Meeting Minutes: June 6, 2023
Council called to order by Mayor – Amy Joseph on June 6, 2023
at 7:30 pm.
Invocation – Ron Searight
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Marcas Heitkamp, Ron Searight, Luke Stephenson,
Rick Shindeldecker, Mary Beougher, Chris Heitkamp.
Also attending: Ross Finke, Robbie Peel, Marge Gehle, Srgt Stetler,
Chief May, Francis Schaffner and Erin Gardner of the Daily Standard.
Motion Searight. Second Stephenson to accept the agenda with addition of SRO Contract approval as orders of the day. Shindeldecker called for the question. Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Shindeldecker = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Searight. Second Stephenson to accept the minutes from the May 16, 2023 council meeting as presented. Shindeldecker called for the question. Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Shindeldecker = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y . Passed 6 yes.
Visitors to Address Council:
* Note deadline for council agenda the Friday before council at 4 pm. *
*** time limit 5 minutes ***
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
Thank you to the Rockford American Legion Post 508 for the generous donation of the American Flags that are located along Main St. – They purchase new flags each year and we don’t always remember to give thanks.
Also would like to thank them for the generous donation in reprinting the faded Veterans Banners – this was a costly project and is greatly appreciated. Also for organizing the Memorial Remembrance Day – it was a beautiful ceremony as it is each year.
Congratulations to the Parkway Athletes making it to State — We are proud of your accomplishments.
Community Announcements and events:
Friday / Saturday June 16/ 17 – Rockford Community Days / Art Festival
Car Show, “Cooler” Quarter Auction. Magician, Parade, Food, Fireworks FREE Rides sponsored by Belna Petroleum – which is greatly appreciated !
*Kids – Special guests include Rubble from Paw Patrol, Reggie the T-Rex and Kevin the Pterodactyl – additional kids games and party on the splash pad !! 😊
There really is something for everyone — come enjoy the park and help us raise funds for the Shanes Park Pond area – we need a shelter house, bathroom and some benches to name a few items — concentrating on the Shelter house first.
Another way to help us is – like and share our event pages on Facebook.
Village Administrator’s Report – Aaron Temple –
New Tower – received monthly update. They are making up time. Walls this week. Steel fab in progress. July steel install, August paint, then electrical and hook up. Testing to begin the first of October. They might make the original completion date end of October.
Rehab Tower – have not gotten any updates on the project recently.
Apologize for the boil water advisory a couple weeks ago. We ended up needing to fix 3 major water leaks — Thank you to Blair and Joe — did a great job. Knew exactly what needed done and went to work. Several very long days. Also thanks to Shinn Brothers — arrived within an hour or so and really helped us out.
Pond odor – we continue to add ingredients and the ponds are acting different – smell not as bad. We are sampling daily. Seems to be improving each day.
Jet rodder service was hired to check out some storm drains – found a lot of blockage from tree roots. We really need to make sure we have better placement in planting trees. The roots will always go towards water and then we get major problems with blockage.
Storage building next door – sold to Rockford Cabinet Company. The new storage area is about ½ done. We are waiting to see if we can get some asphalt grindings from ODOT project to use as a base before pouring cement slab. This would save several thousand dollars.
Shane Park Pond — Open – for swimming but please note there will not be a life guard. Adults need to be at the pond with their children to supervise. One thing we ask — PLEASE — Respect the Park. We have already had problems with kids throwing rocks — this in unacceptable.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee: Ron Searight – President
Motion Shindeldecker. Second M Heitkamp to pay the bills as presented $58,407.02. Heitkamp called for the question. Shindeldecker = y, M Heitkamp = y, Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Stephenson to approve the monthly financial reports. Second Shindeldecker. Beougher called for the question. Stephenson = y, Shindeldecker = y, Beougher = y, M Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Cash Summary by Fund, Appropriations report, Revenue Report,
Budget vs Actual activity report, Bank statement, comparison report for the water, sewer, and income tax.
Motion Shindeldecker to approve supplemental appropriations to date. Second Heitkamp. M Heitkamp called for the question. Shindeldecker = y, Heitkamp = y, M Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y . Passed 6 yes.
Motion Beougher to approve additional purchase orders. Second Stephenson. Shindeldecker called for the question. Beougher = y, Stephenson = y, Shindeldecker = y, M Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Held finance committee meeting at 7 pm — discussed 2024 Budget.
2024 Budget – 1st review — is a preliminary budget due to auditor by July 15th. Everyone should have received copies via email.
Public Hearing – 2024 Budget at June 20th at 7 pm – Village Hall before next council meeting.
Quarterly transfer to Front St. Fund – added to agenda so we remember to note the amount of transfer and where the funds are coming from each quarter.
Motion Beougher to transfer $15,000 from General Fund to Franklin St Fund for the 2nd quarter transfer. Second Stephenson. Heitkamp called for the question.
ORDINANCE NO. #01-23
AN ORDINANCE LEVYING ASSESSMENTS FOR UNPAID PROPERTY MAINTENANCE FEES, AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
1st reading – 06/06/2023
ORDINANCE 02-23
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SALARIES FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO, REPEALING ANY ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT THEREWITH, AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
1st reading – 06/06/2023
Service Committee: Mary Beougher –
Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp
Parkway Schools and the Village have been in negotiations for the School Resource Officer position (SRO). The Contract has been finalized and would be approved by council and then by the school board next week to be effective July 1st.
Motion Searight. Second Stephenson to approve the SRO contract with Parkway Local Schools. M Heitkamp called for the question. Searight = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Shindeldecker = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Fire Hydrant on State St. — we can work on this issue when we are prepared to fix a water leak.
Economic Development Committee: Rick Shindeldecker
RADC Committee meeting update – was a good meeting and some new interest in development.
Public Utilities Committee: Luke Stephenson –
Council members have received updated by-laws for WRKD. Will need to review and planning to approve at the next meeting. Mostly changing that
they are appointing Chris Rasbach as the station manager.
Rules Committee: Marcas Heitkamp
Old Business:
2023 is an Election Year — Mayor and 2 council seats. If interested pick up petitions at the Board of Election with information on how to file to be on the ballot in November. Deadline – August 9th at 4 pm.
Reminder – July 4th meeting canceled. July meeting date will be July 18th.
Thankful and grateful for our village employees working on the major water leaks – took several days and long hours to get everything back in shape.
New Business:
Shanes Park — reminding guests at the park to RESPECT THE PARK – clean up after yourselves, there is no reason for popsicle wrappers to be scattered all over the park. Ball Teams —- should be cleaning up after their events. We have a nice park but it takes everyone working together to keep it nice and clean – it’s not to much to ask.
Meeting adjourned 8:02 pm
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Mayor Fiscal officer
