The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
January 20, 2025
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on January 20, 2025.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Anthony McDaniel, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
Absent: Council member Kaylee Sefert and Solicitor Ryan Regel.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Matt Schaber made the motion to accept the January 7, 2025 meeting minutes as written. Tiffany Ramsay second. Kaylee Sefert – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr welcomed visitors and said Council member Tiffany Ramsay would be timing registered visitors to 5 minutes and un-registered visitors to 2 minutes if they would like to speak.
III. Registered Visitors/Guest:
Matt Schaber – Matt Schaber wanted to speak this evening not as a Council member but as a husband. Mr. Schaber said his wife was wrongfully accused of posting meeting minutes on the Woodsfield Discussion Group website before they were approved by Council. He asked that Council and Administration speak with his wife, Kim Schaber, directly if they have any issues with her efforts in trying to promote community involvement and more transparency from the Village. He said that his wife was just trying to stop all of the complaining on FaceBook. Matt Schaber said he stands behind his wife and totally supports her.
Matt Schaber said that as a Council member he has always tried to follow up on topics previously discussed during meetings, such as the updating of the feral cat Ordinance. He also said the Village needs to be more proactive as far as public information and keeping our website updated. Mayor Hehr suggested that in regard to feral cats, it could be discussed by the Village’s Special Committee who is Sefert, Ramsay, Kirkland and herself or she said it could be discussed by the Ordinance Committee who is Kirkland, Ramsay, and Sefert. Kevin Brooks said it also would need addressed with Solicitor Ryan Regel. As far as the public information and the Village website, that would need to be discussed with Daniel Denbow who is contracted to handle the website and IT problems.
Council member Anthony McDaniel agreed that we could do better in getting information to the public, however, he said without a specific person on staff that is paid to do so, it could be challenging. He said having a timelier social media presence would require a lot of effort on someone’s part. Anthony McDaniel said it would require almost constant communication with the Mayor’s and Village Administrator’s office. He questioned whether daily updates would fall in Mr. Denbow’s contract and also feels that anyone who does the job would require a lot of oversight from the Mayor and Administrator as to what is posted.
IV. Old Business:
Matt Schaber asked if Andy Copley had been out to Hillcrest and checked on the creek flooding. Kevin Brooks replied when the weather breaks, they will be checking on it.
V. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks reported that he has been given permission to announce that the Village of Woodsfield is on EPA’s work plan for 2025 for the water-sewer separation project.
The Village of Woodsfield will be the recipient of $11.4 million in funds from the EPA, with $4 million of that in principal forgiveness (grant) and $7.4 million as a no-interest loan. These funds will complete all our water and wastewater projects that are pending with the Village. We are anticipating the grant award to be announced by mid-2025 and anticipate construction to start the back half of 2025.
Kevin Brooks said the Village has applied for funding through the Ohio Public Works Commission for the water washing tank project at the Water Plant. The amount requested is $161,000.00. This is the second time the Village has applied for this particular project through OPWC.
Kevin Brooks reported that Daniel Denbow has submitted an invoice for 2025 to renew his contract with the Village for the Village website and IT issues. The cost to renew the contract is $6,000.00 for the year, which is the same as last year. After brief discussion, Council agreed to renew the contract. Dale
English made a motion to renew the contract with IT Consultant, Daniel Denbow, for 2025 in the amount of $6,000.00. Matt Schaber second. Kaylee Sefert – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
VI. Fiscal Officer Report:
Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard reported that the year-end reports are completed. Chris Kerby, traveling clerk, was in today and we are working on permanent budget.
The furnace went out at the Cemetery. The cost of a new furnace is $4,500.00. Lori Cunard asked if Council would like to make a motion to use the dividend money from the Brague Money Market to pay for the furnace. Dale English made a motion to withdraw funds from the Brague Money Market to pay for the furnace at the Cemetery. Tiffany Ramsay second. Kaylee Sefert – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Dale English – Nothing to report.
Tom Kirkland – Tom Kirkland, Chairman of the Ordinance Committee, said he is planning on a meeting to follow-up and discuss the Village’s feral cat problem.
Anthony McDaniel – Anthony McDaniel reported the Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 28th @ 5:00 p.m.
Kaylee Sefert – Absent.
Tiffany Ramsay – Tiffany Ramsay reported the Property Maintenance Committee will meet on Thursday, January 30th @ 4:30 p.m.
Matt Schaber – Nothing to report.
VIII: Solicitor’s Report:
Absent.
IX: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Kaylee Sefert – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court report, mid-January 2025. Dale English made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Kaylee Sefert – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Ordinance #02-2025, An Ordinance to Increase Water and Sewer Rates to Consumers, by its Second Reading. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Kaylee Sefert – absent. Dale English – yes, Tom Kirkland – yes, Tiffany Ramsay – yes. Motion passed by its Second Reading 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Ordinance #03-2025, An Ordinance to Modify Rates, Rules, Regulations, Terms and Conditions for Electric Service Provided by the Village of Woodsfield, Ohio, by its Second Reading. Matt Schaber made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Kaylee Sefert – absent. Dale English – yes, Tom Kirkland – yes, Tiffany Ramsay – yes. Motion passed by its second reading 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Ordinance #04-2025, An Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Real Estate Owned by the Village of Woodsfield, Ohio Not Needed for any Municipal Purpose, by its First Reading. Matt Schaber made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second. Kaylee Sefert – absent. Dale English – yes, Tom Kirkland – yes, Anthony McDaniel – yes. Motion passed by its First Reading 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Resolution #2025-01, A Resolution to give the Village Police Department a Pay Increase and Declaring it an Emergency. This is the second step of the three for the Police Department. The first step was done in July 2024. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Kaylee Sefert – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
X. Un-registered Visitors:
None
XI. Adjourn:
The Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Kaylee Sefert – absent. Motion passed 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:07 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer