Meeting Minutes: March 4, 2014

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:

Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 7:30 pm at the Rockford Village Hall.

Invocation was given by Gene Steiner

Pledge of Allegiance

Those present:   Steiner, Fox, Pontsler, Dooley, Heitkamp
Gehle absent

Also attending:  Jeff Long, Chase Heitkamp, Chief May, Jim Crocker, and  Amy K from the Daily Standard.

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

Motion: Dooley.    Second Fox to accept the minutes from the February 18 , 2014  council meetings as presented.  Pontsler called for the question.  Dooley = y, Fox = y, Pontsler = y, Steiner = y, Heitkamp = y.  Passed 5 yes.

Visitors to Address Council:

Jim Crocker updated council regarding the Rockford Radio Station.  We are waiting on FAA approve for the tower.  Once we have the FAA approval the FCC will be granting us a construction permit.  We will have 18 months to get the station up and running.  We have several people on board to help with fund raising and running the station.  There will be some construction expenses that we will be bringing to the communities attention and will be asking for donations.

This will be a low power radio station that will cover approx. 4 mile circle.

The station will be located at the Rockford Village Hall in the upstairs meeting room.

Thank you to Jim!

Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:

• We have 60 people signed up for the Rockford text alerts.  Encourage friends and neighbors to get signed up.
• Rockford Community Days Meeting – March 4 at 7:30 pm.
• There will be a Weather Spotter Course – Tuesday – March 18th  from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Central Services Building.  Registration is not required
• The Community Days Committee will be sponsoring a Wine Tasting on April 12th from 7 to 10 pm.  Please RSVP to rcdwinetasting or call 419-363-3032 ext 1.
• The Rockford Chamber is holding a Spring Flower Bulb sale.  Information available at the Village office or check the Rockford Ohio Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.
• The Rockford Chamber will be holding a Social Media Class “Facebook Marketing – it’s fun AND profitable on March 20th @ the Village Hall. Cost is $10 per Chamber Member and $15 per non Chamber member.  RSVP required.  Laptops welcome.

Village Administrator’s Report – Jeff Long

Winter has been hard on the streets.  We have pavement that will need maintenance and repairs.  We are looking at options to get this job done.  We have to much invested to let the problems persist.  We will go with the most affordable option.

Had meeting with Jared Ebbing and several others from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  We are working on a grant to begin construction of a canoe run from Mendon to Rockford on the St. Mary’s River.

The DP & L Agreement price of 6.25 will lapse in May.  We are working to get the price a little lower to lock in price until 2017.  This has been a good deal for the Village that has saved us money.

Committee Reports

Finance Committee –  Chris Heitkamp

Motion Dooley to pay the bills in the amount of $15,153.79 . Second Pontsler. Steiner  called for the question.  Dooley = y, Pontsler = y, Steiner = y, Fox = y, Heitkamp = y.  Passed 5 yes.

RESOLUTION 02-14

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN A NOTE WITH THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY, INC. FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENT.  DISINFECTION REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

Motion Pontsler, Second Steiner.  Dooley called for the question.  Pontsler = y, Steiner = y, Dooley = y, Fox = y, Heitkamp = y.  Passed 5 yes.

Service Committee:   Greg Pontsler

In talking with Ryan Sipe of the Rockford Rec Board there has been a donation to the Rec Board of a 2013 John Deere Gator.  The Rec Board has purchased new picnic tables and trash cans.  They are in the process of putting roofs on several of the dugouts.  There have been a lot of improvements with more to come.  All this is being done through donation from the businesses and residents of the community. We are still working on the surveillance cameras. Make sure you visit Shanes Park this spring / summer.

Other Rec news – they applied for a grant for Diamond 5.  We should hear something in a month or so.

Jeff to check on getting WIFI at the park from Time Warner.  This would help with the cameras by getting live feed.

Safety Committee:     Gary Fox

The traffic at the school – before school and after.  Very Busy.  What can we do if anything to help the situation.    School issue and private property not much we can do.  Paul to discuss with Mr. Puthoff.  If people are leaving to go south they should be using the south exit – would help a lot !

Economic Development Committee:   Gene Steiner

Economic Development committee meeting was held on March 4th at 7 pm.

Present – John, Jeff and Gene.  Plans for 2014 discussed.  In April they will begin meeting at 7 pm before every council meeting.  We have developed a plan and are in the process of implementing the plan.  We will be presenting to council what we are wanting.  We are asking Jeff to work in the office instead of working on outside projects.  In 2014 expect to see results.

Mayor Joseph thanked the group.  We are excited to see results.

There is a RADC Meeting on March 24th at 7 pm – library basement.

Public Utilities Committee:   Steve Gehle – absent

Rules Committee:      John Dooley

Will be working with Lisa on the Rules book.

Old Business

The Village of Rockford information cards have been updated.

New Business

Information for the Wine Tasting committee.

Meeting adjourned  8:22  pm.