Meeting Minutes: June 7, 2022

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Meeting Minutes: June 7, 2022

Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph, Tuesday, June 7, 2022

at 7:30 pm.

Invocation –    Ron Searight

Pledge of Allegiance

Those present:  Ron Searight,  Luke Stephenson,  Mary Beougher, Brad Now.  Jessica Yoder and Chris Heitkamp- absent

Also attending:   Chief May, Srgt Stetler, Patrick Slusher,  Mr. Peel Sr. & Robbie, Bret Peel, Bret Jones, Marge Gehle, Sandy Schaffner, Randy Now, Tyler & Mattea Croft, Vince and Cheryl Blossom,  Jacob Larger  – Republican Candidate 84th House District, Erin G of the Daily Standard.

Motion Searight.  Second Stephenson to accept the agenda as orders of the day.   

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

Motion Stephenson.  Second Searight to accept the minutes from the May 17, 2022  council meeting as presented.        Now called for the question.    Stephenson = y, Searight = y , Now = y, Beougher = y.  Passed 4 yes.

Visitors to Address Council:

Jacob Larger  – Republican Candidate 84th House District –  Introduced himself and will be running in the Special Election to be held on August 2nd.   Active Council President for New Bremen.   3 major policies if given the chance to go to Columbus to represent this area.   1.  Work force  – getting people back to work

2.  Pro-life with improvements in the Foster care programs.  3.  Small business advocate with common sense regulations.    Thanks for allowing this opportunity.   Vote on August 2nd

Mark Elliott – no show

Bret Jones – discussing 2 properties one on Columbia Street and one Franklin Street – days after village spraying for weeds a cat was found dead.   Did the chemicals kill the cat ?  Who know but there was no notice to the family that weeds would be sprayed.  Children live at one of the properties and we don’t know if these chemicals are safe.   Showed photo of the dead cat to council.  ODA looking into the situation.  

Randy Now –  a law firm in Columbus looking at taking a case on behalf of some residents of the Village for ordinances that they feel are unconstitutional.  They do not charge and get paid by donations.   States we are looking at a 1 million dollar lawsuit.    If the case gets accepted,  the village will be notified.  

Mayor’s Report and Correspondence: 

Rockford Community Days!    We are eager to Celebrate our Community!

Community Announcements and events:

June 17th  – Rockford Community Days Car Show sponsored by the  Rockford Lions Club —  – Market St.

June 17 & 18th —  Rockford Community Days & Art Festival    Join us as we CELEBRATE our Community !

June 17th – Fireworks start at 10 pm

June 18th – 2022 Grand Parade –  begins at 5 pm

July 4 – Independence Day – Village office closed

•           Community Days schedule of events posted on Facebook @

“Rockford Community Days”

Village Administrator’s Report – Aaron Temple  –

Taylor painting quote to resurface and stripe the Community building parking lot came in at roughly $10,000.     Needs done and will not get cheaper by waiting.

Will begin the overlay project on Buckeye Street this week. 

WWPT –  applied 1st dose of the chemicals we discussed at a previous meeting.  Drastic improvement within 15 minutes.  We will continue to monitor.  Purchased an initial 10 buckets and hoping the odors continue to improve.  Fort Recovery having good results also.

Received report of inspection of  water plant from Artesian for filters and media.    Cost $6850.     EPA suggested we change all the media but after some discussions they are in agreement with another inspection in 5 years and make decisions at that time.

All costs have increased 15-20%.

Sidewalk / curb at the 4-way stop has been replaced.

Main Street repaving project to begin this week in Mercer and will go through to the west side of the village.

Gave out updated spreadsheet on property maintenance –  mailed 27 letters have acted on 10 of those and a couple of those have had to be done twice.   Keeping up on it is taking up time form other projects but we need to keep residents in compliance for the sake of their neighbors. 

Committee Reports

Finance Committee:   Ron SearightPresident

Motion Stephenson.  Second Now to pay the bills as presented – $ 138,420.05

Beougher called for the question.    Majority because of loan payments due on July 1st.    Stephenson = y, Now = y, Beougher = y, Searight = y,  Passed 4 yes.

Motion Now to approve the monthly financial reports.  Second Stephenson.  Beougher called for the question.   Now = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y, Searight = y.  Passed 4 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 Stephenson to approve supplemental appropriations to date.  Second Now.  Searight called for the question.   Stephenson = y, Now = y, Searight = y, Beougher = y.  Passed 4 yes.

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

Finance meeting was held on May 25th at 7 pm.  Discussed – batteries for the toilets at park, police security at local events, park rentals, part time officer, and budget issues.

Next Finance meeting to be held on – June 14th at 7 pm.

Budget Hearing –   July 5th – 7:00 pm

2023 Annual Budget to County Auditor by July 15, 2022.

Service Committee:   Mary Beougher

New business building continues to make improvements each week.  The Eagles is working on the side of their building and planning an outdoor patio – will look nice. 

Took a day and visited the businesses – heard no complaints all seem happy with town and the many improvements.

Safety Committee:     Chris Heitkamp – absent report by Ron Searight

Motion Stephenson to approve new part time patrol officer – Patrick Slusher.  Second Now.  Beougher called for the question.  Stephenson = y, Now = y, Beougher =  y, Searight = y,  Passed 4 yes.

Economic Development Committee:  Brad Now –

Shanes Crossing Subdivision – 5 Lots left for sale – contact Tammy Cheek with Homes at Ohio’s Edge Realty.        . 

Business Park updates –  

WRKD –   $13,000 in the bank.  Chris Rasbach got the air conditioning up and running properly.  Will need an extra cable that has been ordered.   Will no longer need the window unit and will be nice and cool for all the equipment that is running in the studio.

Public Meeting for the DORA was held at 7pm – June 7, 2022

Feedback — some questions asked and answered.  No negative feedback.

Ordinance 06-22

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A DESIGNATED OUTDOOR REFRESHMENT AREA (DORA) IN THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD; ENACTING REGULATIONS; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

1st reading – 05/17/2022

2nd reading – 06/07/2022

Motion Searight.  Second Beougher to suspend the Rules and pass Ordinance 06-22 as an emergency.  Stephenson called for the question.  Searight = y, Beougher =  y, Stephenson = y. Now = y.   Passed 4 yes.

Motion Searight to pass Ordinance 06-22.  Second Stephenson.  Now called for the question.   Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Now =y, Beougher = y.  Passed 4 yes.

Public Utilities Committee:   Luke Stephenson –   

We are getting quotes for GAS aggregation.  Will know more July/August on rating. 

If residents are interested they can still sign up for the ELECTRIC aggregation.   The rates are $.0477 until May 2024.   Please make sure you are not already in a contract with another company.  If not, contact Valerie with Palmer Energy at 419-491-1040 and she will help you get switched to Energy Harber as your supplier.

Rules Committee:    Jessica Yoder absent report by Ron Searight

Working on Ordinance to assess unpaid property maintenance invoices – 1st reading at the next meeting.

Notice to Rockford Council to transfer the Liquor permit from Frankie Jos LLC to Wildfire Bar & Grill….  If no objections will sign and return to the State.

Motion to approve permit change Searight.  Second Now.  Stephenson called for the question.  Searight = y, Now = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y.  Passed 4 yes. 

Old Business:

New Business:

All elected officials need Public Records Training –  

Motion Beougher.  Second Stephenson.  Searight called for the question to appoint Lisa as the designee to attend the virtual training on June 23rd.   The office will be closed while training is in session.

Meeting adjourned  8:05  pm   

_________________________                      _________________________

Mayor                                                              Fiscal officer