The Council of the Village of Woodsfield

December 15, 2025

The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on December 15, 2025.

I. Roll Call:

Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Anthony McDaniel, Alicia Gardner, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, Solicitor Ryan Regel, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.

II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:

Matt Schaber made the motion to accept the December 1, 2025 meeting minutes as written. Tiffany Ramsay second. Motion passed 6-0.

III. Registered Visitors:

None

IV. Old Business:

None

V. Administrator Report:

Village Administrator Kevin Brooks asked for a motion to hire Andrew Valentine in the Water Treatment Plant as Water Operator at $15.00/hr., retroactive to December 1st. Dale English made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0.

Kevin Brooks said there are still 2 positions that need filled and they are Meter reader for water/sewer and Full-time Police Officer.

Kevin Brooks said they had a conversation this morning about holding a surplus auction in the spring. We still have hundreds of parking meters in the garage that were removed from downtown, there will possibly be a vehicle from the Police Department to put in the auction, and the guys in the other departments are going through their inventory to see if they have anything.

On Wednesday there is an OPWC district meeting. The Village has a significant paving project that is up for funding consideration. If we are successful, we are up for $450,000.00 in paving projects. We will not get an answer on Wednesday because the projects are being voted on within the district and sent to State and we will get an answer sometime early next year. If we are not successful in getting funding through the Ohio Public Works round, we will go to small government which is late in January, but Mr. Brooks thinks we have a really good chance.

Kevin Brooks said on Thursday there is a conference call scheduled with Verdantas to discuss the walking path/sidewalks down at Riesbeck’s. Mr. Brooks said there are some aspects of the project that he is not comfortable with. Mr. Brooks would like some clarification and to have some open dialogue as to how to modify the project.

Kevin Brooks reminded Council about the Safety Meeting/Christmas Luncheon at noon on Thursday at the Brown Center.

Kevin Brooks said he had a conversation with Angela Beardmore about the food box. She has procured a sponsor for a year-round food box. The sponsor will build a box that will be put by the garage next door.

Kevin Brooks commended the Street Department on a job well done during the snow over the weekend. He said salt doesn’t work under 20 degrees so when it warms up a little more on Wednesday the Street Department will do some more clean-up and salt the roads.

VI. Fiscal Officer Report:

Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard stated that the Fiscal Office is starting the year-end process.

Kevin Brooks said he appreciates the cut-off of spending in December because it makes for an easier transition to the new year.

VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:

Dale English – Dale English commended the Electric Department on a job well done due to a power outage on Friday. Dale English said they all did an outstanding job.

Kevin Brooks said the Electric Department responded to a power outage on Friday due to a traffic accident, we did not turn the power off. The Electric Department responded within 20 minutes, and the power was restored in 51 minutes to all but 4 homes. The 4 homes were on a different circuit and required a significant amount of additional work, so contractors had to be called in. It was an insurance claim due to a pole being hit by a resident, so we felt comfortable calling the contractor in because it was not going to cost us anything.

Dale English also agreed that the Street Department did an outstanding job on the snow removal.

Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report.

Anthony McDaniel – Nothing to report.

Alicia Gardner – Nothing to report.

Tiffany Ramsay – Tiffany Ramsay reported the Community Strong Committee’s decorating contest judging will be on Friday.

Mayor Hehr said they had the tree lighting and there were probably 50 people in attendance. She said that years ago her and Bill Frank did the tree lighting at the Courthouse and it was always done before Thanksgiving. She said there are people who come back to Woodsfield for Thanksgiving and not Christmas so it would be nice for them to be able to see the town lit up. So, next year she thinks they are going to do the tree lighting before Thanksgiving, but this will be discussed more at a later time. Kevin Brooks thinks that would be a good idea because there are always other events going on the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Matt Schaber – Nothing to report.

VIII. Solicitor’s Report:

Solicitor Ryan Regel reported an update regarding the EMS Building. He said there was an error in the survey, it has been corrected and we should have the deed soon. Mayor Carol Hehr and President of Council Dale English will have to sign off on the deed and once that is completed everything should move quickly.

Solicitor Ryan Regel also reported there has been some recent indigent burials and the Village does have a responsibility in certain situations to handle these matters. He said there is a specific Ordinance for it. Solicitor Regel said moving forward he feels Council should look at the Ordinance and maybe make some revisions and get some clarity on what exactly is expected of the Village. We need to make sure that the individual requesting the Village pay for an indigent burial is justified and we need a little more clarity on the process. He is encouraging Council to have a committee to discuss the Ordinance and possibly meet with the funeral homes in town to find out what their positions are when dealing with indigent burials.

Kevin Brooks asked Solicitor Regel about the letters needing to be drafted to certain individuals regarding the storm/sanitary sewer project. Solicitor Regel said he has the names involved, and everything is drafted.

IX. Mayor’s Report:

Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second. Motion passed 6-0.

Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court Report, mid-December 2025. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Motion passed 6-0.

Mayor Hehr updated Council on the income surveys that are being done for the streets. She is extending the time to January 1st and she will let Mary Jo Westfall know. She said she is having trouble with people answering the door, they are very reluctant about completing the surveys.

Mayor Hehr said the Electric Department was out 14 hours due to the accident on Friday. She said there were 2 all-calls that went out and there was a misunderstanding about the number of hours that the electricity would be off. She had some good comments about how fast they got the electric back on, but she wants to commend all the guys because 14 hours is a long time to be out in the cold.

Mayor Hehr said the Street Department also did a great job over the weekend during the snowfall. She also said there have been several residents who have gotten parking tickets due to the snowfall. We do not want to fine our residents, but it is an Ordinance and it makes it much easier and safer for the Street Department employees to snowplow when vehicles are moved off the streets. Mayor Hehr suggests residents call places around them who have parking lots and ask permission to park their vehicles in the lots during snowfalls.

Kevin Brooks commends the Police Department because they have been enforcing the Ordinance. He also said you only get three tickets and after the third you will get towed.

Mayor Hehr reported that Officer Paul Channell has successfully completed his probationary period as of November 19th. Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to remove Officer Paul Channell from probationary status as of November 19th. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Dale English second. Motion passed 6-0.

Mayor Hehr asked Dale English to come forward. Mayor Hehr presented Dale English with a Proclamation for his 21 years of dedicated service as a Council member. Mayor Hehr said she was the one who got Dale involved in Council because he had spent many years as a Township Trustee and she knew he would be a good fit and he has been and she appreciates everything he has done.

Mayor Hehr then asked Anthony McDaniel to come forward. Mayor Hehr presented Anthony McDaniel with a Certificate of Appreciation for his 8 years of dedicated service as a Council member. She said Anthony has been a wonderful asset to the Village and she has always respected his decisions and he always makes his decisions based on what he thinks is best for the Village.

X. Un-Registered Visitors/Guests:

None

XI. Adjourn:

Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Alicia Gardner made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second. Motion passed 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:04 p.m.

ATTEST:

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Carol Hehr, Mayor

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Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer