Address Council:
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
Easter Egg hunt at Shanes Park went good ! We had a very nice day and lots of kids! Appreciate those that gave generously towards this event.
Community Announcements and events:
Wednesday – April 7 – Parkway School – Arbor Day –
Trees to be delivered to 3rd and 4th graders.
Tuesday – April 13 – Brush pick up
Thursday – April 15th – Tax deadline
Tuesday – April 20th – Arbor Day in the Village – Plant a tree !
Saturday – May 1st – Rockford Spring Fest – 9 am – 4 pm
It’s Official = we will be celebrating our Bicentennial and Community Days
June 18th and 19th.
Village Administrator’s Report – Aaron Temple
WWTP –spring rollover – we will see if the odors are controlled with our process. If not, we will be making some changes.
Maps given to council – 1st page is the sidewalk project from the subdivision to connect to Columbia Street. 2nd page shows the placement of the bus stop that will be built at Shanes Park.
Have had several requests regarding a Pickle Ball Court – working on getting a quote. This will not be cheap if we decide to do the project as the placement needs a total reconstruction if we are going to do it right.
New playground area – blue carpet was coming up. We installed some thresholds – looks nice and is complete.
Put out an ad for seasonal – summer help. Photo Star and on Facebook.
Email lisa.kuhn@rockfordohio.org for an application.
Allyways and pot holes – have had several calls. Our leveler broke and we had to order a new one – cost $1600 – should be here in a week or two and we will get on the project.
Brice from Access Engineering working on a rough draft for the Business Park entrance. We hope to have a meeting in a couple of weeks with TWT Farms to review and make decisions.
Park signs have been refurbished – look very nice and have been put back up.
Several questions from Mayor — Taking care of the apple trees behind the Log Cabin? Anyone taking care of the Herb Garden – Lisa to check with Norm on these items.
Park restrooms – toilet not working and the big pavilion needs power washed – good job for summer help.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee – Shane Young –
Motion Pontsler. – to pay bills as submitted – $ 43,079.67 . Second Heitkamp. Now called for the question. Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = y, Now = y, Young = y. Passed 4 yes.
Motion Heitkamp to approve the monthly financial reports. Second Pontsler. Now called for the question. Heitkamp = y, Pontsler = y, Now = y, Young = y. Passed 4 yes.
Cash Summary by Fund, Appropriations report, Revenue Report,
Budget vs Actual activity report, Bank reconciliation and comparison report for the water, sewer, and income tax.
Motion Heitkamp to approve supplemental appropriations to date. Second Pontsler. Now called for the question. Heitkamp = y, Pontsler = y, Now = y, Young = y. Passed 4 yes.
Motion Now to approve 2nd Quarter Blanket Certificates and additional purchase orders. Second Pontsler. Heitkamp called for the question. Now = y , Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = y, Young = y. Passed 4 yes.
Judy – anything regarding petition to court on fund balance transfers? Yes – found the ORC code in which we can do this. Need some additional details for the Resolution.
• Audit should be completed in about 2 weeks. We will have an exit meeting with the auditors.
Finance Committee meeting – April 27th at 1 pm.
Service Committee: Greg Pontsler –
Motion Young to approve the Rockford Rec Association Officers and members –
2021 Rockford Rec Board. Second Pontsler. Heitkamp called for the question. Young = y , Ponstler = y, Heitkamp = y, Now = y. Passed 4 yes.
Officers:
Matt Fisher – President
Adam Carpenter – Vice President
Jessica Shaffer – Treasurer
Tyler Stover – Secretary
Members:
Brent Agler Jeff Bollenbacher
Andy Rogers Ryan Thompson
Aaron Tong Tyler Stover
Steve Bentz Josh Knapke
Matt Fisher
Motion Now – Permission for Car show location during Rockford Springfest Columbia Street in front of the Village Hall. May 1st – noon – 3 pm.
(22 cars/trucks and 15 motorcycles so far – no entry fee) Second Heitkamp. Young called for the question. Now = y, Heitkamp = y, Young = y , Pontsler = y. Passed 4 yes.
Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp – (Mr. President) –
There will be no Arbor Day assembly at Parkway School this year.
Economic Development Committee: Brad Now –
Shanes Crossing Subdivision – Lots for sale – 20% discount/ build through – December 2021.
Subdivision – cement for mail box and street lights done. Need to set meter and pull wire for the 7 lights to be installed.
Concern regarding flying the Flag in the Village. Please respect our Flag and fly flags that are in good shape and not tattered. The American Legion can dispose of flags that are no longer in good shape. Please and thank you.
WRKD – no updates at this time.
Public Utilities Committee: Luke Stephenson – absent
Report by Aaron – water meter install project will continue.
Rules Committee: Jessica Yoder – absent reports by Shane
ORDINANCE 02-21
ZONING ORDINANCE FOR THE INCORPORATED AREA OF ROCKFORD, OHIO, ESTABLISHING REGULATIONS AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. REPEALING ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS ORDINANCES AND GIVING THIS ORDINANCE FULL FORCE AND EFFECT ON THE DAY OF PASSAGE.
** There will be new requirements regarding junk cars, rubbish, public and private parking restrictions, updated fees and applications.
1st reading – 03/16/2021
2nd reading – 04/06/2021
Motion Heitkamp. Second Pontsler to pass this Ordinance as an emergency. Now called for the question. Heitkamp = y , Pontsler = y, Now = y, Young = y. Passed 4 yes.
Motion Pontsler. Second Now to pass Ordinance 02-21 Heitkamp called for the question. Pontsler = y, Now = y, Heitkamp = y, Young = y. Passed 4 yes.
An Application for a Zoning Change has been filed with the Village of Rockford for property at the West end of South Street. Currently there is a storage building on the property. Property information –
Map Number: 02-17-430-004
Tax Number: 08-037100.0000
Owner: WEHE HOLLY C
Address: 505 W SOUTH ST
The owner of the property has filed a request to the Village of Rockford to change the zoning for the property noted above from ‘COMMERCIAL” to ‘RESIDENTAL’ in order for the storage building to be redesigned into a housing duplex. There is off street parking located on the property.
A Public Hearing was held regarding Zoning this evening on April 6th at 7 pm for anyone interested in asking questions and voicing any concerns regarding this change of zoning. Rene’ Balyeat expressed concerns regarding the property. A rental in a nice neighborhood. Individuals that rent don’t normally take as good of care of the property as an owner would. There are already rentals in the village that are vacant. Wehe expressed she already has some rentals on Market Street and have had no problems. The property is clean and the tenants keep current on rents and water bills. Wehe would be taking care of property maintenance including the yard work.
Council will discuss these concerns and vote at the next meeting.
Old Business:
Subdivision – need to contact lot owners regarding the need to start installing their sidewalks. This should be done soon after the build is complete.
New Business:
April 13 and April 14th – Lisa will be having online continue education training – may not be able to answer phones – please leave a message.
4 Council seats will be on the November ballot. The deadline for petition at the Board of Elections is August 4th at 4 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:24 pm
_________________________ _________________________
Mayor Fiscal officer.
