Meeting Minutes: October 20, 2020
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:
Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph, Tuesday, October 20, 2020,
at 7:30 pm also on Facebook live.
Invocation – The Lord’s Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Yoder, Young, Stephenson, Now, Heitkamp
Pontsler – absent
Also attending: Robbie Peel, Srgt Stetler, Sydney Albert of the Daily Standard
Motion Stephenson. Second Heitkamp to accept the agenda as orders of the day. Young called for the question. Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Young = y, Yoder = y, Now = y. Passed 5 yes.
Motion Young. Second Yoder to accept the minutes from the October 6, 2020 council meeting as presented. Stephenson called for the question. Young = y, Yoder = y, Stephenson = y, Now = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.
Visitors to Address Council:
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
** note new schedule – 2nd & 4th Mondays at 7:30 pm –
The Mayors Corner Radio Show — Rockford news and updates
Upcoming guests –
Community Announcements and events:
Wednesdays — Drive – Thru Dinners
Rockford United Methodist Church 4:30 – 6:30 pm
- Note new time – open to the public
Mondays October 26th – Lions Club meeting
Saturday – October 31st – Fall Fest 10 am – Events throughout the day
Trick or Treat 5 -7 pm
Monday – November 2nd – Bicentennial Committee meeting – 7 pm
Tuesday – November 3rd – VOTE — General Election
Tuesday – November 10 – Brush pick up / Leaves ?
Village Administrator’s Report – Aaron Temple
Income survey will be starting this week. Sorry for the delays.
Flag football ends this weekend and then we will be closing up the park restrooms.
WWTP – we continue to get odors. We are working on the problems. We are not getting enough air in the 1st cell. Will be installing some more equipment that has been recommended by the engineering firm.
Leaf pick up will begin — please note the following rules –
- Do not place sticks and leaves in the same pile. The sticks plug up the leaf vacuum. Sticks in one pile and leaves in another pile – please !
- Do not rake the leaves by mailboxes and/or fences — the leaves need to be out in the open along the curbs — even in the street is fine.
- Should not have to mention — but do not put dog poop in the leaf piles. We don’t pick up dog poop — that is the owners job. If we see animal waste – the piles will stay.
If everyone would follow the guidelines then the leaf pick up will be a lot quicker.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Additional Covid funds — we will be replacing water meters that are not reading so as not to have to go into businesses or near residents to get proper readings for billing.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee – Shane Young
Motion Now. Second Stephenson to pay bills as submitted – $ 9621.70. Heitkamp called for the question. Now = y, Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Yoder = y, Young = y. Passed 5 yes.
Motion Stephenson to accept the Mayors Court pay in of $580. Second Yoder. Now called for the question. Stephenson = y, Yoder = y, Now = y, Young = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.
Finance meeting held on October 13 — discussed and approved the following for the 2021 budget – 922 hours of part time police hours, vehicle funds, full time 3% pay increase, started sick/ unused vacation for future retirements and the additional funds for the 3 emergency radios.
ORDINANCE 04-20
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, 2021.
1st reading – 10/20/2020
Motion Stephenson to approve the 2021 Pay Schedule. Second Heitkamp. Yoder called for the question. Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Yoder = y, Young = y, Now = y. Passed 5 yes.
Ordinance 05-20
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD INCOME TAX ORDINANCE TO RESCIND CREDIT FOR TAX PAID TO ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY OR INDIANA COUNTY, REPEALING ALL INCONSISTENT LEGISLATION, AND DECLARING, AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
1st reading – 10/20/2020
What does this mean – no longer offering tax credits ? – This means that residents would pay the full 1% income tax rate to the Village of Rockford. Those residents currently working outside the village that get tax credits for other Ohio cities and Indiana counties would no longer received credit as taxes paid to Rockford.
The Rockford Tax rates were set in 1986. Think of all the money that has been credited to other communities in the area that has helped them grow and make developments. We have been doing a great job with the funds in the past BUT — in order to make future developments and promote job growth we need additional income. We estimate the additional funds would be about $40,000 per year and those funds would be set aside each year in a capital outlay line item within the General Fund.
As additional information the income tax supports streets, parks, police protection, village office, and the subdivision land payments.
The ordinance would go into effect in January 2021. Estimated tax payments would increase and start collecting in April 2021.
RESOLUTION 06-20
A RESOLUTION RETAINING THE SERVICES OF JUDY A KOESTERS AS SOLICITOR FOR THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO FOR 2021, SETTING COMPENSATION, AND ESTABLISHING RESPONSIBILITIES.
Motion Heitkamp. Second Yoder. Stephenson called for the question. Heitkamp = y, Yoder = y, Stephenson = y, Young = y, Now = y . Passed 5 yes.
With the additional Coronavirus Relief funds the Rockford Village Council is directing the funds towards public safety throughout the village. This project will ensure the safety of businesses and residence allowing ‘no contact’ meter reading.
We have water meters that no longer work which requires crew to manually read the meters. These funds will purchase new water meters, update reading equipment to enable reading of old and new meters alike. This will allow our crew to read meters while in their vehicle and will no longer have to go into businesses or stop at homes of residents in order to read meters on a monthly basis.
This project is for the public health and safety of residents and our crews in the Village of Rockford. The funds were not accounted for in the 2020 budget for the Village of Rockford.
The cost of meters, training, updated software will be approximately – $28,631.
Expenses will be paid by December 30,2020.
Motion Yoder to approve additional Covid Fund expenses. Second Stephenson. Heitkamp called for the question. Yoder = y, Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Young = y, Now = y. Passed 5 yes.
Service Committee: Greg Pontsler – absent – Mayor Joseph to give report —
Discussion of the pickle ball suggestion for Shanes Park. It shouldn’t take much to resurface the basketball court and paint some lines and put up a net. People would need to provide their own paddles. We will schedule project for Spring 2021.
The other suggestion was a bike path from Rockford to Celina. This is not feasible for us – big expense plus maintenance and mowing. Maybe the County Commissioners could fund such a project?
Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp – (Mr. President)
Tree Committee — with Steve Gehle and Aaron Fent held a meeting to discuss the need to trim some trees. If you have tree problems or questions, please direct to the committee or the village office can relay the message.
Economic Development Committee: Brad Now –
Shanes Crossing Subdivision – Lots for sale – 20% discount/ build through – December 2021.
We have sold 2 more lots this week. 1st phase is 13 lots – which leaves 8 left to sell. Once these lots are sold we will be looking at Phase 2. Planning and project could take 6 months.
We are looking into a central location for postal delivery and still waiting on quotes for lights.
This morning Aaron went to the Mercer County CIC meeting and gained approval to proceed with the following ordinance.
Motion Stephenson to suspend the rules to pass Ordinance 03-20. Second Heitkamp. Young called for the question. Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Young = y, Yoder = y, Now = y. Passed 5 yes.
ORDINANCE 03-20
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION OF MERCER COUNTY, AS AN AGENT FOR THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, TO SELL AND CONVEY REAL PROPERTY WHICH IS OWNED BY THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD.
Motion: Yoder. Second Stephenson. Now called the question. Yoder = y, Stephenson = y, Now = y, Young = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.
Report WRKD 101.3 radio station — Brad is the station President as he is the council representative. The station is an independent fund within the village budget. They collect their own revenue (underwriting) and pay for their own expenses. They are self sufficient although the Village holds the license and is responsible for the station running properly as we are holding public funds although they are not taxpayer funds.. The Board held a meeting last week – all went very good. Brad will continue giving updates each month about what is going on with the station. Currently they have $6,000 in the account – you will notice revenues going up during sports underwriting times and those funds need to provide for the station throughout the year. Upcoming winter sports underwriting opportunities will be made available soon. Recent bills include battery back up (the previous was used and donated), some subscription fee to download music and a cable that will provide audio to sports streaming online. This is huge as in the past the streaming of the video had no audio. Future expenses – working to upgrade the window air unit to a unit that will tie in with the village. Currently you have to turn off the window unit while ‘on air’ because of background noise. The future is bright for WRKD !
Public Utilities Committee: Luke Stephenson –
Rules Committee: Jessica Yoder
Old Business:
The bus stop project is moving forward. Miss Stephenson will be working with Luginbill Construction. The Park Board, Community Days will be making a donation. She has a meeting with the Rockford Eagles.
New Business:
Meeting adjourned at 8:29 pm
_________________________ _________________________
Mayor Fiscal officer.
