Meeting Minutes: July 7, 2020
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:
Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph, Tuesday, July 7, 2020,
at 7:30 pm.
Invocation – The Lord’s Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Young, Pontsler, Now, Heitkamp
Gehle – absent
Also attending: Srgt Stetler, Sydney Albert of the Daily Standard, Robbie Peel,
Marge Gehle, and Nancy Leighner
Motion Young. Second Pontsler to accept the agenda as orders of the day. Heitkamp called for the question. Young = y, Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = y, Now = y. Passed 4 yes.
Motion Now. Second Heitkamp to accept the minutes from the June 16, 2020 council meeting as presented. Pontsler called for the question. Now = y, Heitkamp = y, Pontsler = y, Young = y. Passed 4 yes.
Visitors to Address Council:
Nancy wanted to present a list of concerns to council –
- Buckets at splash pad cracked — replacements will be ordered this week. The Village will pay and get reimbursed from the Splash pad funds.
Also regarding splash pad — looking into a sign asking children to not continuously press the start button — not sure it will work – the very young children can’t read. Parents – allow children to press the button then when the water STOPS— to restart… no need to keep pressing the button when the water is already running !
- Still local concerns over the speed limit in the former trailer park area, Dollar General and those living in the area. The limit needs to be taken down — posted is 50 but of course people are going over that speed.
- Post Office building — needing repairs. The owner actually called today and would like to work with the Village Admin / and historical society to preserve the historic building. The owner is also looking for some history of the building !
- Economic development brought up by RADC – seems to be many empty homes — why are they not being sold or rented out ?
- Eagerly waiting for the new playground area to be completed.
Thank you Nancy for coming back to the meetings and bringing community concerns to the Council.
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
Mondays at 7:30 pm –
The Mayors Corner Radio Show — Rockford news and updates
Upcoming guest next Monday – Brad Now regarding Economic Development incentives.
Thank you to Dr. Means for serving on the council. We have appreciated your service and getting to know you, and your help with sharing virus information and keeping us updated on the radio show.
We now have an open council seat. Council should have it filled by August 4th council meeting. Please residents — if you are interested – please contact the Village office with letter of interest.
Community Announcements and events:
Friday – July 10th — Water shuts off – may resume according to Governor directives.
Tuesday – July 14 – Brush pick up
Wednesday – July 15th — This year’s tax deadline –
extended from April 15th
Sunday – July 19 – Gun/purse Bingo — —Doors open 3:30 pm
Bingo from 5 – 8 pm
July 30 – National Plowing Contest –
Aug 7 – Aug 9 Schoolhouse Farms 1862 – Sunflowers In Bloom Festival
Located at 5486 Ross Rd., Rockford, Ohio 45882
Saturday – September 19th – Barn Quilt Bus Tour – ticket information coming soon. * Limited seating *
Monday – October 5th deadline to be registered to Vote in the November election.
Village Administrator’s Report – Aaron Temple
Several items tonight –
Playground area – work continues.
Curbs are being pressure washed and then will be painted.
Concrete road patchwork is started but not finished.
State street – the next property maintenance to be addressed — we had to do a lot of spraying as the poison ivy was to the street. It’s really bad – has not been kept up for years and will take at least 1 full day to see any progress.
Update on Main street lights – LED paying off –
Fire station to 4-way — 2019 $ 106 current $48
4 – way to New Horizons – 2019 $133 current $59
The project is paying for itself – huge difference.
Amy to Aaron – Veterans Banner issues. People that purchased banners that are located on Market Street are upset they are not located on Main Street. If we could take down the Market Street banners and move to the Main Street then if necessary — use Market street as the final area for banners. Will move the banners then they are permanent – we can’t keep moving banners around.
Rec Board Park area – weeds have been sprayed. Waiting on A & A Greenhouse to refurbish the flower beds. Volleyball court has been revived.
Still waiting on Miami Valley to fix some light issues.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee – Shane Young
Motion Now. Second Heitkamp to pay bills as presented $ 19,668.13. Pontsler
called for the question. Now = y, Heitkamp = y, Pontsler = y, Young = y. Passed 4 yes.
Motion Pontsler to approve the monthly financial reports. Second Heitkamp.
Now called for the question. Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = 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 Now. Pontsler called for the question. Heitkamp = y, Now = y, Pontsler = y, Young = y. Passed 4 yes.
Motion Heitkamp to approve 3rd Quarter blanket purchase orders. Second Pontsler. Now called for the question. Heitkamp = y, Pontsler = y, Now = y, Young =y. Passed 4 yes.
Budget Commission meeting – August 6th — 10 / 11 am time — will get meeting set up.
Information from County auditor – Rockford estimate a $1267.85 loss for the year or 4.53% because of virus issues.
Service Committee: Greg Pontsler
Blair has list of curbs that need repaired before painting and a list of pot holes still needing work.
Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp –
Thanks to the Mercer Co Sheriff for the Mobile detect field test kit donation. Using technology we will be able to test to see what drugs test positive – (sometimes when you have drugs in vehicles you don’t know for sure what you are dealing with.) This will be extremely helpful and allow officers to work safer.
Motion Now to approve the Agreement for Extra Duty Law Enforcement Service for Transportation of Behaviorally Impaired Citizens and $28.00 per hour per Officer paid to subdivision – July 1, 2020 to June 30,2021. Second Young. Pontsler called for the question. Now = y, Young = y, Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 4 yes.
Economic Development Committee: Brad Now
Shanes Crossing Subdivision – Lots for sale – 20% discount/ build through – December 2021. Haven’t not received any updates on the subdivision lately.
Subdivision – sold another lot. We have 2 more sales in the works.
Reminder – The Village of Rockford is a Community Reinvestment Area –
• Percentage of tax exemption on the increase in assessed valuation resulting from improvements.
• 50% for 5 years for construction or remodeling of dwellings of at least $2500.00
• Also some incentives for commercial or industrial facilities
Contact Village office for more information! This information will be discussed more on The Mayors Corner radio show next Monday.
Public Utilities Committee: – need council member
Rules Committee: Steve Gehle – absent
Old Business:
The Bicentennial 2020 Garden Walk was a success ! Thanks to those that were invoved.
The historic mural – looks fantastic – amazing! Dan Keyes did a wonderful job !
Previous radio shows can be found on the station web site on podcast — also on the Facebook page.
New Business:
DP & L billing — several concerns that bills are double even triple from last month. What is going on ? Please call DP & L with concerns. Updated from 07/08/2020 – message from Shane that March through May bill were estimated and now they are billing to get caught up.
Question on the Facebook live post — face masks and the village —- masks are optional here.
Meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm
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Mayor Fiscal officer.
