Meeting Minutes: December 6, 2022
Council called to order by Council President – Ron Searight December 6, 2022
at 7:30 pm.
Invocation – Ron Searight
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Marcas Heitkamp, Ron Searight, Luke Stephenson, Mary Beougher, Chris Heitkamp. Rick Shindeldecker absent.
Also attending: Sandy Schaffner, Robbie Peel, Marge Gehle, Srgt Stetler, Chief May and Erin G of the Daily Standard.
Motion Stephenson. Second Beougher to accept the agenda as orders of the day
M Heitkamp called for the question. Stephenson = y, Beougher = y, M Heitkamp = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 4 yes.
Motion Beougher. Second Stephenson to accept the minutes from the November 15, 2022 council meeting as presented. M Heitkamp called for the question. Beougher = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 4 yes.
Visitors to Address Council:
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
Community Announcements and events:
December 7th – Christmas/ Santa visit at Shanes Park – 6:30 – 8 pm
December 14th – Christmas/ Santa visit at Shanes Park = 6:30 – 8 pm
December 17th – RADC candy cane distribution at the 4 way stop
December 23 – 26th – Village Office closed for Christmas
December 25th – Together at Christmas – Free Christmas meal @ the Rockford Community Building – 10:30 am – 1pm. Sponsored by local churches working together to celebrate Christ’s birth.
January 2nd – Village office closed for New Year’s Day.
January 16th – Village office closed – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Village Administrator’s Report – Aaron Temple –
Water and sewer connections, pressure test and samples for the subdivision / Market St. properties have been done.
Pre-construction meeting for water tower with Access Engineering and Caldwell Tank will take place this week. Do not expect any changes, but will inform council if any are needed.
Still waiting on Access Engineering advise on adding air to the WWTP – we don’t want to mess us the finished product and progress so far.
Suck holes along Market Street will be fixed this week.
Restrooms at the park – closed for the season.
Weather working with us at this time – haven’t had time to work on tool inventory.
Sent 3 certified letters for possible demo of structures. 1 property has come into compliance. The other 2 property owners have not made any attempts to contact us. December 8th and December 12th will be the deadlines. After this we will contact gas and electric to have them remove services and begin the process of demo. On a side note – there are a couple others that will be receiving notifications on violations.
Searight — Thank you to Aaron for leading in getting these properties cleaned up this is progress we want to keep moving forward. Owners need to be taking responsibility for their properties.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee: Ron Searight – President
Motion Beougher. Second Stephenson to pay the bills as presented –
$109,016.38. Heitkamp called for the question. Beougher = y, Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, M Heitkamp = y. Passed 4 yes.
Motion Stephenson to approve the monthly financial reports. Second M Heitkamp. Heitkamp called for the question. Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Heitkamp = y, Beougher = 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 Heitkamp to approve supplemental appropriations to date. Second M Heitkamp. Stephenson called for the question. Heitkamp = y, M Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y, Passed 4 yes.
Motion Heitkamp to approve additional purchase orders. Second Beougher. Stephenson called for the question. Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y. Passed 4 yes.
ORDINANCE 10-22
AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, STATE OF OHIO, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,2023
1st reading – 11/01/2022
2nd reading – 11/15/2022
3rd reading – 12/06/2022
Motion M Heitkamp, Second Stephenson. Heitkamp called for the question. M Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y , Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y. Passed 4 yes.
RESOLUTION 12-22
A RESOLUTION RETAINING THE SERVICES OF JUDY A KOESTERS AS SOLICITOR FOR THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO FOR 2023, SETTING COMPENSATION, AND ESTABLISHING RESPONSIBILITIES.
Motion: Beougher. Second Stephenson. M Heitkamp called for the question. Beougher = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 4 yes.
* Upcoming meetings – Motion Stephenson. Second Heitkamp to cancel the December 20th meeting. Beougher called for the question. Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, M Heitkamp = y. Passed 4 yes.
January 3rd – meeting will be an organizational meeting and back to regular meetings January 17th.
Service Committee: Mary Beougher
Thank you to Jeremy and Amy Joseph and other volunteers who helped decorate Shanes Park. Looks beautiful ! Please take time to drive by and enjoy the beautiful lights and visit Santa on December 7 and December 14th.
Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp
Have posted on Facebook the need for Tree Committee members — have not heard from anyone.
Economic Development Committee: Rick Shindeldecker – absent
Shanes Crossing Subdivision – – 1 Lot left for sale – contact Tammy Cheek with Homes at Ohio’s Edge Realty. Aaron noted that we are waiting on some firm numbers for the next cul-de-sac – which will give us another 7 lots.
New Business – Opportunity in Rockford, Ohio –
Corner of Main Street and Columbia Street call RCS Construction
at 419-586-9367.
Public Utilities Committee: Luke Stephenson –
Reminder —
Base water rate increase from $33.00 to $53.00 – Beginning January 2023
Village will no longer be sending monthly shut off letters – if not paid in full by the end of each month water services will get shut off – $25 fee will be assessed to the next billing cycle.
WRKD updates – nothing at this time.
Rules Committee: Marcas Heitkamp
ORDINANCE 11-22
AN ORDINANCE REGARDING CONTROLLING UNCONTROLLED PARKING OF VEHICLES, ESTABLISHING PENALITIES, REPEALING INCONSISTENT LEGISLATION, AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
1st reading – 11/1/2022
2nd reading – 11/15/2022
3rd reading – 12/06/2022
Motion Beougher. Second Stephenson. M Heitkamp called for the question. Beougher = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 4 yes.
Received inventory list from Police Department and front office. We can push the deadline back to first of year for the rest of information.
Old Business:
Motion Heitkamp to go into Executive session. Second Stephenson. M Heitkamp called for the question. Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y. Passed 4 yes. —- regarding Personnel – Time 7:47 pm
Motion M Heitkamp to come out of Executive session. Second Heitkamp. Stephenson called for the question. M Heitkamp = y, Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y. Passed 4 yes. – Time 8:43 pm
No action taken.
New Business:
Searight – The next meeting will be held on January 3rd will be an organizational meeting to set up committees. Please let Mayor Joseph know if you are interested in changing committees. We need to be open minded and use our strengths for each committee.
Meeting adjourned 8:45 pm
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Mayor Fiscal officer
