Meeting Minutes: November 7, 2023
Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on November 7, 2023
at 7:30 pm.
Invocation – Ron Searight
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Marcas Heitkamp, Ron Searight, Luke Stephenson,
Mary Beougher, Shane Young, Chris Heitkamp.
Also attending: Ross Finke, Francis Schaffner, Marge Gehle, Robbie Peel, Chief Stetler.
Motion Searight. Second Stephenson to accept the agenda as orders of the day. M Heitkamp called for the question. Searight = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Young = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Young. Second Heitkamp to accept the minutes from the October 17th council meeting as presented. Beougher called for the question. Young = y, Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, M Heitkamp = y, Searight = y. Stephenson = 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 following sponsors of Rocktoberfest… What a day !
Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Main Street Committee, The Fremont Company, Mercer Health, Chatt Insurance, The Peoples Bank, So Peachy Clean, SL Tees, Wellness 365, Schoolhouse Farms 1862, Homes at Ohio’s Edge Realty, The Fix Functional Massage, Second Crossing Brew Co and The Village of Rockford.
Congratulations to Shelley Muhlenkamp – 2023 Citizen of the Year.
Community Announcements and events:
Thursday – November 9th —- Informational Breakfast Seminar with Jordan Martin –Stolly Insurance discusses Anthem Insurance plans. Discounts for health, dental, vision, life and disability plans. Sponsored by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Please RSVP by November 3rd to 419-363-3032 ext 1. Event location – Rockford Village Hall at 8:30 am.
Wednesdays — Rockford United Methodist Church drive thru community meal – 4:30 – 6pm. Free will donations accepted. * All through the school year.
Friday – November 10th – St. Teresa Chili /Sandwich Supper – 4:30 – 7 pm
Rockford Community Building. Public welcome – dine in or drive thru.
Free will donations accepted.
Village Administrator’s Report – Aaron Temple
Last week had meeting with Access Engineering regarding the waste water treatment plant and the odors we continue to have. We have tried multiple methods that have been band aids to cover the issues. The treatment processes have not worked nor have they been cheap. We have come to the conclusion that we should move forward on the cover option. This was a lengthy meeting reviewing all cost options and processes that have been done as trials over the past couple of years.
We also discussed the need for the headworks system to filter out large solids before moving waste through the lift station. We need this sooner rather than later in order to have less maintenance on our pumps. Solids get in the pumps and they burn up and pumps are very costly.
New Tower – online today. Still working to get the water towers communicating.
South Tower – received electrical permits and working on the water tower communications.
Next Spring will discuss options with the old water tower.
Franklin Street Project — is a go ! Will be funded with grant funds, village matching funds and some loan options at the end of the project for balances. Timeline – schedule bids for March 2024 with completion date of October 2024.
Project includes street reconstruction with curbs and sidewalks. Street to be widened by 3’, tree removal / or trimmed. No parking on the street. Angle parking near the softball diamond. Walk path from Franklin St to connect to the walk path on Pine Street. Stop signs every 2 blocks to keep traffic moving slower.
Restrooms at park will be winterized this week.
Leaf pick up will continue 3 days per week — remember no piles around mail boxes, light poles and no dog waste in the piles.
Searight back to controlling the odors at the waste water treatment plant. Motion Searight to approve the purchase of the waste water treatment plant cover system. Second Stephenson. M Heitkamp called for the question Searight = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Young = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Estimated order and install will be approximately 7 weeks.
Committee Reports:
Finance Committee: Ron Searight – Council President
Motion Stephenson. Second M Heitkamp to pay the bills as presented $107,037.07. Beougher called for the question. Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Searight = y, Young = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Beougher to approve the monthly financial reports. Second Stephenson. M Heitkamp called for the question. Beougher = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Young = 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 Young to approve supplemental appropriations to date. Second Searight. M Heitkamp called for the question. Young = y, Searight = y, M Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion M Heitkamp to approve additional purchase orders. Second Stephenson. Young called for the question. M Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Young = y, Searight = y, Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
ORDINANCE 04-23
AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, STATE OF OHIO, DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,2024
1st reading – 11/07/2023
Motion Young to approve 2024 Pay Schedule. Second M Heitkamp. Stephenson called for the question. Young = y, M Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Searight = y, Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Resolution 11-23 – review for next agenda
AN RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE “VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD INCOME TAX ORDINANCE NO. 02-16” TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF HOUSE BILL 33 PASSED IN JULY 2023, AND MANDATED THAT MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX CODES BE AMENDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS AND LIMITATIONS SPECIFIED IN CHAPTER 718
Next finance committee meeting – November 15th at 6:30 pm
Motion Young to transfer balance of Fund 9101 – $4088.69 to the General Fund. The funds have been unclaimed for more than 5 years. Second M Heitkamp, Stephenson called for the question. Young = y, M Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Searight = y, Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion M Heitkamp to approve the 4th quarter transfer of $25,000 from the General Fund to the Franklin St Fund. Second Stephenson. Heitkamp called for the question. M Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Beougher = y, Young = y. Passed 6 yes.
Ross has agreed to be our legal council for another year. Resolution will be on the next agenda.
Rules Committee: Marcas Heitkamp
Service Committee: Mary Beougher –
Shanes Park Manager position – Amy Joseph still interested in the position. We will be reviewing all the job duties.
Shanes Park — bike rack – working on this project. May be receiving a donation.
Have a list of street signs that need attention.
Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp
Economic Development Committee: Shane Young
RADC – have several more members. The dedication for the Train mural was held and has been well received by the community. Looking for an authentic rail road crossing sign and several other improvements to be made.
Public Utilities Committee: Luke Stephenson
Old Business:
New Business:
Meeting adjourned 8:09 pm
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Mayor Fiscal officer
