Meeting Minutes: September 6, 2022
Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph, Tuesday, September 6, 2022
at 7:30 pm.
Invocation – Ron Searight
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Jessica Yoder, Ron Searight, Luke Stephenson, Mary Beougher, and Chris Heitkamp
Also attending: Srgt Stetler, Robbie Peel, Sandy Schaffner, Marge Gehle, Chief May, Tom Beahrs and Erin G of the Daily Standard.
Motion Searight. Second Stephenson to accept the agenda as orders of the day.
Heitkamp called for the question. Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Yoder = y, Beougher = y. Passed 5 yes.
Motion Stephenson. Second Searight to accept the minutes from the August 16, 2022 council meeting as presented. Beougher called for the question. Stephenson = y, Searight = y, Beougher = y , Yoder = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.
Motion Yoder. Second Searight to appoint Rick Shindeldecker to fill the seat previously held by Brad Now for a 3 year term. Stephenson called for the question. Yoder = y, Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 5 yes.
Mayor ~~ Oath of Office – Welcome Rick !
Visitors to Address Council:
Marge Gehle – sent email earlier concerned with park reservation process. Heard some are having difficultly getting a hold of someone to speak to.
The phone number is listed on the billboard and several other places
419-771-6893 — prefer text messages or leave a message and phone number for return calls. We have a calendar on the web site so that people can check on availability before making contact.
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
Community Announcements and events:
September 10th – Rockford Fire Department Chicken Dinner / Raffle
September 17 – Fox Family Ride for Autism
October 22 – Mercer County Household Hazardous Waste Day & Steel drop off at the Mercer County Fairgrounds – 9 am – 1 pm
October 29 – Chamber Fall Fest / Trick or Treat / costume judging
•If interested in setting up exhibit or vendor contact Amy Noll by
September 15th.
Village Administrator’s Report – Aaron Temple –
Subdivision sidewalk is finished —- now the home owners will be expected to finish their sidewalks – safety committee will have to give a time frame.
The Shanes Park pond digging and stone has been completed. We will be installing a walking path around the pond and a sidewalk to connect to Holly Lane. Parking will be at the Community building.
Main street resurface project — pushed back to September 12th.
We will be relocating a tree from Main / South street to the park. Also need the tree committee to look at the tree in front of the library. Yes – a nice tree but is getting to large for the area.
We met with Craig form Access Engineering to finalize bid documents, contracts, and financing. We will be looking at OWDA for financing the water tower replacement project and a supplemental OWDA loan for the South water tower rehab project. Interest rates around 1.26% – not terrible.
We will be bidding the Franklin St project early 2023.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee: Ron Searight – President
Motion Stephenson. Second Beougher to pay the bills as presented – $ 23,708.25
Heitkamp called for the question. Stephenson = y, Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y, Yoder = y, Searight = y, Shindeldecker = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Stephenson to approve the monthly financial reports. Second Yoder. Heitkamp called for the question. Stephenson = y, Yoder = y , Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Beougher = y, Shindeldecker = 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 Heitkamp to approve additional purchase orders. Second Stephenson. Searight called for the question. Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Searight – y, Yoder = y, Beougher = y, Shindeldecker = y. Passed 6 yes.
Finance Meeting – held on August 31st at 7 pm – discussed 3 water tower replacement bids and 4 waterline extension bids. Recommended the sphere style of water tower because of lower maintenance costs down the line. The need for water rates to be increased. EPA standards regarding the South water tower rehab project. We agreed on a priority list for the next several years. Discussed the Police / School / security plans and will have a council representative at the next school board meeting on September 14th at 6:30 pm.
Scheduled a Finance committee meeting on September 13th at 7 pm.
RESOLUTION 07-22
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TENTATIVE AWARD OF THE WATER TOWER REPLACEMENT PROJECT CONTRACTS CONTINGENT UPON SUCCESSFUL APPROVAL OF OHIO WATER DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (OWDA) LOAN FINANCING; AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Motion Beougher. Second Heitkamp. Stephenson called for the question. Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Yoder = y, Searight = y, Shindeldecker = y. Passed 6 yes.
RESOLUTION 08-22
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO APPLY FOR, ACCEPT, AND ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE WATER TOWER REPLACEMENT PROJECT BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD AND THE OHIO WATER DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Motion Stephenson. Second Heitkamp. Searight called for the question. Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Yoder = y, Beougher = y, Shindeldecker = y . Passed 6 yes.
Judy Koesters – Village Attorney – to sign the (2) Certificates of Owner’s Attorney documents – Water Tower Replacement and Waterline Extension projects and the Cooperative Agreement between the Village of Rockford and Ohio Water Development Authority.
Service Committee: Mary Beougher
Motion Searight to appoint Luke Stephenson as WRKD station council representative. Second Heitkamp. Yoder called for the question. Searight = y, Heitkamp = y, Yoder = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y, Shindeldecker = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Searight to approve Homecoming parade – Sunday – September 25th – Football field (Franklin) to Market to Jay St. and return to Football field. Time to be determined – 4 pm or after. Second Stephenson. Heitkamp called for the question. Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, Yoder = y , Beougher = y, Shindeldecker = y. Passed 6 yes.
Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp –
UPS made contact — Trees on Pearl St. hanging to low / over the street.
Economic Development Committee:
Shanes Crossing Subdivision – 5 Lots left for sale – contact Tammy Cheek with Homes at Ohio’s Edge Realty.
Business Park updates –
New Business – Opportunity in Rockford, Ohio –
Corner of Main Street and Columbia Street call RCS Construction
at 419-586-9367.
Public Utilities Committee: Luke Stephenson –
Will be reporting on WRKD in the future.
Rules Committee: Jessica Yoder –
Parking Ordinance —- met with Judy at 7 pm on September 6th to review ordinance and make some clarifications. Final revisions will be presented at the next council meeting.
Old Business:
New Business:
Bureau of Workers Comp audit – last Friday. No changes and no findings. Sent report to council for review.
Meeting adjourned 7:55 pm
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Mayor Fiscal officer
