Meeting Minutes: November 5, 2019
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:
Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on
Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at 7:30 pm at the Rockford Village Hall.
Invocation – Jeff Long
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Gehle, Young, Fox, Pontsler, Now, Heitkamp
Also attending: Tom Stankard – of the Daily Standard, Chief May,
Srgt Stetler, Robbie Peel, Dr. and Mrs. Means, and Aaron Temple
Motion Young. Second Pontsler to accept the agenda as orders of the day. Gehle called for the question. Young = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, Fox = y, Now = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Gehle. Second Fox to accept the minutes from the October 15, 2019 council meeting as presented. Heitkamp called for the question. Gehle = y, Fox = y, Heitkamp = y, Young = y, Pontsler = y, Now = y. Passed 6 yes.
Visitors to Address Council:
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
Community Announcements and events:
Tuesday – November 12th – Brush pick up
Friday – November 8th – St Teresa Chili Supper – Community building All are welcome! Dine in or carry out available.
Sunday – November 10th – Classic Country & Bluegrass Jam
Rockford Community Building – FREE Public event 2 – 5 pm
Saturday – November 16th – Quarter Auction – Bri Scholarship benefit Rockford Community Building
Sunday – November 17th – Shop and Dine Event
Sponsored by Rockford Bicentennial Committee
Lasange Dinner 11 am – 2 pm
Rockford Community Building.
Saturday – November 30th – Small Business Saturday
Sunday December 1 – Christmas at Shanes Park – 6 – 8 pm
• Best Rockford home decoration contest begins
Judging and winner announcement on December 24th via Facebook live with prize presentation.
Wednesday December 25 – Together at Christmas – Community Building
Tuesday December 31st – CELEBRATE ROCKFORD
KICK OFF TO THE ROCKFORD BICENTENNIAL !
• DUELING PIANOS and Drums – 8:30 pm – 11:30pm
• FIREWORKS – midnight
• APPETIZERS / BEVERAGES
• DOORS OPEN AT 7:30 PM
• $40 PER PERSON
• $75 PER COUPLE
• $300 PER TABLE
LIMITED SEATING FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT !!
CONTACT: Rockford Village Office for tickets
Checks to Leota Braun – memo Bicentennial
GRAND CELEBRATION – COMMUNITY BUILDING
MORE EXCITING DETAILS COMING
Village Administrator’s Report – Jeff Long
Reminder of our electric aggregation program with Dynegy – effective till August 2021. Fixed electric price 5.14/kWh — please note if you are already in a program you will need to 1 – find out end of contract date and 2 ask if there is an opt out fee. If you sign up with Dynegy and for some reason don’t like it you may opt out with no fees. An average user at 1400 kWh would save approximately $25 per month.
Odors at WWTP – have added another aerator with oxygen cap on top to prevent excessive odors. The plant is meeting all standards and requirements. We have one of the most efficient plants in the area.
Water tower update by Aaron Temple – we had a company come in to weld the patch. Their take – the walls are paper thin. The tower will not last much longer. This type of tower hasn’t been built since the 1940’s and we think it was actually built sometime in the early 1920’s. It’s past time for replacement. We have started looking for funding.
Plan to construct outside residential areas. Discussed several areas – but that is down the road. Must come up with funding first !
Trailer park cement – needs to go. Dr. Means also commented on the safety hazard. Jeff to contact Mike Maharg.
Veterans Memorial – seeded grasses coming along nicely.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee – Steve Gehle
Motion Young to pay bills as submitted – $33,225.46. Second Now. Heitkamp called for the question. Young =y, Now = y, Heitkamp = y, Gehle = y, Fox = y, Pontsler = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Fox to approve the monthly financial reports:
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.
Second Pontsler, Heitkamp called for the question. Fox = y, Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = y, Gehle = y, Young =y, Now = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Fox approve supplemental appropriations to date. Second Young. Heitkamp called for the question. Fox = y, Young = y, Heitkamp=y, Gehle = y, Pontsler = y, Now = y . Passed 6 yes.
Meeting scheduled for November 12th at 7 pm – review applications / Village Administrator position
Also on November 12th – At 7:30 pm Budget 2020, pay ordinance 2020, police cruiser and other considerations. 1st budget reading at the November 19th council meeting.
Letter from Stephanie Miller – Urban Ohio Forestry – ODNR Congratulations to Rockford for 30 years as Tree City. This a great accomplishment ! Steve noted that it has a special meaning as he recently found out that his grandfather helped start the program locally. 8 trees were planted this week with several more coming.
Service Committee: Greg Pontsler
Gave park update – Rec activities are done for the year. Bathrooms have been winterized.
Sunday December 1 – Christmas at Shanes Park – 6 – 8 pm
Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp
Several stop signs – need attention. Clay and First st.
Economic Development Committee: Shane Young
RADC update – Barb Pedroza working on a Barn Quilt Trail that will connect Decatur, IN to St. Marys and go through Rockford. There is a lot of interest !
Shop and Dine – Lasagne dinner on November 17th – 20 vendors will be set up. This is a fundraiser for bicentennial. Tickets on sale now ! till November 13th Village Hall and committee members.
Owner from Wellness 365 gave presentation at last RADC meeting – Winter hours have started and they have HOT drinks ! Specials on Sundays ! They are interested in being a part of community and organization events.
Fire station mural panels are done! The panels will be hung up in the spring and the final touches will complete the project.
RESOLUTION 06-19
A RESOLUTION DEDICATING THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THE ST MARYS RIVER AT STATE ROUTE 118 ON THE NORTH EDGE OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO —- NAMING IT
“Antoine Chene Memorial Bridge”
Motion Gehle. Second Fox. Heitkamp called for the question. Gehle = y, Fox = y, Heitkamp = y, Young = y, Pontsler = y, Now = y. Passed 6 yes.
Public Utilities Committee: Wilbur Fox
We are ready to begin sending water billing statements by email – if you are interested in this service please send your home address and email address to –
lisa.kuhn@rockfordohio.org.
We will be testing the program for several months. Residents that sign up for this service will still get postcard in the mail for several months until we are sure all procedures are in place.
Rules Committee: Brad Now
Old Business:
Heitkamp mentioned that Chief May sent email regarding the police cruiser and the fact that it’s in the shop for repairs. We have discussed in the past that we only want 1 loan at a time. Council may consider paying off Stet’s cruiser end of year. Will look at loan pay off and will check some line items for funds. Will discuss at meeting next week – Look at reasonable used options? All this up for discussion next week during the budget 2020 talks.
New Business:
Tree City application needs to be completed by December 1st.
_________________________ _________________________
Mayor Fiscal officer.
Meeting adjourned at 8:01 pm
