The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
April 6, 2026
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on April 6, 2026.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Tom Kirkland, Bill Allen, Alicia Gardner, Kim Schaber, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, Solicitor Ryan Regel, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Mayor Hehr stated there was a typing error on the first page of the minutes that will need to be corrected. During Steve Eikleberry’s report the minutes stated that the pool was getting a new gliding board and Mayor Hehr stated it should have said sliding board, however, neither was correct. The pool is not getting a new sliding board but rather a new diving board.
Bill Allen made the motion to accept the March 16, 2026 meeting minutes with corrections. Matt Schaber second. Motion passed 6-0.
III. Registered Visitors:
Eddie Martin, Alumni Committee – Eddie Martin attended to ask Council for permission and help with the Alumni weekend and the parade that is held every year. The parade is on Friday, June 19th at 7:30 p.m. with line-up to start at 6:30 p.m. at City Park. Mr. Martin also asked Council if they would be willing to donate a $500.00 scholarship as in the past. Mayor Hehr said they would donate the $500.00 scholarship. Mr. Martin asked Mayor Hehr if she would announce the classes during the parade and Mayor Hehr said she would. Mr. Martin said the help from the Village is greatly appreciated.
IV. Old Business:
Video recording of the Council meetings – Mayor Hehr asked if there was anything new to report on the video recording of meetings. Kim Schaber said she is asking for that subject to be taken off the table. She has had some conversations and has gotten the impression that Council is very hesitant to do the recordings. She also understands that Solicitor Ryan Regel is especially hesitant because of the liabilities that could develop so she is withdrawing the motion and going to look into something different.
VI. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks asked for Council to make a motion to terminate the employment of Bret Tomlin effective March 19, 2026 due to failed probationary period. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Motion passed 6-0.
Kevin Brooks asked Council to make a motion to hire Brian Arman, effective March 30, 2026, as Water Treatment Plant Operator @ $15.00/hr. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Alisha Gardner second the motion. Motion passed 6-0.
Kevin Brooks asked Council to make a motion to hire Alan Davis, effective April 6, 2026, as Water Meter Reader/Laborer in the Water Distribution Department @ $15.00/hr. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Motion passed 6-0.
Kevin Brooks asked Council to make a motion to accept the resignation of Andrew Valentine, Water Treatment Plant, effective April 1, 2026. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Tom Kirkland second the motion.
Kevin Brooks reported that Verdantas is enroute to the Village and will be at the Electric Plant for the remainder of the week. They are doing the prep work for the voltage conversion project.
Mr. Brooks also reported there was a project meeting for the wastewater, water, and storm water project this morning. He said if anyone would like the notes from the meeting he would send them. The next project meeting is Monday, May 4th @ 10:30 p.m. if anyone would like to attend.
Kevin Brooks requested Executive Session at the end of the meeting regarding employment. He would like to update Council on a few things. Bill Allen made the motion to go into Executive Session at the end of the meeting. Tiffany Ramsay second. Motion passed 6-0.
Matt Schaber asked if the 2 pumps had ever come into the Water Treatment Plant. Kevin Brooks said they received one of them.
Matt Schaber also asked if the open lot on Main Street is going to be leveled off and seeded pretty soon. Mayor Hehr said they are working on it. She is hoping to get enough donations to do the brick work instead of seeding it. Matt Schaber asked if it would be done by Alumni weekend, but Mayor Hehr does not know. Kevin Brooks said they are hoping it will be done. He said at the Superintendents meeting this morning they discussed the planning for Alumni weekend. They discussed the landscaping in the downtown area and painting the striping in and around the downtown area. They have ordered rubber mulch and will be using it in the downtown area this year. The flower baskets will be coming in the next few weeks, and the staff is prepared to get them hung up. Mr. Brooks said they have also talked about getting banners to hang up downtown since the brackets are already on the poles. He said they have talked about starting a program to have the banners sponsored by businesses for advertising.
Mayor Hehr said she is working with a contractor who is going to give her a ballpark figure for the brick work on the open lot on Main Street. She is hoping maybe to have it for the next Council meeting or the first meeting in May. She does not want to put in grass and then have to tear it back up.
VII. Fiscal Officer Report:
Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard reported that the March bank statement has been reconciled.
Lori Cunard reported the Ordinance in council packets is for a draw on OWDA to pay invoices for the water, wastewater, storm sewer project.
Lori Cunard said we will be working on revenue budget starting Friday.
Lori Cunard reported that water came in at the Brown Center last week when it rained. The carpet in the back 2 offices is wet. She also said there is baseboard coming off the wall in the main room at the Brown Center. She has contacted Flag Floors from Barnesville to give an estimate on replacement of the floor in the main area and is going to contact Phillps and Son to get a second estimate. Kevin Brooks said the tile that is there is commercial grade and he would like to try and have it cleaned and waxed once before spending the money on a new floor. Lori Cunard said we had tried to clean it twice before, but Mr. Brooks said he would like to have it professionally cleaned and polished.
Kevin Brooks said the generator is in, so we are now getting estimates to have it installed. We have received one estimate that was around $5,000.00. He said there is a significant amount of work to be done to tie the generator in. Mr. Brooks is not sure if it will be installed before the primary election, however, that is still the goal. He does agree the floors need some work, but he would like to delay replacing them for a few years. Mayor Hehr said the carpet in the back offices are musty and moldy from the water coming in. Kevin Brooks said it will not be a recurring problem because the drains have been cleared.
VIII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report.
Bill Allen – Nothing to report.
Alicia Gardner – Nothing to report.
Kim Schaber – Nothing to report but would like to ask a few questions. Kim Schaber asked if the Community Strong Committee has had a chance to talk about any events they may be planning other than Music in the Park and their normal activities. She asked if they are going to do an event for America 250 Celebration and if not if they may want to incorporate something. Kim Schaber thought it would be an opportunity for businesses to start with some decorating for America 250 themes but then encourage some long-term improvements for curb appeal. Mayor Hehr said as far as businesses are concerned, we have the façade improvement program where the Village will pay up to $1,000.00 for improvements. Kim Schaber said she would be interested in doing some kind of economic encouragement but did not know how to go about it and did not know if it is something the Village would want to get into or if she should just do it as a resident.
Kevin Brooks said we always had tremendous success with businesses sponsoring the parking meters so he thinks it will be the same with businesses sponsoring the banners. He thinks the banners along with the flower baskets will be a great aesthetic improvement in the downtown area and we hope to change the banners every couple of months. Kim Schaber said she is talking about general appearance/atmosphere of the downtown, but she is hoping along with those aesthetic improvements she would like to talk with businesses about improving their business fronts. She does understand that most of the businesses do not own their buildings, but she said we need the entrances of businesses to look inviting to people. She asked if Council needs to also be involved or if she needs approval to talk with businesses. Mayor Hehr said her opinion is that we offer $1,000.00 for façade improvement if they want to do it but she doesn’t think we should go to a business and ask them to make improvements. Kim Schaber said she agrees but is just asking Council on how to go about encouraging businesses to improve their store fronts. Mayor Hehr said as a group they could talk to businesses and emphasize that the façade program is available to them. Bill Allen asked if we could better explain the façade program to businesses. Mayor Hehr suggested they could send letters to businesses explaining the façade improvement program along with an application. Kim Schaber said she could go to businesses and follow-up with them after the letters are mailed.
Tiffany Ramsay – Tiffany Ramsay reported there will be a Property Maintenance meeting on April 13th @ 5:00 p.m.
The Community Strong Committee has met a few times, and they are getting things planned for summer events. They are currently seeking sponsorships, individuals or businesses, for a banner. They are taking donations and are going to have a banner made listing all of the sponsors and will have it hanging at all of their events this year.
They are having a band at the lot next door to the city building after the Alumni parade and they are planning an event on July 3rd for the fireworks and a band in August, but more details will follow. The bands will now play at the lot next to the city building rather than at City Park for the summer music. They would like to plan an extra event for America 250, but they are not sure if they will have the funds to do so.
Kim Schaber asked if they had heard anything regarding the grant and Mayor Hehr said it will be a while until they know anything.
Matt Schaber – Matt Schaber said he talked to John Williams, Street Superintendent, this morning and he would like to have a meeting with Street Committee, so he is trying to get a day and time set.
The Park Committee met last week, and they would like to change some of the prices. Matt Schaber said they would like to increase the daily admission by $1.00 for adults and students and increase the moonlight swim admission by $2.00, swim parties will be $100.00 per hour for 2 hours, private and group lessons will stay the same, and season, adult, and student passes will stay the same. The concessions may increase depending on the price the Village pays for them at Sam’s Club. Bill Allen made a motion to approve the pool prices for the 2026 season. Kim Schaber second the motion. Motion passed 6-0.
IX: Solicitor’s Report:
Solicitor Ryan Regel asked for Executive Session at the end of the meeting about the purchase or sale of property and pending or eminent court action. Bill Allen made the motion for Executive Session regarding the purchase or sale of property and pending court action. Matt Schaber second the motion. Motion passed 6-0.
X: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Bill Allen second the motion. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court Report, March 2026. Kim Schaber made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second the motion. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Income Tax Report, March 2026. Matt Schaber made the motion. Tom Kirkland second the motion. Kevin Brooks said income tax collections are down compared to last year but hopefully with the construction going on in the Village it will pick back up. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve Ordinance #05-2026, An Ordinance Providing for Amending and Revising Specific Line-Items in the Appropriations of Expenditures for the Village of Woodsfield for the Calendar Year 2026 and Declaring an Emergency. Let it be noted: A motion to suspend the three-reading rule and pass this ordinance as an emergency measure was made. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Bill Allen second the motion. Motion passed 6-0. Ordinance #05-2026 adopted.
Mayor Hehr reported that Chief Corey Jones and Sargent Kory Hill are in training for the next couple of days. Chief Jones asked for Mayor Hehr to read a statement in his absence. He stated that the Police Department will be enforcing ordinances for grass, weeds, litter, and dilapidated houses. He said they issued many letters and tickets last year. Mayor Hehr said she has been on the Property Maintenance Committee since it started and this past year, they have issued more than she has ever known. She said Village officers have spent many hours writing up the letters and tickets, investigating the property’s and doing the follow-up. Chief Jones said if anyone would like to see records of everything they have done, they can stop in and visit him.
Mayor Hehr said we will be bringing in the dumpsters for people in the Village to clean up their property’s. She also stated that last year there were people from out-of-town dumping and people putting things in the dumpster that should not have been dumped. This is a way for many Village residents to clean up and get rid of junk that they have no other way of getting rid of. She said if people do not abide by the rules, it may be our last year to get a dumpster because it is very expensive. Mayor Hehr said they will post on Facebook a list of items that should not be put in the dumpsters.
Kevin Brooks said we have the dumpsters parked on the side of the building to try and keep an eye on them. He said at one time we put dumpsters at the pool for a week, some at the street garage for a week, and then here at the city building for a week but when they are at the pool and street garage it is hard to keep an eye on them and people from out of town were using the dumpsters and people were dumping paint, tires, etc. This year the dumpsters will only be here at the city building where we can monitor it better. Mr. Brooks thinks it is a great program, and he hopes people do not abuse it.
XI. Un-Registered Visitors/Guests:
A visitor asked if they could still take brush to the Cemetery to be burned. Kevin Brooks said we are not permitted by the EPA to open burn at the Cemetery.
Council entered Executive Session for employment, purchase or sale of property, and pending court action. Executive Session entered at 6:40 p.m.
Mayor Hehr called the meeting back into Regular Session at 7:02 p.m.
XII. Adjourn:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Bill Allen made the motion. Alicia Gardner second. Motion passed 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer