Meeting Minutes: October 18, 2011

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:

Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 7:30 pm at the Rockford Village Hall.

Invocation was given by Gene Steiner

Pledge of Allegiance

Those present: Gehle, Steiner, Hodge, Pontsler, Searight, Heitkamp.

Also attending: Judy Koesters, Sgt. Stetler, Amy Kronenberger of the Daily Standard.

Motion Steiner. Second Gehle to accept Agenda as orders of the day. Pontsler called for the question. Steiner = y, Gehle = y, Pontsler = y, Hodge = y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.

Motion: Searight Second Gehle to accept the minutes from the
October 4, 2011 meeting as presented. Heitkamp called for the question. Searight = y, Gehle = y, Heitkamp = y, Steiner = y, Hodge = y, Pontsler = y. Passed 6 yes.

Visitors to Address Council:

Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:

Rockford Recreation Association is conducting a fundraiser to plant trees this fall around the ball fields at Shanes Park. Trees will improve the look of the park and serve as a windbreak for the ball diamonds. The public is encouraged to purchase a tree for $75. The association plans to engrave donors names on a plaque to show its appreciation. Contact Ryan Sipe at 419-305-2650 or Lisa Kuhn at the Village Office.

Village Administrator’s Report – Jeff Long – absent

Report by Steve Gehle ~

Open House went well. We had a few people show up. There are some concerns: need locks on the gates and a lock out tag out system.

Committee Reports:

Finance Committee – Steve Gehle

Motion Steiner Second Pontsler to pay the bills as submitted by the
Fiscal Officer in the amount of $8,599.86. Bills include back hoe repair and DP & L. Searight called for the question. Steiner = y, Pontsler = y, Searight = y, Gehle = y, Hodge = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.

• ORDINANCE 03-11

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING FEES FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY THE ROCKFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Motion Searight. Second Gehle. To pass the ordinance in emergency form. Steiner called for the question. Searight = y, Gehle = y, Steiner = y, Hodge =y, Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.

Motion Searight . Second Steiner to approve ordinance 03-11. Pontsler called for the question. Searight = y, Steiner = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, Hodge = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.

A Finance meeting was held on 10/11/11 to review the budget. We have approximately $32,000 cut from the budget so far. We are still reviewing and will have another meeting on 10/25/11 at 7 pm. General fund expenses that have been discussed being cut are: Part-time police hours, clean up day, solicitor fees, audit fees, Parkway Utility note, and capital improvements. These along with water and sewer funds will be discussed at the next meeting.

Service Committee: Gary Hodge

Nothing to report at this time.

Safety Committee: Ron Searight

Safety issue – remind Jeff that the sidewalk needs painted yellow at the Methodist Church. The no parking area.

Economic Development Committee: Eugene Steiner

The next RADC meeting will be October 24th at the Library Basement. Please note the change of location. We will be discussing our 2012 goals.

Public Utilities Committee: Greg Pontsler

Same old, same old. Approximately 80 shut off notices sent out.

Rules Committee: Chris Heitkamp

We had a rules meeting on 10/04/11 before Council. We went through the ordinance handbook to make sure they were all current. Found some outdated. We will continue with the project. We will be review the employee handbook also.

Old Business

Property getting annexed into village. We are waiting on the paperwork from the county.

Searight would like to address the 25 mph speed limit sign near park entrance off 33. The sign is always turned. We need to take care of the problem ~ round post.

New Business

Motion Gehle. Second Pontsler. To go into executive session regarding personnel. Heitkamp called for the question. Gehle = y, Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = y, Steiner = y, Hodge = y, Searight = y. Passed 6 yes. Time 8:02 pm

Motion Gehle Second Pontsler to come out of executive session with no action taken. Hodge called for the question. Gehle = y, Pontsler = y, Hodge = y, Steiner =y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes. Time 8:40 pm

Meeting adjourned 8:40 pm.