The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
March 3, 2025
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on March 3, 2025.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Anthony McDaniel, Kaylee Sefert, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Deputy Fiscal Officer Brenda Mauck, Solicitor Ryan Regel and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
Absent: Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Dale English made the motion to accept the February 17, 2025 meeting minutes with corrections. Tom Kirkland second. Motion passed 6-0.
III. Old Business:
None
IV. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks reported that work is being done on streetlights and potholes. He
is encouraging Council to report any streetlight issues or potholes needing filled. Mr. Brooks said the cold patch does not stick but the guys will double back and use hot mix when the weather changes.
Kevin Brooks said they have been talking with ODOT about the timing of the lights in the square. ODOT had promised to come back in 6 months after the project completion to re-evaluate the timing. When running North/South sometimes the East/West lights will cycle twice before the North/South go so ODOT will have to re-program to correct this.
Mayor Hehr asked Mr. Brooks to have the Street Department to check into two political signs that are still up. She said one is on Oaklawn and the other she could not remember but they need to come down. She said if people are going to put up signs they also need to take them down. Kevin Brooks said they have been really badge heavy regarding signs in the center islands and curb islands except for the school signs, which we have allowed, but the election signs should all be down. He said he will talk to the guys tomorrow to get the signs taken down.
V. Fiscal Officer Report:
Deputy Fiscal Officer Brenda Mauck reported that Lori Cunard will be back from medical leave on Wednesday.
Chris Kerby will be in on Thursday, March 6th to help enter the budget numbers into UAN.
The LGOC will be held on March 26– 28, the Fiscal Office is planning to attend.
VI. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Dale English – Nothing to report.
Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report.
Anthony McDaniel – Anthony McDaniel said he will get with Kaylee Sefert and Dale English to schedule a Finance Committee meeting soon.
Kaylee Sefert – Kaylee Sefert reported that a Community Strong Committee was held. There are some events being planned and the next meeting is on March 12th at 5:30 p.m.
Kevin Brooks stated that Andy has been trying to find a wireless attachment for the sound system so that we can get an additional speaker and have a wider range. He said we would like to have it for Alumni weekend.
Tiffany Ramsay – Tiffany Ramsay reported that the Property Maintenance Committee met before the Council meeting. Clean-up week will be held June 2nd – 6th and the dumpsters will just be at the City Building this year.
Mayor Hehr said they have been talking about having something printed on the back of the utility bills to encourage residents to take advantage of the opportunity to clean up. If they do not, then tickets will be issued. Kevin Brooks said they are character limited to the messages they put on the utility bills, but he said to talk with Tina Tubaugh about it.
Tiffany Ramsay said they continue to work on the abandoned house issues. Chief Corey Jones has been in contact with a building inspector regarding this issue. Mayor Hehr said they are going to be very serious about the dilapidated properties. The property owner can either sign the property over to the Village and we will take it down or they will need to take it down themselves. Kevin Brooks reminded Council that we have the demolition program that we will match up to $1,000.00 and he encourages residents to take advantage of this. We also have the sidewalk program where we offer up to $500.00 and the façade program for businesses where we offer up to $1,000.00.
Matt Schaber – Nothing to report.
VII: Solicitor’s Report:
Nothing to report.
VIII: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Income Tax report, February 2025. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr reported that she is going to try to do a webinar on March 18th, through the United Spay Alliance. There is a grant that can be applied for by March 31st if you take the webinar.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Ordinance #05-2025, 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, 2025, by its Third Reading, and adopt. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Kaylee Sefert second. Dale English – yes, Tom Kirkland – yes, Tiffany Ramsay – yes, Matt Schaber – yes. Motion passed 6-0. Ordinance #05-2025 adopted.
Kevin Brooks asked Solicitor Ryan Regel if he was going to prepare the legal notice to be published in the newspaper since the third and final reading was done on the Ordinance for the proposed sale of the EMS building. Solicitor Regel said he will take care of it.
IX. Registered Visitors/Guest:
Sheriff Derek Norman – Sheriff Norman attended the meeting to discuss and answer questions regarding the contract for dispatch. Sheriff Norman had a budget that he separated out by calls meaning radio traffic between squad, fire, or anyone that uses their dispatching that he handed out for Council to look at. Based on the breakdown, the dollar amount they are asking for from the Village for dispatching services is $110,000.00. Sheriff Norman said he understands that number may not be feasible, but he is hoping they can come up with a feasible amount of money to help offset their costs. Mayor Hehr said she feels the Commissioners need to put a levy on the ballot. Sheriff Norman agreed, and he said the Commissioners also agreed and if the levy passes then the Village would be required to pay nothing but if they do not get a levy, then next year the amount asked from the Village would be higher.
Mayor Hehr asked how many calls they get for the Village for dispatch compared to 9-1-1. Sheriff Norman did not have that number, but he said there is not a whole lot of 9-1-1 that comes in.
Anthony McDaniel said he would like to talk dollars and cents and asked to go into Executive Session to do so.
Mayor Hehr asked if just Woodsfield is being singled out and what about the other towns in the county. Sheriff Norman replied that they do not have a police department, but Woodsfield does have a police department.
Dale English asked what if we do not have the money to give them for dispatch. Sheriff Norman said he would never want anyone to be in danger but when it comes down to it that would absolutely not be
something he would want to do, to stop answering the calls. If he were to do it, he would give ample time for us to get someone hired and trained to answer dispatch and do it the safest way possible.
Dale English asked what provisions they are doing to help correct the County budget deficit. Sheriff Norman said he has saved $450,000.00 at the Sheriff’s office in the last 2 months.
Matt Schaber asked what percentage of 9-1-1 and dispatch calls are from Woodsfield. Sheriff Norman said he did not have those numbers but not very many of the calls are 9-1-1 and right under the Sheriff’s office is Woodsfield, the second highest in calls.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to go into Executive Session regarding Contracts. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Motion passed 6-0. Executive Session entered at 6:10 p.m.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to go back into Regular Session. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Kaylee Sefert second. Motion passed 6-0. Regular Session entered at 7:33 p.m.
XI. Adjourn:
The Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Kaylee Sefert made the motion. Dale English second. Motion passed 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer