The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
February 3, 2025
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on February 3, 2025.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Kaylee Sefert, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, Solicitor Ryan Regel and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
Absent: Council member Anthony McDaniel.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Dale English made the motion to accept the January 20, 2025 meeting minutes with corrections. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel – absent, Kaylee Sefert – abstain. Motion passed 4-0.
Mayor Hehr said that the two registered visitors on the agenda were both unable to attend. Brian Harrigan, Water/Wastewater Dept., is sick and Andy Copley, Street Dept., was unable to make it due to medical issues. Mayor Hehr said they hopefully will be able to attend the next meeting or the first meeting of March.
III. Registered Visitors/Guest:
None
IV. Old Business:
None
V. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks asked for a motion from Council to approve the hire of Carter Knowlton for the Water/Wastewater Department at $13.00/hr. effective today, February 3, 2025. Dale English made the motion. Kaylee Sefert second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
The Village received a grant last week for the water washing tank project in the amount of $156,000.00. We also met last week with Buckeye Hills regarding the small Government Public Works application for the same project. We have a $60,000.00 grant application that is being sent to the state for small government funding. We are 4 points above the cut line, and we are the top-rated project in the district before discretionary points were awarded. So, we expect to get funded. The project will now be funded with $215,000.00 out of an engineer’s estimate of $221,000.00 which is 97% grant funded.
The EPA WPCLF grant that was talked about at the last meeting has awarded the Village $4 million in principal forgiveness. We have also been awarded up to $7.4 million in interest free loans. We will be going to bid in June or July and anticipate construction to start in the fall of this year. We are hoping to get the water, wastewater, and storm work done in the next 2 years, we are bidding the entire job. We are anticipating the first loan payment that would need to be made would be in January 2027. We will not know the actual loan amount and the impact it will have on the budget until the project goes on.
Kevin Brooks had a conversation with Bev Landefeld this morning, she is retiring, and the potential is that the BMV will close on the last Saturday in June 2025. She has run the business since 1992.
Mr. Brooks said there has been a lot of discussion regarding the Brown Center. He and Solicitor Ryan Regel reviewed the contract last week from the Brown Center Board and it is a lease arrangement. Mr. Brooks feels this is a better deal for us. The proposal they are making is that we enter into a semi long-term lease with them at $1.00 per year. We are looking at a 10–15-year term lease. Kevin Brooks feels the up side to signing a lease and not taking on permanent ownership is that if we decide it is not going to be profitable, we do have an out with a lease agreement. Mr. Brooks said this was the Brown Center Board’s idea, not ours. Pending Council approval, Kevin Brooks and Solicitor Ryan Regel would enter into a lease agreement with the Brown Center Board. He said we need to let the Board know as soon as possible so they know if they will be going through with the sale of the property. Solicitor Ryan Regel said he does not have the lease agreement written up yet but he will work on getting the lease agreement written up.
Kevin Brooks reported that American Municipal Power would like to do a presentation to Council on February 17th.
Kevin Brooks said there is Executive Session regarding Personnel/Compensation and property acquisition at the end of the meeting.
Dale English spoke up and said he would like to thank Kevin Brooks for all the time he spent on the grants for the Village. Mr. Brooks said any time you are dealing with grants it is a multitude of people working together. He said the Fiscal Office and Utility Office supplied information and we also worked with E. L. Robison and CT Consultants. These are significant funds that are very badly needed.
VI. Fiscal Officer Report:
Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard reported that Chris Kerby was in today and the permanent budget was completed.
Lori Cunard asked if Council had a chance to look at the Municipal Income Tax distribution. Lori stated that by changing the distribution and adding Cemetery, it would be a good solution for the Cemetery budget.
Kevin Brooks said the Cemetery has struggled since the Dearth Trust was re-allocated. He said there is not a solution because the Cemetery does not generate money.
Mr. Brooks said he is very pleased with the Brague Endowment because when that was left to the Village it was said it needed to keep a balance of $1.3 million and we are above that amount. Mr. Brooks feels that changing the Income Tax distribution needs to be done. Mayor Hehr said we are very fortunate to have the Brague Endowment. Kevin Brooks said that at one time we were taking money from the Brague Endowment quite often but for the last 6 years or so we have not taken much from it.
Kevin Brooks said we also invested money with Appalachian Ohio where we got a 3 to 1 match, and it is doing very well.
Mayor Hehr explained to visitors attending that we were very fortunate that Mr. and Mrs. Brague left the Cemetery over $1 million and in the Will it is stated that we cannot spend the principal, only the interest for Cemetery expenses. We also have the Dearth Trust that was left to the Cemetery, it is royalty money.
Kevin Brooks said the biggest expense at the Cemetery is paying the staff and mowers. We usually trade out mowers for new ones every 3 years or so.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to change the distribution of Municipal Income Tax. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0
VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Dale English – Nothing to report.
Tom Kirkland – Tom Kirkland reported that the Ordinance Committee met regarding the problem with cats in the Village. They have a meeting set with Crossed Paws representatives to see what they can recommend.
Anthony McDaniel – Absent.
Kaylee Sefert – Nothing to report.
Tiffany Ramsay – Nothing to report.
Matt Schaber – Nothing to report.
VIII: Solicitor’s Report:
Absent.
IX: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Kaylee Sefert made the motion. Dale English second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court report, January 2025. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to go into Executive Session regarding Personnel/Employment, action to be taken. Kaylee Sefert made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0. Executive Session entered at 6:50 p.m.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to go back into Regular Session. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Kaylee Sefert second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0. Regular Session entered at 7:05 p.m.
Kaylee Sefert made a motion to give the administrative staff a pay increase. Administrator Kevin Brooks to $71,000 yearly, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard to $52,000 yearly and Deputy Fiscal Officer to $19.00 an hour. Matt Schaber seconded. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked to increase the Sewer and Water Departments with operating license to increase from .75 to $5.00 like Electric Department. Kaylee Sefert made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0. ( Council needs to discuss this motion February 17, 2025 because the electric department only gets $2.00. ) The employees whom completed operators license 1 got a $2.00 raise, someone needs to make a motion to change each department Electric, Water, and Sewer to $5.00 instead of $2.00.
XI. Adjourn:
The Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Kaylee Sefert made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer