The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
February 17, 2025
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on February 17, 2025.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Anthony McDaniel, Kaylee Sefert, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, Solicitor Ryan Regel and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Dale English made the motion to accept the February 3, 2025 meeting minutes as written. Matt Schaber second. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to exempt the 5-minute time limit for the registered visitors who will be doing the AMP presentation. Kaylee Sefert made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0.
III. Registered Visitors/Guest:
Lynn Parker – Mr. Parker attended the meeting as the Treasurer of the Monroe County Agricultural Society. He wanted to get Council up to speed in relation to what is happening with the Monroe County Fair. The Monroe County Fair will be held August 18th – 23rd. Mr. Parker handed flyers to Council that is a sponsor letter that has been sent to area businesses in Monroe County. The County Fair Board asked Mr. Parker to thank the Village personnel from the Street Department and Utility Departments for their support and providing help that is needed for the Fair. Mr. Parker asked on behalf of the Fair Board if the Village would help in celebrating and marketing this year’s event because it is the 175th year for the Fair. He said anything from decorating the streetlights and hanging a banner across the street over near the Post Office. Mr. Parker also suggested the idea of the Village having a sponsor day during the week of the Fair and possibly having some of the Council members attending for a meet and greet. He said the economic impact for the Village from the Fair is very good.
Mr. Parker said the majority of the local businesses have been very supportive of the Fair, which is important because if they didn’t have sponsors, it would be very difficult to continue the Fair. He said he is not asking for money but asking that the Village promote the Monroe County Fair.
Mayor Hehr said she thinks it would be a good idea for Council to discuss this further and showcase the Fair. Mr. Parker said just as an example, one idea is that there are 60 light poles coming into town on St. Rt. 78 and on St. Rt. 800, we could get patriotic banners to hang on the light poles and he feels that would promote more participation from businesses in town. Mayor Hehr said we could definitely check into doing so and to check back with her around the middle of March.
Dale English asked Mr. Parker how many years he has attended the Monroe County Fair. Mr. Parker said he has been in this area for 5 years and has attended the Fair for 4 years, 2 of which has been as a Fair Board member.
Paul Beckhusen, AMP Senior Vice President of Power Supply and Energy Marketing and Harry Phillips, AMP Director of Member Relations – American Municipal Power (AMP) was formed by Ohio public power systems in 1971 to strengthen wholesale market buying power, gain access to transmission and enhance advocacy efforts. Today, AMP provides wholesale power and services to more than 130 municipal electric systems in nine states.
Mr. Beckhusen has been with AMP for 5 years and prior to that he ran a Municipal utility in Michigan for almost 20 years. He has a lot of experience on the Municipal side, and he also served on the AMP Board for several years before coming to AMP.
Mr. Beckhusen will be doing a presentation on some high-level things about AMP and public power in general.
Mr. Phillips worked for a Municipal utility in Richmond, Indiana for 16 years and now has been with AMP for 13 years. He said he and his team meet with the members of AMP regularly to go over the programs and services available. Some of the programs and services available are quarterly safety training, certified line worker training and regional technical training, mutual aid program administration, and a weekly grant newsletter.
After the presentation, Mayor Hehr said that about 3 weeks ago at 5:00 p.m. on a Friday she received a phone call from a customer reporting that they had no electricity. Mayor Hehr said she called Lewis Hill, Electric Superintendent, and he called another employee to go with him and within 45 minutes to 1 hour the electric was restored for the customer.
Mayor Hehr stated that there have been some electric customers who say our electricity is high, but she has done some research and found that is not true. Mr. Beckhusen said all of their members’ rates are less than the investor-owned companies. The Village electric rates compared to other municipalities and AEP and in general are in the average range, but he also said, from the customer perspective, it is not always about the lowest rate but rate stability.
Kevin Brooks said that AMP has been a tremendous partner to the Village over the years. He said we have used the mutual aid program many times and the peak shave resource. All of our lineman employees have received the AMP training, and we have also utilized AMP’s legal aid.
IV. Old Business:
None
V. Administrator Report:
Nothing to report.
VI. Fiscal Officer Report:
Nothing to report.
VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Dale English – Nothing to report.
Tom Kirkland – Tom Kirkland reported that the Ordinance Committee and the Special Committee met on Thursday, February 13th with Crossed Paws Pet Rescue to discuss the feral cat issues in the community. The meeting was very productive, and they will be moving forward with a plan of action. The Committee will report back to Council when plans are finalized. Mayor Hehr agreed the meeting was very productive and they will have more to follow.
Anthony McDaniel – Anthony McDaniel said he will be getting with Dale English and Kaylee Sefert to schedule another Finance Committee Meeting.
Kaylee Sefert – Nothing to report.
Tiffany Ramsay – Tiffany Ramsay reported that the Property Maintenance Committee met prior to the Council meeting this evening. They would like to do clean-up week in June and the dumpsters will only be at the Municipal Building this year. No definite dates have been chosen yet.
Matt Schaber – Matt Schaber commented on Mike Young’s VFD reports included in Council packets. Matt Schaber said he went up to the Fire Department to attend one of their meetings. He said they are working on plans to have work done on one of the fire engines.
VIII: Solicitor’s Report:
Solicitor Ryan Regel reported that he completed his review of the Brown Center. He has reached out to their attorney, and he spoke with Brent Dick as well. Solicitor Regel is anticipating that he will have something completed by the next Council meeting, there are just a few minor changes to be made to the lease.
IX: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Dale English second. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court report, mid-February 2025. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Kaylee Sefert second. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Ordinance #04-2025, An Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Real Estate Owned by the Village of Woodsfield, Ohio not Needed for any Municipal Purpose and Declaring an Emergency, by its third reading. Kaylee Sefert made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Dale English – yes, Anthony McDaniel – yes, Tiffany Ramsay – yes, Matt Schaber – yes. Motion passed 6-0. Ordinance #04-2025 adopted.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Resolution #2025-03, A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and/or Village Administrator to Apply for, Accept, and Enter into a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) Agreement on Behalf of the Village of Woodsfield for Planning, Design and/or Construction of Wastewater Facilities; and Designating a Dedicated Repayment Source for the Loan. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Ordinance #05-2025, An Ordinance to make Annual Appropriations for the Current Expenses and Other Expenditures of the Village of Woodsfield, State of Ohio during the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2025, by its second reading. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Dale English – yes, Anthony McDaniel – yes, Kaylee Sefert – yes, Tiffany Ramsay – yes. Motion passed by its second reading 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Ordinance #06-2025, An Ordinance Providing for Amending and Revising Specific Line-Items in the Appropriations of Expenditures for the Village of Woodsfield for the Calendar Year 2024 and Declaring an Emergency. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Dale English second. Tom Kirkland – yes, Kaylee Sefert – yes, Tiffany Ramsay – yes, Matt Schaber – yes. Motion passed 6-0.
XI. Adjourn:
The Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Kaylee Sefert made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer