Meeting Minutes: December 3, 2013

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:

Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 7:30 pm at the Rockford Village Hall.

Invocation was given by Gene Steiner

Pledge of Allegiance

Those present: Gehle, Steiner, Pontsler, Searight, Heitkamp

Also attending: Jeff Long, Srgt. Stetler, Chase Heitkamp, Wilbur Fox, John Dooley and Amy K from the Daily Standard.

Motion Steiner. Second Searight to accept the agenda as orders of the day. Gehle called for the question. Steiner = y, Searight = y, Gehle = y, Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.

Motion: Searight. Second Gehle to accept the minutes from the November 19 , 2013 council meetings as presented. Heitkamp called for the question. Searight = y, Gehle = y, Heitkamp = y, Steiner = y, Pontsler = y. Passed 5 yes.

Motion to appoint Gary Wilbur Fox as the new council person. Motion Steiner, Second Pontsler. Searight called for the question. Steiner = y, Pontsler = y, Searight = y, Gehle = Y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.

Mayor Joseph swore in Gary Fox as the new council person. Congratulations.

Visitors to Address Council:

Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:

• Dog Tags will be available for purchase at the Village Hall until January 31, 2014
• Rockford Community Days Meeting – December 4th at 7 pm. All organizations in the Village are encouraged to send a representative. We will see how this meeting goes as to if we have Community Days or not.
• Encouragement to visit Shanes Park. Lights and Decorations will be displayed throughout December. Thanks to Joyce Emans for the inspiration and time it’s taken to make our park beautiful. Thanks to those volunteers that have helped Joyce get the job done. Joyce also does an excellent job taking care of the park flowers in the summer.
• WCSM – Spotlight on Rockford December 9 – 13th. $750 in Rockford Gift Certificates to be given away. Sponsored by the Rockford Chamber to help support local business.
• The RADC will be giving out candy canes at the 4-way stop on December 21st beginning at 1 pm
• The Rockford Belle will be having an Open House on December 21st from 1 – 3 pm. Santa will be there for pictures. They will be serving punch and cookies.

Village Administrator’s Report – Jeff Long

End of leaf pick up will be December 13th. We will be getting back to brush yet this month.

Park looks beautiful in lights. Along with the park information, Ryan Sipe of the Rockford Rec Board and Jared Ebbing from the Mercer County Economic Development and Jeff met regarding the another phase in Shanes Park improvements. They will be working on a grant application that has a deadline of next Thursday. Our investment will be ‘in kind’ labor. What we foresee with the project is construction of Diamond 5, putting in walking paths along with exercise stations along with solar lighting. There would not be lighting on Diamond 5.

We are still working toward an ODOT Route 33 enhancement project.

Mayor Joseph reported that she sent an email regarding a residents complaint about our “trashy” town. She said that its going in a positive direction, but there is still work to be done. We need to follow up on problem areas and continue to clean up.

Committee Reports

Finance Committee – Ron Searight

Motion Pontsler to pay the bills in the amount of $8,722.22 . Second Gehle. Majority of expenses DP & L, Bulk Salt. Searight called for the question. Pontsler = y, Gehle = y Searight = y , Heitkamp = y, Steiner = y, Fox = y, Heitkamp = y. . Passed 5 yes.

ORDINANCE 04-13

AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITIURES OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, STATE OF OHIO, DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,2014

1st reading 11/05/13

2nd reading – 11/19/13

3rd reading – 12/03/13

Motion Gehle, Second Heitkamp. Searight called for the question. Gehle = y, Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Steiner = y, Fox = y, Pontsler = y. Passed 6 yes.

RESOLUTION 13-13

A RESOLUTION RETAINING THE SERVICES OF JUDY A. KOESTERS AS SOLICITOR FOR THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO, FOR 2014, SETTING COMPENSATION AND ESTABLISHING RESPONSIBILITIES.

Motion Gehle . Second Steiner. Pontsler called for the question. Gehle = y, Steiner = y, Pontsler = y, Fox = y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.

Service Committee: Greg Pontsler

We have good reports on the lights at the park.

The West St. property case has been continued another month.

Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp

As Jeff stated – leaf pickup will be until December 13th. Ralph Rhoades thanks the village for helping him out with leaf pick up. The stop signs have been purchased and will be a work in progress.

In regards to the Santa House for next year. We will be looking for some volunteers to spruce up the house. This actually falls under the Chamber instead of the Village.

Economic Development Committee: Eugene Steiner

Nothing at this time.

Public Utilities Committee: Steve Gehle

Nothing at this time.

Rules Committee: Gary Wilbur Fox

Nothing at this time.

Old Business

Thank you to Betsey’s Boutique it was awesome to see the village so busy last Saturday morning. T102 was in town. As you can see – a small business can be successful in the Village of Rockford.

Thank you to the Rockford Fire Department for continuing to work on the South Main street lot getting it cleaned up.

Jeff will give out packets in January with information on a land purchase.

New Business

There have been some discussions about working towards an Electronic Community Information Board. There have been several businesses that would like to see this happen and would be willing to make donations to help make it happen. Greg and Jeff to do some research on this project.

Meeting adjourned 8:00 pm.