Meeting Minutes (1-18-2022)

The Council of the Village of Woodsfield

January 18, 2022

The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on January 18, 2022.

I. Roll Call:

Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Jamie Hill, Carol Hehr; Mayor Mike Ricer, Village Administrator Kevin Brooks, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard.

Absent: Council Members; Anthony McDaniel and D. Ray Hughes.

II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:

Councilwoman Carol Hehr made a motion to accept the January 4, 2022 meeting minutes. Tom Kirkland second. Anthony McDaniel and D. Ray Hughes – absent. Motion passed 4-0.

III. Registered Visitors/Guest:

None – Phyllis Demchak cancelled due to weather. Village Administrator reminded Council that Uriah Wilson, who has requested a zoning variance, is required to submit a site plan for the parcel he would like to have re-zoned and a list of all adjoining property owners to Council. Once all is submitted by him a public hearing can be scheduled, so there is nothing to report on this as of now. The requirements for Mr. Wilson emailed to his secretary 2 weeks ago and there has been no response from him as of yet.

IV. Old Business:

Mayor Ricer reported, the trash situation talked about at last Council meeting has been taken care of except for a property on St Rt 78. With this particular situation ODJFS and the health department is involved and the Mayor asked if he should proceed with a compliance letter, Council replied yes they would still want one sent.

V. Administrator Report:

Village Administrator Kevin Brooks reported that the old Cemetery truck was bid on. There were 3 bids received: one for $700 and two for $800. Mr. Brooks advised Council to reject all bids at this time. He stated that there is a truck broke down in the Water Department and they could use it and he didn’t feel comfortable letting the truck go at the low bids that were placed. Paul Robison, Water/Sewer Superintendent, is going to drive the truck to see if it will meet the needs for his Department. Kevin Brooks is asking for Council to make the motion to reject all bids on the truck. Jamie Hill made a motion to reject all bids that were placed on the truck as it will be used in house at this time. Dale English second. Anthony McDaniel and D. Ray Hughes – absent. Motion passed 4-0.

Kevin Brooks reported that he has a professional services contract with CT Consultants for professional services proposal of planning and studying for the new Woodsfield Municipal Building. The cost is not to exceed $8,900.00. For this cost, we would get the conceptual design and layout of the new building which will be built on the lot on the side south of the current building. This is the first step in order to apply for grant funds for this project. Mr. Brooks stated that we already have a significant dollar amount in the capital projects fund that will also be used towards the project. Kevin Brooks has suggested to Mayor Ricer to form a Building Committee which would include three Council members, Police Chief Corey Jones along with Mr. Brooks. Mr. Brooks thinks a committee would be a good idea to stay in touch with what the plans are for the new building, the demolition of the old building, and the plans for the park where the old building is standing now. With Council approval, we would hire CT Consultants to do the conceptual site plan which would include all grant applications for the construction of the building and a downtown park. The $8,900.00 with CT Consultants would get the non-architectural or conceptual design so that when we are ready, we can move forward. Dale English made a motion to contract with CT Consultants for professional services for the conceptual design of the new Woodsfield Municipal building and park. Tom Kirkland second. Anthony McDaniel and D. Ray Hughes – absent. Motion passed 4-0.

Administrator Kevin Brooks let Council know that there were a couple large purchases made. One purchase was for diesel fuel from BFS Petroleum in the amount of $19,725.00 for the Electric Plant and the other was for road salt from Emory Rothenbuhler for $2,500.00. We have not yet been invoiced for the purchases but when we are invoiced, they will be brought to Council for approval of payments.

Village Administrator Kevin Brooks also let Council know that due to the snow event on Sunday into Monday there were tickets issued for parking on the streets, there was no one towed. Residents need to know that when it snows, vehicles need to be moved from the streets so the Street Department can do their job of snow removal. This is nothing new that if there is 2 inches of snow or more, vehicles need to be moved or they can be towed. Mr. Brooks stated that many residents have asked where they are to park if they can’t park on the street, that is not up to us, but they cannot be parked on the street and we are not doing anything different than any other community does. Councilman Dale

English stated that the first time it snowed the Police Department went door to door asking people to move vehicles rather than issuing tickets.

Kevin Brooks would like to publicly commend the Water and Street Department for the snow removal in the downtown area. They all worked together and did a great job of removing the snow downtown.

Councilwoman Carol Hehr asked if the royalty monies the Village is receiving is being kept in a separate fund for the building project and Mr. Brooks replied that yes, it is in Capital Projects Fund #4909.

VI. Fiscal Officer Report:

Village Administrator Kevin Brooks reported to Council that Citizens National Bank had made a mistake of over $289,000 on one of our deposits at the end of the year and did not know how to correct the mistake. Because of this and poor customer service the bank has been giving the Village we have decided to move Village accounts from Citizens National Bank to Wesbanco Bank. By moving to Wesbanco we now can offer direct deposit for payroll, which we had discussed before, but Citizens National Bank was unable and unwilling to work with us on this. Mr. Brooks stated that there is a Resolution in Council packets for mandatory payroll direct deposit for the Village staff. Mayor Ricer then asked for a motion to pass Resolution #2022-2 To Authorize changes in the Employee Handbook requiring direct deposit for employees for Village Payroll. Jamie Hill made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Anthony McDaniel – absent and D. Ray Hughes – absent. Motion passed 4-0.

VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:

Dale English – Nothing to report

Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report

Anthony McDaniel – Absent

Jamie Hill – Nothing to report

Carol Hehr – Nothing to report

D. Ray Hughes – Absent

VIII: Solicitor’s Report:

None

IX: Mayor’s Report:

The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the payment of the bills. Carol Hehr made the motion. Dale English second. Anthony McDaniel – absent and D. Ray Hughes – absent. Motion passed 4-0.

The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court Report, mid-January, 2022. Jamie Hill made the motion. Carol Hehr second. Anthony McDaniel – absent and D. Ray Hughes – absent. Motion passed 4-0.

X. Un-Registered Visitors:

Carla Wobscholl asked when the budget would be passed for 2022. Kevin Brooks replied that Temporary Appropriations were passed 2 meetings ago and the final budget is due in March, 2022

Mayor Ricer then asked for a motion to go into Executive Session regarding Personnel/litigation with no action to be taken. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Anthony McDaniel – absent and D. Ray Hughes – absent. Motion passed 4-0. Executive Session entered at 5:55 p.m.

Mayor Ricer asked for a motion to return to Regular Session. Jamie Hill made the motion. Carol Hehr second. Anthony McDaniel – absent and D. Ray Hughes – absent. Motion passed 4-0. Returned to Regular Session at 6:08 p.m.

XI. Adjourn:

Councilman Jamie Hill made the motion to Adjourn from Session. Dale English second. Anthony McDaniel – absent and D. Ray Hughes – absent. Motion passed 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

ATTEST:

____________________________ ____________________________

Michael E. Ricer, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer