The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
February 2, 2026
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on February 2, 2025.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Tom Kirkland, Bill Allen, Kim Schaber, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
Absent: Council member Alicia Gardner and Solicitor Ryan Regel.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Bill Allen made the motion to accept the January 19, 2026 meeting minutes as written. Matt Schaber second. Tiffany Ramsay – abstain, Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 4-0.
III. Registered Visitors:
Jim Lee, Master Roof Solar – Mr. Lee attended the meeting to discuss solar to replace the diesel generator’s that are 76 years old at the Light Plant. He said he started his business as a roofer but gradually moved to solar and is growing more into commercial solar. Mr. Lee has already met with Kevin Brooks and was also able to tour the Light Plant.
John McNamara, Chief Operations Officer, Appalachian Renewable Power – Mr. McNamara also attended to discuss solar to replace the diesel generators. He said they are located in Athens, OH and they have been installing solar power since 2008. They focus on installing every solar solution available and also had the privilege of installing the first floating solar rays in Ohio.
Jim Lee said installing for a Village would not be all that different than installing for residential. He said before opening up for questions he wanted everyone to know that they may not be able to answer every question because there is still a lot of homework to be done and it is still in the very preliminary stages.
Kevin Brooks said that Lewis Hill, Electric Superintendent, Aaron Teeders, Sawvel, and himself met with Mr. Lee and Mr. McNamara. He said they walked through the Village scenario and gave the best guess when we would have to sunset the diesel generators and what we are looking for in the future for peak shaving. The other component to this is that our Power Purchase Agreement is expiring at the end of 2027.
Due to expiring tax credits, we need to decide soon because we could lose a half million dollars in tax credits if we do not move soon. We have a lot of decisions on our end such as do we want to own the solar field or do we want them to own the solar field, and then we would just have a Power Purchase Agreement. The other component is if we choose to own and operate the solar field, they will have a maintenance agreement with us so we would not have to worry about maintenance of the panels and so forth. Kevin Brooks said we have around 23 months left that we think the diesels will be viable for peak shaving.
Jim Lee said as far as the tax credits, they do expire on July 4th for commercial. He said there are still some tax credits that will save us some money but that doesn’t mean it is always the best way to go. Mr. Lee also said the Power Purchase Agreement is like a lease and it is usually the better option, however, there are some good things when purchasing also such as a 30% tax credit and another 10% for rural community and there could be another 10% for domestic content.
Mr. Lee said this will likely be a two-phase project, especially if it is a purchase, but also due to the fact that the tax credits only allow us to do so much.
Mayor Hehr asked if they felt there was enough time to get this all together. Mr. Lee said they had already begun working on it, they started right after having the meeting with Kevin Brooks, but he thinks they can get it done in the next 8-12 weeks.
Tom Kirkland asked what would happen during times that we see no sunshine for days or weeks at a time and if we would then have enough to peak shave. Mr. Lee said that is when the battery back-ups would kick in. He said it would be a 2-part system; the solar panels that would charge the batteries and the batteries will be used during peak shaving times. Kevin Brooks said our peak shaving time is 2-4 hours and the batteries have a 6-hour charge, but the issue would be if we have to peak shave for multiple days. He said these are some of the issues that need to be worked through.
John McNamara spoke up and said this project is unique because of the way the Village sells back energy. It becomes a little less focused on the solar because the solar is intermittent so we will not be able to say to push back power to the grid, that component will be the batteries. During the next 12 weeks they will need to understand the sellback agreements, how they come into play, and making sure we have the amount of storage out there that’s ready when the call comes in to push back. The diesel generators have been financially beneficial in a significant way, and the goal is providing the same financial benefit for the Village using the battery storage.
Mayor Hehr asked how long it takes to recharge the battery. Jim Lee said it depends on how much we have to charge it with. Mr. McNamara said we would be able to recharge the batteries off of the grid and the solar.
Bill Allen asked who the owner of the company is and Mr. Lee said he is the owner. He does have a partner, Roman Zmood, but Mr. Zmood does not do much of the solar part of the business; he does most of the roofing part of the business. He said it is actually 2 companies, a roofing and a solar. Bill Allen wanted to verify that since we have had next to no sun in the past 2 weeks if that meant to charge the batteries, would we have to buy the power to peak shave? Mr. McNamara said if there is an extended period of time with no sun there is an option to buy fuel.
Mr. Brooks said when we finish the conversion process from 6400 to 7200 and we can connect to the solar we will actually double our peak shaving capabilities. He said we will be able to peak shave load and capacity and realize that savings for our customers. Bill Allen asked if we would be able to store enough power to put into our lines and still be able to peak shave and Mr. Lee said that would be the goal. Mr. Lee said the idea is for the Village to become as independent as possible.
Kevin Brooks said we have expiring contracts at the end of 2027 for 24/7 power which is baseload power, solar is not a baseload resource. So, our baseline with the solar will be starting at 1.5 megawatts, and we want to expand that to utilize more of the solar power and it would lessen the expense of what we would have to buy off the market for some of the high dollar 24/7 power for the years 2028, 2029, and 2030.
Kim Schaber asked about the potential sites for the solar field and why the site on Airport Road is the primary choice while the substation is the secondary choice. Mr. Lee said it is due to the topographical area. Mr. Brooks said on Airport Rd. we would be shovel ready. Kim Schaber asked if it generates heat if there would be any issues of it being next to an assisted living facility or any negative effects. Mr. McNamara said it does not generate heat to the level that it would cause any damage to the surrounding facilities. Kim Schaber stated that they keep saying it is going to take a lot of engineering and she asked if they have done any other cities or villages with a similar design. Mr. McNamara said
they have done large projects with municipalities with municipal utility systems. They are working on a 9-acre floating solar ray near Sandusky that is for a municipal utility. Woodsfield’s project will be unique for the battery capacity that we are anticipating that we will be leveraging in the space. He said they have done other projects with batteries but ours will be a significant higher step up. He said it is also looking at the relationships of the Power Purchase Agreements we have and what the goals are. Additionally, it is matching the battery engineering with the expected lifetime of use. Kim Schaber asked if she could have the other municipalities that they have worked with. Kevin Brooks said we will also be using Sawvel, Village electric consultants, Verdantas who is already in the design phase of the conversion project, and partner with Jim Lee and John McNamara. Also, Kevin Brooks wanted Kim Schaber to know the solar field will be secure with fencing around it so it will only be accessible to personnel.
Matt Schaber asked about the reliability of the equipment. Jim Lee said the good thing about solar power is that there are no moving parts. Matt Schaber asked if there would be any problems getting the panels to the site and Mr. Lee said they do it every day. Matt Schaber asked if there would be a lag in procuring the panels and Mr. Lee said there should be no problems getting them and as far as the tax credit is concerned, it does not have to be installed by the deadline just as long as it is procured by the deadline.
Lynn Parker, resident, asked what the dollar amount is versus the tax credits. Mr. Lee and Mr. McNamara were not sure of the answer, so Lynn Parker asked why the urgency of the tax credits. Mr. McNamara said the reason revolves around last year’s budget reconciliation. Last year there was a
change made on solar tax credits available. For system sizes up to 1.5 megawatts that are owned by municipalities, a non-profit, or commercial business, you need to safe harbor 5% of the materials by July 4th of this year. But Lynn Parker stated we do not even know the cost of the project, and it is not engineered yet. Mr. McNamara said that is what they would spend the next 8-12 weeks working on. They would be finding the costs and identifying the right equipment for the project. He said the biggest question will be the amount of equipment needed for the project. They are hoping to have cost information by the end of April or first of May. Once the cost is reviewed versus the tax credit, we may decide that it is best to put off the project for another year. Mr. Lee said we do not know the cost yet so we do not know how much we will save, however, 30%-40% will be a lot. He said we still have the Power Purchase Agreement, and he would want to look at the pros and cons of the Power Purchase Agreement versus the Purchase. Lynn Parker asked what the cost is going to be for the Village of Woodsfield to get the planning and engineering of the project. Mr. Lee and Mr. McNamara are not sure; they have an idea but would like to further review before giving a number.
Lynn Parker said he applauds the Village for looking at ideas, but he also cautions the Village to slow down and take the time to do it right.
Kevin Brooks told Mr. Parker that he had a one-hour meeting with Mr. Lee and Mr. McNamara and just wanted to get them in front of Council to get Council thoughts on the project. He said any decisions would have to be approved by Council.
A resident asked what the longevity of the solar panels are. Mr. McNamara said there are three major components: modules, batteries, and inverters. Mr. McNamara said the modules have a warranty of 25-30 years, but he has seen the performance of them last longer than that. The batteries are programmed for longevity, and the inverters tend to be the weaker side but still a 15–20-year warranty.
Lynn Parker asked if they have done Villages the size of Woodsfield and asked the cost. Mr. McNamara said he could give a number on the solar side, but he thinks he would be giving misinformed numbers if he did so due to the agreements the Village has and the expectations and impacts for the Village.
Matt Schaber asked who would be in charge of the transmission lines to the substation. Mr. McNamara said the transmission lines are already there so they would likely put in a transformer and interconnect with existing transmission lines.
Mayor Hehr said she agrees with Mr. Parker in regard to making quick decisions, but when we are talking about multi millions in dollars and 50% off it is an urgent decision to make. She also asked what our upfront costs are and when we will know. Mr. McNamara said they would give the upfront cost in the next 12 weeks. That will give the opportunity to discover what work has already been done, go through the agreements, and put together a plan and see how much of a benefit it will be for the Village.
A resident asked if the conversion that is going to happen does not get done before the solar will be put in, will that push back the plans for the solar power. Kevin Brooks said no, the solar could be up and operational tomorrow and it would be fine.
Bill Allen asked if there is a cap on the tax credit. Mr. McNamara said it is capped by system size, so there is not a dollar amount capped, but it is tied to the project size which is why we are doing the 1.5 megawatts.
Mr. McNamara said they are happy to answer any questions that someone may have at a later date and if they do not know the answer, they will find it because they want everyone to feel confident going forward with anything we may partner on.
Kevin Brooks said he would like Council to give this some thought, and they will communicate in the next couple of weeks. He said time is of the essence and if we are going to move forward and start to establish some of the costs then he would like to get back with a number not later than March 2nd.
IV. Old Business:
None
VI. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks asked for a motion to hire Bret Tomlin as a meter reader in the Water/Sewer Department/Utility Office @ $15.00/hr. effective February 2, 2026. Mr. Brooks said they had interviewed several people for the position and hired twice before. Mayor Hehr said she was impressed with Mr. Tomlin because he showed interest in becoming certified. Bill Allen made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second. Motion passed 5-0
Kevin Brooks said he just wanted to give credit to John Williams, Brian Harrigan, and Lewis Hill for the snow removal downtown during the inclement weather.
VII. Fiscal Officer Report:
Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer, has the January bank statement reconciled and asked for Council signatures.
Lori Cunard asked Council if there were any questions on the Permanent Budget. Kevin Brooks said Bill Allen had asked about some of the line-items such as the FEMA Fund and the K-9 Fund. The K-9 Fund cannot be spent because the money was all donation, so it has to stay there, and the FEMA Fund is leftover from a slip repair and FEMA has not requested the funds be returned.
Kevin Brooks said from a financial standpoint he thinks we are in a great position and he thinks the budget for 2026 is extremely solid. He also said this is a starting point for 2026 not an ending point. Mr. Brooks said anytime through 2026 that appropriation accounts need trued-up it will be brought to Council for their approval.
Matt Schaber said he would like to thank Lori Cunard for spending time with him earlier this morning answering questions about the budget.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Ordinance #01-2026, An Ordinance to make Annual Appropriations for the Current Expenses and Other Expenditures of the Village of Woodsfield, State of Ohio during the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2026, and a motion to suspend the three-reading rule and pass this Ordinance as an emergency measure. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Matt Schaber second the motion. Alicia Gardner – absent. Bill Allen – yes, Kim Schaber – yes, Tiffany Ramsay – yes, Matt Schaber – yes. Motion passed 5-0. Ordinance #01-2026 adopted.
VIII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Matt Schaber – Nothing to report.
Tiffany Ramsay – Nothing to report.
Kim Schaber – Nothing to report.
Alicia Gardner – Nothing to report.
Bill Allen – Nothing to report.
Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report.
Kevin Brooks said he met with Kim Schaber last week and gave her a quick reference chart showing the cost of running each department. He said he would be happy to provide the rest of Council with one and he also said the organizational chart will be updated and sent to everyone.
IX: Solicitor’s Report:
Solicitor Ryan Regel is absent, but Kevin Brooks said Solicitor Regel has procured all of the easements for the Water/Storm project with the exception of two. One of which was supposed to get a signature tonight and the other is going to be an issue. We have been asked to guarantee certain things for the easement to be signed and we cannot do that. Mr. Brooks talked to Solicitor Regel today and they may have to file court action regarding the second easement.
X: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Matt Schaber made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second the motion. Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court Report, January 2026. Kim Schaber made the motion. Matt Schaber second the motion. Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Income Tax Report, January 2026. Kim Schaber made the motion. Tom Kirkland second the motion. Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr reported that the surveys that were conducted for grant funds to pave Sycamore St. and Andover will be turned in. She said it has been very difficult to do the surveys because people will not answer their door. She wanted everyone to know that they did try and maybe we will qualify.
Mayor Hehr wanted to re-iterate the comment on the employees. They all did a great job of clearing the snow.
Mayor Hehr reported that St. Paul’s U.C.C is sponsoring the Chamber Business Afterhours. It will be held February 12th from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. and she invites everyone to attend.
Mayor Hehr drafted a Resolution after the last snow event for Council to look over regarding snow days. She would like Council to look it over and she welcomes any comments. Once it is agreed on, she will give it to Solicitor Regel to put it into a resolution for Council approval. She said we do not have anything in writing regarding snow events and if the building is closed, she does not feel employees should have to use their own time to be paid for the day. However, she also feels that essential workers who do have to come to work should get an extra day of personal time.
Kevin Brooks said this was the second time this winter that the building was closed. However, he said that the service departments need to report to work. He does not want them to report if they feel it is unsafe to get here but that is what the service departments are about; we have to be available for service.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Emergency Management Contract in the amount of $1,019.40 for 2026. Bill Allen asked what this is about and Mayor Hehr said it is for them to do our emergency management plan. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Kim Schaber second the motion. Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
XI. Un-Registered Visitors/Guests:
Lynn Parker – Mr. Parker reported that there were two properties, 121 and 123 Andover, on the Property Maintenance list and he is happy to report they have a contract on 123 Andover, and 121 Andover will go on the market Monday. He also said 108 Hillcrest will probably be his personal residence at some point, but they are still working on the inside.
XII. Adjourn:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer