Meeting Minutes: October 20, 2009
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:
Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 7:30 pm at the Rockford Village Hall.
Invocation was given by Gene Steiner Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Gehle, Steiner, McKee, Pontsler, Searight. Rutledge absent.
Also attending: Jeff Long, Judy Koesters, John Shaffer, Sergeant Stetler, Dale Burden, Karen Hoehn, Jared Ebbing
Motion Steiner. Second McKee to accept Agenda as Orders of the Day. Gehle called for the question. Steiner = y, McKee = y, Gehle = y, Pontsler = y, Searight = y. Passed 5 yes.
Motion: Searight. Second Pontsler to accept the minutes from the October 6, 2009 as submitted by the Fiscal Officer. McKee called for the question. Searight = y, Pontsler = y, McKee = y, Gehle = y, Steiner = y,
Passed 5 yes.
Visitors to Address Council:
Dale Burden from the Lima Post Office Processing Center thanked the Council for allowing him to speak a few minutes. Topic was the possible consolidation of the Lima Postal Plant with the Toledo Postal Plant. This means that all mail with the zip code starting with 458 would be taken to Toledo for processing, an additional 78 miles away. This would mean 1.) Probable delay of all classes of mail. 2). Lowering of delivery standards – Toledo would be 2 days. Lima maintains one day delivery. 3.) Round trip of mail at least 160 miles per day, even if you mail an in-town letter. 4.) Loss of local Lima postmark.
Asking for local support including calling your local and state representatives. (Government Officials: Sen George Voinovich, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Rep. Jim Jordan, Sen. Keith Faber, Rep. Matt Huffman)
You may write letters to: Consumer Affairs Manager, Cincinnati District, 1591 Dalton St., Room 108, Cincinnati, OH 45234.
This could take effect as early as January.
(some information taken from brochure to give additional information)
Jared Ebbing – the new Mercer County Economic Development Director addressed Council. Has been working since August. Is going to visit councils in the area to introduce himself. Is looking forward to working with Rockford on Community Developments with funding and opportunities. Has worked at Fanning/Howey the past 13 years.
Council thanked Dale Burden and Jared Ebbing for coming to meeting and keeping us informed.
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
Village Administrator’s Report – Jeff Long
Work continues at the Water Treatment Plant. Working on floor this week. Masons will be coming in the next week or so. Walls will be going up.
Attended the pre-construction meeting for the Neighborhood Revitalization Project. They will be working on concrete and then storm sewers.
Soil borings were done at the Wastewater Treatment Plant this week. The study and recommendations should be done by mid November.
Committee Reports:
Finance Committee – Todd McKee
Motion Searight, Second Pontsler to pay bills as submitted by the Fiscal Officer in the amount of 8340.88. This excludes the tax refund at this time. Would like more information. Gehle called for the question. Searight = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, Steiner = y, McKee = y. Passed 5 yes.
Finance Committee meeting was held on 10/13/09. Discussed the 2010 Budget. Would like Jeff to prepare some reports that we used last year. Next meeting will be on 10/27/09 at 7 pm.
ServiceCommittee: SteveGehle
Trees have been planted at park, along South Main Street, and along drive back to school. Looks very nice ! New trees (decorative) will be coming soon for the downtown area
Safety Committee: Kathy Rutledge – absent
Stop sign ordinance needs updated.
Mayor would like committee to review the Policy Statement and Regulations for Fire Hydrant Maintenance and Servicing.
Committee will meeting after tonight’s meeting.
Economic Development Committee: Eugene Steiner
Economic Development Committee held a meeting on 10/15/09 and had RADC meeting afterward. Reported on several businesses that were visited.
Thanks for taking the hardware sign down.
RADC information: Elvis ticket selling. Meal tickets haven’t sold as well. Basic focus was the upcoming Elvis concert.
Mayor appreciates the fund raising efforts for the Pool, but would like RADC to move forward in other areas such as Economic Development.
Would like to schedule a meeting with RADC Leadership in early January or February to discuss other items to work on.
Public Utilities Committee: Greg Pontsler
Rules Committee: Ron Searight
Old Business
Junk Vehicle Ordinance is working. Police are issuing a warning and then writing tickets after 5 days.
New Business:
Mayor to Council and Employees: We are here as elected officials and employees for the betterment of the Village of Rockford. We need to do right by our citizens. We need to work together and move forward. We had some problems in the last week, but we need to move forward in a positive way. Thank you.
Council request to review Resolution regarding the Lima Postal Processing Plant.
RESOLUTION 20-09
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE US CONGRESS TO DELAY THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE FROM MOVING ITS FACILITY FOR PROCESSING MAIL ORIGINATING IN THE 458 ZIP CODE FROM THE LIMA PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER TO THE TOLEDO FACILITY UNTIL THE EFFECT OF SUCH PROPOSAL ON COSTS AND DELIVERY STANDARDS IS FULLY INVESTIGATED.
Motion to support Resolution 20-09 Steiner, Second Searight, Pontsler called for the question. Steiner = y, Searight = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, McKee = y. Passed 5 yes.
Meeting adjourned 8:13 pm.
