Meeting Minutes: December 7, 2021

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Meeting Minutes: December 7, 2021

Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph, Tuesday, December 7, 2021

at 7:30 pm.

Invocation –    The Lord’s Prayer

Pledge of Allegiance

Those present:  Searight, Stephenson, Now, Heitkamp

                                                Yoder – absent

Also attending:   Marge Gehle, Robbie Peel, Srgt Stetler and Erin Gardner from the Daily Standard.

Motion Searight. Second Stephenson            to accept the agenda as orders of the day. Heitkamp called for the question.   Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Heitkamp =  y, Now = y.  Passed 4 yes.

Motion Stephenson.  Second Now to accept the minutes from the November 16, 2021 council meeting as presented.  Searight called for the question.   Stephenson = y, Now = y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y .  Passed 4 yes.

Visitors to Address Council:

Mayor’s Report and Correspondence: 

Thank you to the many volunteers who have helped light up the park for Christmas and a special thanks to Santa and Mrs. Claus for stopping by on several occasions. 

The downtown lights also look very nice — Thanks to the village employees.    Looks very festive !  

Community Announcements and events:

Friday – December 10th –    LAST DAY FOR LEAF PICK UP

Tuesday – December 14th – Brush pick up

Saturday – December 18th – RADC handing out Candy Canes – 4 way stop

Sunday – December 19th – A Community Christmas Concert @ 3 pm

            Rockford Belle Community Church

Thursday – Friday – December 23 & 24 – Village office closed for Christmas.

Saturday – December 25th – Together at Christmas –   Free meal @ the Rockford Community Building – All are welcome.   Sponsored by local churches.

Friday – December 31st – Village office closed for New Years

Village Administrator’s Report – Aaron Temple  

Regarding leaf pick up —- after Friday residents can still get rid of leaves by bagging them and dropping them off behind the village office in the grass clippings bin.    Please and Thank you.

Street lights — 7 of the 12 turned in have been fixed.  We are needing additional information when reporting outages.  The MVL pole number and the closet residential address.  

118 South Street lights —  we have worked on this section several times and they work for a while then quit.  We are waiting for Liberty Wayne to come this week to help find the larger problem.   Once these are fixed they are also decorated with Christmas lights.

EPA was here last week doing our wastewater treatment plant survey.  Everything going good – had a couple of recording issues that need to be done differently but all in all good report.   The Water treatment plant will be next — coming up yet this month. 

Water Tower Grant — the application has been signed and returned to Access.  They are waiting on another town to get bids in to compare and work on estimated costs.   The plan would be 1st quarter next year – out for bid and construction then summer/fall 2022. 

Committee Reports

Finance Committee:   Ron Searight

Motion Now     Second Stephenson  to pay bills as submitted  – $ 111,226.17

Heitkamp called for the question.  Now = y, Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Searight = y.  Passed 4 yes.

Motion Stephenson to approve the monthly financial reports.  Second Now.  Heitkamp called for the question.   Stephenson = y, Now = y, Heitkamp – y, Searight = 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 Stephenson.  Now called for the question.   Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Now = y, Searight = y.  Passed 4 yes.

Motion Stephenson to approve additional purchase orders.  Second Heitkamp.  Now called for the question.   Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Now = y. Searight =y,  Passed 4 yes.

RESOLUTION 06-21

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM ACCOUNTS THAT ARE NO LONGER ACTIVE TO THE WATER FUND AND TO THE SEWER FUND; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WITH APPROVAL

This petition has been approved by the court and we are waiting for the official document to proceed. 

ORDINANCE 04-21

AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, STATE OF OHIO. DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2022.

1st reading – 11/02/2021

2nd reading – 11/16/2021

3rd reading – 12/07/2021

Motion: Now  Second Stephenson.    Searight called for the question.   Now = y, Stephenson = y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y.  Passed 4 yes.

RESOLUTION 07-21

A RESOLUTION RETAINING THE SERVICES OF JUDY A KOESTERS AS SOLICITOR FOR THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO FOR 2022, SETTING COMPENSATION, AND ESTABLISHING RESPONSIBILITIES.

Motion:  Now.  Second Heitkamp.  Stephenson called for the question.   Now = y, Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Searight = y.  Passed 4 yes.

Purchase Gift Certificates from the Rockford Chamber for Full time $50 and part time $30 as in the past.    All in agreement – Motion Stephenson-    Second   Now   Heitkamp called for the question.  Stephenson = y, Now = y, Heitkamp = y , Searight = y.  Passed 4 yes.

Service Committee:   Jessica and Chris

Open council seat — to discuss in Executive session at the end of the meeting.

Safety Committee:     Chris Heitkamp –  (Mr. President) – 

Economic Development Committee:  Brad Now –

Shanes Crossing Subdivision – 7 Lots left for sale – contact Tammy Cheek with Homes at Ohio’s Edge Realty.     

DORA updates –   

Business Park updates –   

WRKD updates –   FCC License renewal has been approved.   Will be good until October 1st, 2028.    No major expenses this month and fund balance is looking good.   Going into winter sports underwriting opportunities.

Public Utilities Committee:   Luke Stephenson –   

Rules Committee:    Jessica Yoder – absent

Old Business:

Motion Searight to go into Executive Session – regarding personnel –.  Second Stephenson. Now called for the question.    Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Now = y, Heitkamp = y.  Passed 4 yes.    Time 7:53 pm

Motion Stephenson to come out of Executive Session.  Second Searight.  Now

called for the question.    Stephenson = y, Searight = y, Now = y , Heitkamp = y.  Passed 4 yes.   Time 8:13 pm.

Actions taken: 

Recind Resolution 07-21 –   this will be reviewed and updated for the next council meeting.   Needing to update some of the information.

Motion Searight to appoint Mary Beougher to fill open council seat for the duration of the term – 2 years ending December 2023.   Second Stephenson.  Now called for the question.   Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Now = y, Heitkamp = y .  Passed 4 yes.

Thank you to those who submitted letters of interest – we appreciate your interest in serving on council and invite you to run in the next election. 

New Business:

Meeting adjourned 8:17  pm   

_________________________                      _________________________

Mayor                                                              Fiscal officer.