The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
October 6, 2025
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on October 6, 2025.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, Solicitor Ryan Regel, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
Absent: Council members Anthony McDaniel and Alicia Gardner.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Dale English made the motion to accept the September 15, 2025 meeting minutes as written. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel and Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 4-0.
III. Registered Visitors:
None
IV. Old Business:
Weber Property – Mayor Hehr stated that she has heard some individuals are saying Council is not being fair to Dan Weber and that Council did not ask Mr. Weber to do certain things with his property. Mayor Hehr read from the minutes of July 7th which states that Anthony McDaniel told Mr. Weber he should get in contact with the inspector and tell him the Village is wanting the house torn down. Ask the inspector to do an interior inspection to see if he can give enough evidence the houses do not need torn down. It is about the soundness of the structure, and no amount of cleaning will assist with that. Mayor Hehr said she thinks there was a misunderstanding with what Council is asking Mr. Weber to do.
Mr. Weber said when he contacted the inspector that he was too busy to come out and do an interior inspection, so he just asked for pictures. Mr. Weber sent the pictures to the inspector, and he said, based on the pictures, Mr. Weber had done a good job; he saw no problems, and all was good to go.
Mayor Hehr said that Chief Corey Jones had contacted the inspector and asked him to come out and do another inspection, which he did. Mayor Hehr read the inspection letter from Charles Reed, Licensed Home Inspector. The letter stated that the property located at 217 Center Street has undergone limited repair since the previous notice was sent to the homeowner. While some painting has been completed, the inspection revealed that most unsafe and deteriorated conditions remain unresolved. Observed conditions continue to pose risks to public safety and occupant health. There were several detailed findings included in the inspection letter. The inspection letter went on to say that although the homeowner of 217 Center Street has applied paint to portions of the siding and some trim, most unsafe conditions remain. Per Ohio law and Village of Woodsfield Ordinance 1088-2008, the residence remains in violation of safety and structural standards and should be classified as an unsafe premises requiring municipal enforcement action. Mayor Hehr said we would get a copy of the letter to Dan Weber.
Mayor Hehr’s suggestion is to allow Dan Weber the time to submit a CHIP application. Mayor Hehr had previously given the application to Mr. Weber. The CHIP application would be submitted in January 2026 by Mr. Weber and if he can get into the program, he can see what they would do to fix up the property. In the meantime, he can continue to do repairs himself based on what the inspection letter says needs done. Mayor Hehr asked Council if they would agree to this and everyone agreed.
Mr. Weber said he appreciates what Council is doing for him, but he is not happy about some of the repairs listed on the inspection letter. The letter he received from the inspector after sending the pictures of the property said everything looked good and now, he is being told the property is unsafe and a lot of repairs still need done. Mayor Hehr said we are trying to help him and work with him, but he also has to work with us. Mr. Weber said he does not understand why the inspector sent him a letter saying everything looked good after seeing the pictures but now he has 3 pages of repairs needing done on the property. Mayor Hehr said she does not understand why a letter such as that was sent to him either but by looking at pictures the inspector was not able to determine the structural soundness of the property until he came out and did the inspection. Mayor Hehr said she could ask the inspector to come to a Council meeting so Dan Weber could talk with him personally. She said we are not here to tear his house down and leave him without a home.
Mr. Weber said he had a letter 2 weeks ago saying he was in the clear and now he is being told he needs to do all of these repairs. He said he thought they should have called him asking him to come to the house for the most recent inspection, but he was never notified.
Mr. Weber said he would complete the CHIP application and submit it. Mayor Hehr said she would be happy to help him with it if needed.
Mayor Hehr said there is another Public Hearing on November 3rd regarding the vacation of alleys.
V. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks reported that a Letter of Intent was sent to ARC last week for the electric conversion project. We haven’t really determined what we are going to apply for at this point because we are still trying to tie in the solar component for peak shaving due to having to sunset the diesels.
Kevin Brooks said they met with Verdantas last week concerning the Woodsfield Government Center. They talked about the possibility of a Brownfield grant which would be up to $500,000.00 that would help with the demolition of the existing building, and he thinks it would help with design of the new building. Mr. Brooks said we are also looking into trying to tie in the property across the street. We have priced that project at $75,000 – $150,000 but we are only going to build the park once, so we want to do it the right way.
Mr. Brooks said we submitted an OPWC grant in conjunction with Lewisville for street paving. It is a $450,000.00 project on our end and we would put up a significant amount of match funds and then split the grant funds with Lewisville. One of the reasons we went in with Lewisville is because we do not score high enough on the funding projects, so we need partners.
Kevin Brooks said administrative offices will be in Columbus Wednesday – Friday for the OML Conference.
VI. Fiscal Officer Report:
Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard reported the 2026 budget is completed and the Ordinance is in Council packets. Kevin Brooks said he would like the Fiscal Office to do a reference card showing each department and their 2026 budget for each Council member. He thinks it is important for each Council member to know what it costs to run each department.
Kevin Brooks reminded Council that Street, Park, Cemetery, Police and Administration are all funded through the General Fund. He is adamant about each Council member having a reference card so they know what it costs to run each department.
Mr. Brooks thinks the Fiscal Office has done a wonderful job on the budget along with Chris Kerby. He knows we have tried to accommodate the department’s wish lists. He said we have aging equipment and vehicles that will need to be replaced, and we are trying to do that in the best way we can. We are leaning heavily in the budget process, particularly with capital purchases, on the enterprise funds because they are generating revenue to be self-sustained. Any time we can have them help out with purchases we absolutely do so.
VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Tiffany Ramsay – Tiffany Ramsay reported there was a brief Property Maintenance meeting held before the Council meeting. They are still looking at abandoned houses that need torn down and they consulted with the Solicitor to make sure they are handling things properly.
Matt Schaber – Matt Schaber talked with Mike Young, Fire Chief and the new fire truck is being built now but is not sure how much longer it will be. The truck they are doing restoration on was held up but hoping it will be done and out by spring.
Matt Schaber asked if anything was going to be done about the website. Mayor Hehr said she looked over everything he had given to her, and she consulted with Kevin. She let Matt Schaber know that tomorrow she would email him a copy of things they are going to change on the website. Once everything is finalized it will go to Dan Denbow.
Matt Schaber asked Mayor Hehr what was going on with the other 4 homes that were on the same list as Dan Weber’s. Mayor Hehr said they are working on them, but it is a very slow process. She said there are 2 houses that they would like to take down but they are waiting for the Solicitor to follow up and let them know exactly how to go about it. One home has a high mortgage on it and the other is owned by someone in a care facility. Mayor Hehr said she has been on the Property Maintenance Committee for a long time, and she wants to praise the Police Department because they have done more work this year than she can remember.
Matt Schaber asked about the 2 houses left on the list. Chief Corey Jones spoke up and said there is a whole first list of property inspections that have been completed and a second list of inspections completed on September 18th. He said as to the first list, we went through the process as defined by our Ordinance and are at the end of the process with 2 of the properties, so now we are consulting Solicitor Regel to follow through with taking down the structures. Chief Jones said the goal is not to take down these properties, but we would hope the property owners would fix the issues themselves. There are no hidden agendas on any properties that some people have been speculating on. He also said Lynn Parker has acquired 2 of the properties and fixed them up and they look better than they have in a long time and that is the end goal. Kevin Brooks said he definitely sees the Property Maintenance Committee is working with people instead of against them.
Chief Corey Jones said that the Village of Woodsfield has Ordinances regarding lawns, litter and dilapidated houses and Council has been passionate about these things. They are trying to make the Village more appealing to residents so the Police Department will continue to enforce property maintenance.
Lynn Parker said he thinks there is a great success story in the fact that what is being done to enforce the rules has started creating situations where people are talking and it creates opportunities. He said the update on the 2 Andover properties is that 123 Andover will be on the market next week, and 121 Andover will be on the market in a month. Mr. Parker agreed that some of the houses need torn down but when they are torn down it leaves a vacant lot with no utility revenue coming in and no housing for people. He said the 2 homes on Andover will be priced at market demand. Tom Kirkland asked if the homes were inspected for black mold since they have stood empty for 20 years. Lynn Parker said that one was inspected for mold.
Mayor Hehr said their intention is not to have people tear their houses down. Unfortunately for us to get results we have them inspected and have to send out letters. The 2 houses that Lynn Parker purchased would still be sitting if the Property Maintenance Committee had not made a move. Mayor Hehr also wants people to respect their neighbors and understand that it affects neighbors. Lynn Parker said the neighbors on Andover are pleased that he is fixing up the 2 properties he acquired because it is increasing their property value.
Alicia Gardner – absent
Anthony McDaniel – absent
Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report.
Dale English – Nothing to report.
VIII: Solicitor’s Report:
Nothing to report
IX: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Anthony McDaniel and Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 4-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court Report, September 2025. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Dale English second. Anthony McDaniel and Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 4-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Income Tax Report, September 2025. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel and Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 4-0. Kevin Brooks said we are tracking ahead by about $60,000.00 compared to last year and we are expecting a really good year for income tax in 2026 due to construction that will be going on in the Village.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve Ordinance #12-2025, An Ordinance to make Temporary Appropriations for the Current Expenses and Other Expenditures of the Village of Woodsfield, State of Ohio During the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2026, by its First Reading. Matt Schaber made the
motion. Dale English second. Tom Kirkland – yes, Tiffany Ramsay – yes, Alicia Gardner – absent, Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 4-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve Ordinance #13-2025, An Ordinance Authorizing Income Tax Distribution and Declaring an Emergency. A motion to suspend the three-reading rule and pass this ordinance as an emergency measure was made. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Dale English – yes, Matt Schaber – yes, Anthony McDaniel – absent, Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 4-0. Ordinance #13-2025 adopted. Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard stated the Auditor said the tax distribution needed to be approved in an Ordinance.
Resolution #2025-12 regarding wage increases is included in Council Packets but Mayor Hehr said since Anthony McDaniel is absent, and he is the chairman of the Finance Committee she would like to wait and approve the Resolution when he is here.
X. Un-Registered Visitors/Guest:
Johnna Kaiser – Johnna Kaiser attended to ask where Locust Ave. is on the list to be repaired. She said she was told it would be put on the list in 2021. Then she attended a meeting in 2023, and blacktop was put on the alley, which she appreciated, but it did not fix the problem. Now she is attending in 2025 because the road once again is in disarray. She said they tore down an old house and built a new one that they take pride in, and they recently purchased the neighboring house that she is sure has black mold in it that they are going to have torn down at their expense. She said she is just asking for her road to be paved rather than a gravel road that has ruts in it. Johnna Kaiser said she understands there is another way to get into her house but that is the closest way and that is where the GPS delivers anything to her house. She said she just wants to know where Locust Ave. is on the list and where the list is. Mayor Hehr said she spoke with John Williams, Street Superintendent, this morning. Johnna Kaiser said she also spoke with him, and he told her he does not know what to do with the road. Mayor Hehr said John Williams said the only thing they can do is to pave it, but we cannot pave it this year. We have a lot of streets that need paved, so we are trying to apply for grant funding. She also said that because a road is on the list it only means it needs to be looked at, and we need to find the funds to do it. Mayor Hehr said there are roads that are high priority that are highly traveled roads on the list. She said that next year when we do some paving there may be enough money to go out and do Locust Ave., but she is not promising anything. Kevin Brooks said there is a list with approximately 20 – 25 roads on it. He said he would be happy to get her a copy of the list if she wants it. He said Airport Road was paved this year because it was eligible for grant money. He also said we just submitted a grant application for paving through OPWC, but he is not sure of the specific streets on the application for funding.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to go into Executive Session for pending litigation. Matt Schaber made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second. Anthony McDaniel and Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 4-0. Executive Session entered at 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to return to Regular Session. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel and Alicia Gardner– absent. Motion passed 4-0. Regular Session entered at 6:35 p.m.
Kevin Brooks said a motion is needed to file imminent domain against Troy Baker and any other individuals who have not signed their easement for the storm water sanitary sewer project. Matt
Schaber made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Anthony McDaniel and Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 4-0. Mayor Hehr added that this is for a $4 million project that is desperately needed for the town. She said imminent domain is not something we want to do but we can’t afford not to do it because we are not losing a $4 million project. Kevin Brooks added the $4 million is the grant portion, the total cost for the project is $5.1 million. The property owner refuses to sign the easement so we have no choice.
XI. Adjourn:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel and Alicia Gardner – absent. Motion passed 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer