Meeting Minutes (10-17-22)

                                        The Council of the Village of Woodsfield

                                                           October 17, 2022

The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on October 17, 2022.

I.  Roll Call:

     Present:  Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Leann Harper, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber; Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks. 

Absent:  Councilman Anthony McDaniel.

II.   Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:

     Dale English made a motion to accept the October 3, 2022 meeting minutes with additions and corrections.  Leann Harper second.  Motion passed 5-0. 

III. Registered Visitors/Guest:

     The registered visitors did not attend but Village Administrator Kevin Brooks stated that if anyone were to see Mr. Bosley or Mr. Rieck, they need to know that ODOT would like to speak to them regarding the Veterans Day Parade.  ODOT is wanting to make sure that everything is cleaned up for the parade so they have a clean route.

V.  Old Business:

      SOLSD Memorial Park Community Center Contract

      DORA 

      Neither one of these can be acted upon because there is nothing in front of Council at this time.  Village Administrator, Kevin Brooks stated that between Lori Cunard, Brenda Mauck, and himself we should be able to get the SOLSD Contract done this week.

VI.  Administrator Report:

     Village Administrator Kevin Brooks stated that he will need Executive Session at the end of the meeting.  He has several things regarding Personnel/Compensation with action to be taken. 

     Kevin Brooks has a proposal for the Water/Sewer Department for gate repairs at the Sewer Plant.  The proposal is from Hocking Fence in the amount of $2,280.00.  We would like to have this done in the 2022 year before doing the 2023 budget.  Dale English made the motion for gate repairs at the Sewer Plant to be done by Hocking Fence in the amount of $2,280.00.  Tom Kirkland second.  Motion passed 5-0.

     Kevin Brooks met with Shelley and Sands this morning regarding the downtown project.  There are several issues.  They are currently working on the sidewalk on the theater quadrant and will be constructing the curb island, this will take approximately 2 weeks.  It appears that when they are done with that they will be shutting the job down and will be back to finish the project in the spring.  There will be another meeting Wednesday to talk about the long-term schedule.  The next quadrant to be done is the one in front of Marden Rehab which is a lot more extensive, they are afraid they will not have enough time to get it done before blacktop season ends and they don’t want to leave it open or unfinished all winter so it will be done in the spring starting approximately in March.  Also, we had committed to redoing the back half of the sidewalks rather than just the front 4 feet of sidewalks in front of the Theater and around the corner to the alley, Marden to Midtown and then Marden to the alley before Modern Hardware.  The cost for just the concrete is $17,000.00.  Kevin Brooks said he does not have a specific quote for the brick inlay.  He talked to Shelley and Sands last week and they gave him a price that was going to be too expensive.  ODOT has re-looked at it and told Mr. Brooks it would be $621/square inlay which he feels is a good price.  We have about 30 square’s which would end up costing approximately $15,000.00.  This way the sidewalks we are re-doing will match the ones in front of the Courthouse and in front or Subway to Country Clippin’s.  Mr. Brooks feels we should go ahead with the brick inlay in the sidewalks.  When he gets a specific price he will bring it before Council for approval but Mr. Brooks is just wanting to make sure Council is all ok with this.  He stated that the money would come from the capital projects fund to pay for the sidewalks with the brick inlay.  Mr. Brooks also said they had talked about replacing the decorative light poles.  There is one at the Theater and one at Subway and there are 2 more from Subway to Country Clippin’s.  If we mirrored the other

side then we would have one at SOMA and one at Midtown Fitness.  Mr. Brooks said they also talked about replacing ones in the back sides of each of the islands which would replace the fluorescent LED poles.  That would be a total of 4 poles that are roughly $5,000.00 each.  Within the project we are able to repurpose 3 poles.  There is a meeting with Gulfport tomorrow and there is a possibility that they may purchase some additional poles for lighting in the downtown.  When Gulfport first approached us they were wanting to refurbish the Davey Crocket pole but there is nothing wrong with it.  So basically, if we spend $15,000 on brick inlays, it was money we were going to spend anyways on decorative light poles but with repurposing 3 of the poles and with the possibility of Gulfport purchasing additional poles it would save the Village from purchasing them.  The new mast arm signalization poles each have 3 LED lights on top so we will have far more light in the center of downtown than we have ever had.  Kevin Brooks asked Council how they all feel about spending the money from the Capital Projects fund for the sidewalks with the brick inlays, the goal for the project has been for both sides of downtown to mirror each other.  Councilwoman Leann Harper verified with Mr. Brooks that the approximate cost of concrete is $17,000.00 and the brick inlays are $15,000.00.  She asked the cost of the decorative light poles and Mr. Brooks replied that originally we were going to purchase new poles but now we will repurpose so we will not have a cost for the poles.  Leann Harper said the brick inlays was a good idea and Council agreed the sidewalks with the brick inlays should be done.   

     Kevin Brooks also had a conversation with ODOT today regarding the parking meters and parking stations.  Mr. Brooks and Leann Harper have had on-going conversations regarding this also.  The parking stations are going to be about $32,000.00, that is a lot of money to spend and then we end up bagging them.   We are at decision time for the parking stations if we want them installed.  Mr. Brooks has told ODOT he wants all the conduit and wiring put in for whatever we do decide to go with.  The issue is what type of parking meters we want to have put in and running the hard-line wiring.  The main problem is that we are not replacing sidewalk at the Courthouse or from Subway to Country Clippin’s so it would be a major job to get the hard-line wiring in those areas.  Kevin Brooks talked to Chief Corey Jones and decided that the 4 quadrants would not have parking meters/stations on a trial basis but have a strict 2-hour parking limit.  The Police Department is not enthusiastic about this idea but it would give a stronger Police presence in the downtown area and it would buy us some time to figure out what we want to do.  Mr. Brooks suggests putting signs up saying that the 2-hour parking limit is strongly enforced.   There are 96 meters in town and we would be losing about 30 in the downtown area but we have not had money actually going into meters in almost 2 years.  Mr. Brooks wanted Council to know some of the issues regarding the downtown and there are no easy solutions other than putting the parking stations in the 4  corners which would be $32,000.00.  Then you would have the challenge of someone parking at the Courthouse but would have to walk to the other side to pay the parking station, there is going to be a lot of confusion until people get used to it and we would definitely have to raise the price of parking.  The transaction fee for the parking stations is 87 cents so we would probably have to charge $2.00 @ 2 hour minimum.  Councilwoman Leann Harper spoke up and said that she thinks the parking stations are a good idea but she does not want them because of the cost, the transaction fee and she does not want to raise the price of parking because she feels it would upset people.  Kevin Brooks also said the issue with parking stations is that we have to have hard-line wiring which means we would have to partner with a business to have internet in their building which he is does not like the idea of.  There would be significant cost to do the hard-wiring at the Courthouse and Subway to Country Clippin’s because nothing exists underground.  Leann Harper also said she is all for putting the “dumb” meters back in with the project so that way it is done.  Mayor Hehr asked if we would use the old “dumb” meters and Mr. Brooks replied that we could put the old meters in.  Kevin Brooks said we do still have the meters but as they break it is getting harder and harder to get parts for them.  Mayor Hehr said she can’t see the point of putting the old ones back in if we are going to have trouble getting parts, she would rather order new meters.   Kevin Brooks said he will make some phone calls to see what and how quick we can get them.  Councilman Tom Kirkland also said he would want to go with the “dumb” meters but get new ones.  Leann Harper asked if we still have sponsors for the parking meters, Mr. Brooks replied that Corey Jones just signed someone up today for 4 weeks.  Mr. Brooks said regardless of what we do we are going to have to put signs up in the 4 premium quadrants for 2-hour parking limits. 

     Leann Harper asked if the Subway side would be finished before Shelley and Sands leaves town.  Kevin Brooks replied that the curb island would not be finished but the sidewalk is not torn up at Subway, to clarify there is a meeting between ODOT and the contractor and what is decided at the meeting will determine how much longer they will be working in town.   

     Mayor Hehr asked what Council would like to do regarding the parking meters/stations.  Leann Harper replied that her opinion is to go with the “dumb” meters.  Kevin Brooks said he would check around and see what he could get and how quickly he could get them so as they start to pour the concrete we can have them installed at least in front of and around the Theater.  The funds would be taken out of Capital Projects, Mr. Brooks would work with Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer, so they could budget 24 new parking meters each year until all 96 meters are replaced.   Leann Harper feels this is the way to go because there would be no service fees, Council agreed this is the way to go.  Kevin Brooks stated that we would try and have enough “dumb” meters for downtown by the spring when work resumes.    

VII.  Fiscal Officer Report:

     Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer, stated that the temporary budget would not be ready for approval until after November 3^rd.  Leann Harper asked Lori Cunard if she would be sending the budget ahead of the meeting to look over it to which Lori Cunard replied that she would.  Kevin Brooks spoke up and said that temporary appropriations would be for Council approval in December.  The final appropriations will not be ready for approval until sometime in February. 

VIII.  Committee Chair/Council Reports:

      Dale English – Nothing to report

      Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report

      Anthony McDaniel – absent

      Leann Harper – Nothing to report

      Tiffany Ramsay – Tiffany Ramsay asked what committee she is on, she wasn’t sure.  Mayor Hehr said she would be on the Park, Ordinance, Property Maintenance, and Policy and Procedures Commitees. 

      Matt Schaber – Nothing to report

     Kevin Brooks spoke up and said that people are asking about a Christmas parade and the tree lighting.  Mayor Hehr said that December 2^nd would be good for the tree lighting but the Chamber of Commerce does the parade.  Dale English asked if Antero would be willing to come back to serve pizza and hot chocolate again this year.  Kevin Brooks has asked Mike Young to check with Antero about this.

     Mayor Hehr said Trick or Treating will be October 29^th from 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.  If people want to participate they should turn on their front porch light.

IX:  Solicitor’s Report:

     None

X:  Mayor’s Report:

      Mayor Hehr reported that the meeting for the downtown revitalization took place with 7 people attending.  There was good conversation and Mayor Hehr also heard that downtown revitalization will be part of the Ohio Builds, the guidelines are not out yet for Ohio Builds but she is hoping the projects we would like to do downtown are acceptable for that. 

  Mayor Hehr said that she has been approached by Casey Bott.  Mr. Bott is on the Ohio Builds, Monroe County Committee.  He focuses mainly on walking trails and she had mentioned that she would like to see our walking trail extended to the Elementary School.  Mr. Bott has gotten in touch with Mayor Hehr and said that if she would get the information to him he would include it in his package.  She talked to the company that finished the walking trail and they are going to get some quotes and dimensions for her.  Mayor Hehr also said that part of the walking trail is in the emergency plan for the grade school and high school.  It is the evacuation route to the Fire Station in the case of a threat at the school. 

     Mayor Hehr reminded Council about the conversation she had with Pat and Howard Lewis regarding the one-half acre of ground that is next to theirs on 225 Berkley Drive that they would like to buy.  They sold it to ODOT for the extension from Eastern Ave. to Fairground Rd. which never happened so the property went to the Village.  They have taken care of it since the 1970’s.  Kevin Brooks had suggested if they pay for the survey that the Village would sell them the property for $1.00.  Mayor Hehr told the Lewis’s this and they have agreed to pay for the survey.  Mayor Hehr is asking for a motion from Council if they all agree to selling the Lewis’s the property.   Matt Schaber made the motion to sell the one-half acre of property to Pat and Howard Lewis for $1.00 at 225 Berkley Drive and the Lewis’s will pay for the survey to be done.  Tom Kirkland second.  Anthony McDaniel – absent.  Motion passed 5-0. 

     Mayor Hehr met with Steve Eikleberry, Park Superintendent and Andy Copley, Street Superintendent   regarding the exercise equipment for the walking trail.  There are 4 pieces of equipment and they picked 4 sites to place the equipment along the trail.   She noted that the bench and the picnic table, that were included in the grant, did not come so she called Snider Equipment and they are checking in to it.  Leann Harper asked if we would consider placing the bench and picnic table at the other end of the walking trail or even in the middle of the trail.  Kevin Brooks stated that we also will need trash cans at the walking trail and around town.  Dale English stated that we had trash cans at one time but people started dumping their own trash in them and they were also setting them on fire.  Mr. Brooks said that we have enough camera’s in town now that it shouldn’t be an issue.

       The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills.  Dale English made the motion.  Leann Harper second.  Anthony McDaniel – absent.   Motion passed 5-0.

XI.  Un-Registered Visitors:

     None

     Councilwoman Leann Harper made a motion to go into Executive Session regarding Personnel/Compensation.  Matt Schaber second.  Anthony McDaniel – absent.  Motion passed 5-0.  Executive Session entered at 6:19 p.m.

     Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to go back into Regular Session.   Leann Harper made the motion.  Tiffany Ramsay second.  Anthony McDaniel – absent.  Motion passed 5-0.  Regular Session entered 7:15 p.m.

     Tom Kirkland made a motion to accept the resignation from Paul Robison, Water/Sewer Superintendent as of October 23, 2022.  Matt Schaber second.  Motion passed 5-0. 

     Tom Kirkland made a motion to move Brian Harrigan to Water/Sewer Superintendent and increase his wages from $19.43/hr. to a salary of $46,000.00/yr.  Leann Harper second.  Anthony McDaniel– absent.  Motion passed 5-0. 

     Dale English made the motion to grant Jessie Lewis Electric Lineman position and increase his wages from $13.39/hr. to $13.79/hr. (3%).  Tom Kirkland second.  Anthony McDaniel – absent.  Motion passed 5-0.

     Leann Harper made the motion to increase Steve Eikleberry, Park Superintendent, salary $1.00/hr. which would be $2,080/yr. and bring his total salary to $37,774.00/yr. that will be split between Cemetery and Park.  Matt Schaber second.  Anthony McDaniel – absent.  Motion passed 5-0. 

     Officer Dan Napolitano has completed his probationary period as of October 20, 2022.  Chief Corey Jones asked that Officer Napolitano be removed from probationary status and be given an increase in

pay from $16.38/hr. to $16.93/hr.  Dale English made the motion that Officer Dan Napolitano be removed from probationary status and increase his wages from $16.38/hr. to $16.93/hr. 

XII. Adjourn:

     The Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Leann Harper made the motion to adjourn.  Matt Schaber second.  Anthony McDaniel – absent.  Motion passed 5-0.  Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. 

ATTEST:

___________________________                                                 ____________________________

Carol Hehr, Mayor                                                                            Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer