The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
April 21, 2025The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on April 21, 2025.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Kaylee Sefert, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
Absent: Council member Anthony McDaniel and Solicitor Ryan Regel.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Dale English made the motion to accept the April 7, 2025 meeting minutes with corrections. Tiffany Ramsay second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
III. Registered Visitors:
John Rieck – Brent Bosley spoke on behalf of John Rieck this evening. Mr. Bosley asked if the VFW, American Legion, and The Moose all went together what it would cost for the upcoming pool season to pay admission for the pool. He said they would like to pursue this but would need a figure on how much it would cost for the pool season. Mayor Hehr said they were just talking about the pool this morning at the Superintendents meeting, but they would have to talk with Steve Eikleberry, Park Superintendent. Kevin Brooks said it also depends a lot on the weather, but typically the pool loses $20,000.00 – $25,000.00 per summer. He said the chemicals cost around $7,500.00 twice per year, we have six lifeguards on the payroll, plus the Park Superintendent. We generate revenue through admissions and concessions, but the concessions aren’t much. Mr. Brooks said Steve Eikleberry thinks the pool generated about $21,500.00 in admissions last year, so that would be our break-even point. Mr. Brooks said to reduce that amount for them we could just have free weekends sponsored by the VFW, Legion, and the Moose. In the past, we have done Sunday’s free admission, and the Village ate the cost, but having Saturday and Sunday free admission would be a win for everyone. Kevin Brooks said we would work with them so we can come up with a dollar amount. Mayor Hehr said last year when we had someone sponsor free admission, we had to turn away some people because we are only allowed to have a certain number based on the size of the pool. She thinks they should be able to hold a Park Committee meeting and have some kind of a figure for them to take back to their members on May 5th. Mr. Bosley said they are just looking for a way to give to the community and they thought this would be a good idea.
IV. Old Business:
Matt Schaber asked if a couple residents talked with Steve Eikelberry, Park Superintendent, regarding ideas for the fence around the park if Council would need to approve where they put it and would it be ok for them to find the funding for it. Kevin Brooks said yes it would all be fine. He said it would only take about a 60-foot stretch at Memorial Park. Kevin Brooks said he would suggest getting with Steve Eikleberry, Park Superintendent, and get all the particulars and bring it back to Mr. Brooks desk so he can get ahold of the company who has done other fencing for the Village. Mayor Hehr said she is applying for a NatureWorks grant for the fence at City Park and Kevin Brooks said a NatureWorks grant would be good to apply for fence at the City Park. Mayor Hehr said with the NatureWorks grant you can only apply for a project at one park not multiple parks. She also said she would need to know within the next couple of weeks if they are going to get funding for the fence and if she would even need to apply for the NatureWorks grant.
Matt Schaber asked what is going on with the feral cat ordinance. Tom Kirkland said we are waiting for next spring, that is when they want to spay and neuter, and Tiffany Ramsay said we did not have the money to spay and neuter, so we need to raise the money. Matt Schaber said he thought something still needed to be written in the ordinance regarding the capture and release and if we are going to penalize the people who set food out and feed the cats. Kevin Brooks said he believes Solicitor Ryan Regel was looking at the ordinance, Mayor Hehr agreed. Mayor Hehr said they are looking for donations to spay and neuter.
Matt Schaber asked about the contract signed a couple of weeks ago with the EMA. He asked what services they provide. Mayor Hehr said it is a mandatory thing; we have to sign with them, but she said
if there is a disaster in the Village the EMA will assist. Kevin Brooks said it is an annual renewal contract; it is quite lengthy, but he will reach out to Solicitor Regel and get it for Mr. Schaber to read.
V. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks reported that part of the obligations as far as the water, wastewater, and storm sewer project is that we have to provide monthly updates as to where we are in the project. Since the last update the only thing that has been done is we have created the project map which shows every section of the Village that will be affected by the project. The map is displayed in Council Chambers, and we did provide a copy of the map for public access.
Kevin Brooks reported that we would like to hire the following six individuals for the pool for the summer and have a motion: Racquel Stimpert, Asst Mgr. – $11.75/hr., Jade Miller, Zakary Babcock, Annalisa Isaacs, Chloe Seymour, and Cadence Beckett – $10.75/hr. Matt Schaber made the motion to hire six individuals as lifeguards at the rates listed. Tiffany Ramsay seconded. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Kevin Brooks said we would like to hire Christian Toland at the Cemetery @ $13.00/hr. for seasonal/part-time mowing. Matt Schaber made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Lynn Parker is in attendance and Kevin Brooks said the brackets for the flags that Mr. Parker would like to have put up for fair week are going to be $350.00/piece, we need two per pole @ 16 poles so it would be roughly $12,000.00. Mr. Brooks thinks it would be a good investment because we could use them for advertising and many different things. He said the issue is that we need a special bracket because of the decorative poles and as long as no one objects we are going to go ahead and order the brackets. Council agreed to order the brackets.
Kevin Brooks reported that the Alumni weekend is only about 6 weeks from now and we are going to go with getting a whole new sound system that is better suited for outdoor use. We talked about getting something to add to the system we currently have, but he feels we should spend the extra money, buy it once, and that way we only have the expense one time. The sound system we have now is better suited for a smaller indoor venue. Council agreed to get the new sound system.
Kevin Brooks said Solicitor Ryan Regel sent emails to everyone today regarding the Brown Community Center. We have an agreement that has been reached, and the Brown Community Center Board has chosen to review the agreement themselves. Solicitor Ryan Regel and Kevin Brooks will provide them with a final lease agreement, then the Brown Center Board will be able to have a meeting and decide. They have requested it go directly to the Board rather than their legal counsel.
The Brown Community Center is hosting the Ohio Supreme Court Justices this Wednesday for a luncheon. This will be a significant event, and we are doing a little coordination with them such as setting up cones, barricades, etc.
VI. Fiscal Officer Report:
Lori Cunard reported the cost of the 2-year audit was $32,900.00.
Lori Cunard will be in Mayor’s Court training this week from Wednesday through Friday.
VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Dale English – Nothing to report.
Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report.
Anthony McDaniel – absent.
Kaylee Sefert – Nothing to report.
Tiffany Ramsay – Tiffany Ramsay reported that the Community Strong Committee is getting ready to start the 2025 Music in the Park. Music in the Park will be held at City Park on the first Friday of the months of May, June, and August from 6 – 9 p.m. with free admission.
Matt Schaber – Matt Schaber asked who is responsible for filling the hole in the alley behind the Theater. Kevin Brooks said the construction crew who was hired by the Monroe Arts Council is responsible and we have been in contact and have given them specifications to repair. Mr. Brooks said most of the work is inside the building so he doesn’t think they will fix the alley until all the work is done.
Matt Schaber asked why the Village Police Department is listed on the County website. Mayor Hehr said she is not sure, but she thinks it is a good thing.
Matt Schaber asked why our Council meetings are at 5:30 p.m. He asked if it could be held at a later time to give people time to get home from work, he said it is even hard for him sometimes. Kevin Brooks said to get with Solicitor Ryan Regel to discuss because the very first meeting of the new year is a re-organizational meeting, and you elect Council President and the days and times for the meetings. Mr. Brooks said in 2019 the meetings were being held at 7:00 p.m. and they were routinely here until about 10:00 p.m., so that was when Council moved the time up to 5:30 p.m.
Matt Schaber asked what the status is for the new government complex. Kevin Brooks said we submitted a grant application to Congressman Ruly’s office 2 weeks ago requesting $3.5 million. As in the past, they select the projects and prioritize them within their district. If we are lucky enough to get selected, then we will go to the congressional level in D.C.
Matt Schaber said he just noticed today, on our website you cannot get past minutes. Lori Cunard said this is because of the website crashing a couple of months ago. Dan Denbow has had a hard time getting everything back onto the website. Kevin Brooks said we do have hard copies of archived minutes in the Fiscal Office.
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, mid-April 2025. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr said she ordered 32 flower baskets from Malaga Greenhouse for the square. She said if anyone is wondering why she ordered from Malaga Greenhouse it is because last year she did not get her order in soon enough at Westfall’s, so she ordered the baskets from Malaga Greenhouse and the baskets are re-usable, so she is going back to Malaga because we did not want to have to buy the baskets. Mayor Hehr said Raymond Dalrymple watered the flowers and he did a great job. She thinks our flowers look the prettiest compared to other towns around the area. Kevin Brooks said the employees watering the flowers last year were Raymond Dalrymple and former employee Eric Preston who was the Cemetery Laborer.
Mayor Hehr said Andy Copley’s funeral is tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. Mayor Hehr said she would like all departments to close and attend the funeral. She said he did so much for the Village, he would go to Columbus for his chemotherapy treatments and the next day he would be at work. Mayor Hehr said she would like to get plaques made at MACO for the 4 curb islands in memory of Andy Copley because he took care of those mostly himself.
X. Un-Registered Visitors/Guest:
Walter Russell – Mr. Russell said he does not live in the corporation, but he travels through and does quite a bit in the corporation. He asked what is happening with unsightly properties. He said there is one on the corner of Main Street and asked if anything was happening with it. Kevin Brooks said we are
currently in litigation with the EPA and no comments can be made on that. He said we are trying to remediate the situation, and it is our intention to improve that property as soon as we are given
permission by the EPA. Mayor Hehr said we are going to make a downtown park in that spot. She said she just received a donation today from Augusta Resources, an oil and gas company for a children’s table and chairs. She is looking for monetary donations for anyone who would like to donate. Mr. Russell asked what about the other unsightly properties in town. Mayor Hehr explained that it is very hard to take down a property, there is a lot that goes into it, and it is quite a process. She has personally tried to get people to go up to the courthouse to sign up for the landbank and they have chosen not to. So, we are to the point with some property owners that they have to demolish themselves, which is expensive or if the Village does it, it’s even more expensive.
Mr. Russell asked what about the properties that have a lot of trash around them, and we used to have a 4-inch limit on the height of grass and who enforces that. Mayor Hehr said the Police Department enforces it. Mr. Russell asked if we are still short-handed in the Police Department. Mayor Hehr said people are not going to school anymore to be a Police Officer it is very difficult to hire someone, and it is very hard to get our wages up high enough to compete with the Sheriff’s office.
Mayor Hehr said we are getting ready to have dumpster days. However, we have found that the people who really need to use the dumpsters do not use them.
Mr. Russell said the 2-hour parking signs have been up for a long time, but we do not enforce it even when the Police Department was fully staffed. Mayor Hehr said she had just talked to Chief Corey Jones regarding this, and our ordinance needs updated.
Kevin Brooks commented that we have been in the hiring mode for about 5 months, and we do have two prospects that are interested once they complete their training.
Kevin Brooks said Tiffany Ramsay is the chairperson of the Property Maintenance Committee and they meet on a monthly basis, and they do work in tandem with the Police Department. He said it does help if someone reports a problem, and when reported the Police Department will go out and look into it. Mr. Russell said he is in no way degrading our Police Department, he feels we have some of the best Policemen here.
Kevin Brooks said he is not sure how Mayor Hehr feels about it, but he thinks it would be a good idea for P. D. to walk the beat downtown. It would be beneficial from a visibility standpoint and enforcement standpoint, and he also thinks people would be more aware of parking downtown.
Bill Allen – Mr. Allen asked for Mayor Hehr to let him know the cost of the plaques for Andy Copley because he would be happy to pay for them.
XI. Adjourn:
Mayor Hehr 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 6:40 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer