LORI CUNARD
September 22, 2022
Meeting Minutes (5-2-22)
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
May 2, 2022
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on May 2, 2022.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Jamie Hill, Carol Hehr, and D. Ray Hughes; Village Administrator Kevin Brooks, Solicitor Kristy Rothenbuhler, and Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard.
Absent: Mayor Mike Ricer and Councilman Anthony McDaniel.
Due to the Mayor being absent, Council President Dale English presided over the meeting.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Councilman Jamie Hill made a motion to accept the April 18, 2022 meeting minutes. Ray Hughes second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 4-0.
III. Registered Visitors/Guest:
Officer Daniel Napolitano – Officer Napolitano is the new employee hired for the Police Department.
He is in attendance to introduce himself to Council. He comes to the Village with 23 years’ experience. He and his family just recently moved to the county. Officer Napolitano stated that he greatly appreciates the opportunity to work for the Village.
IV. Old Business:
Councilman Ray Hughes asked what the progress is with the locomotives, if the contract has been finalized. Village Administrator Kevin Brooks stated that legal counsel is looking over the contract, there is an issue with language so we are working through that. The contract is stating that the Village is asking $1.00 per engine, $2.00 total and we are asking for one of the engines to be brought back to the Village annually for Alumni weekend. The gentlemen have concerns with what the transportation costs of bringing one of the engines back to the Village will be. There will be one of the engines housed out west and the other will be housed in Youngstown. Mr. Brooks told the gentlemen that the Village would participate in the cost of transporting the one engine from Youngstown back to here. There is a meeting with legal counsel on Wednesday and they hope to have the contract finalized so it can be sent out to Barrett Hayes this week. Councilwoman Carol Hehr asked if Mr. Hayes has given any kind of timeframe as to how long it will take to restore the engines. Kevin Brooks replied that to his understanding, once the contract is signed they will make arrangements to get the engines and they will be taken to Colorado for restoration, they have not given any kind of timeframe for restoration or the transporting of the one engine to Youngstown.
V. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks reminded Council of contracting with Jason Hamman through Buckeye Hillsto do a blight study in and around the downtown. We never received results of the study and there was grant money used for the study to be done on our behalf. Mr. Brooks got ahold of Buckeye Hills and the study is done. He said there is some good information in it and if anyone would like a copy via email to let him know and he would send it out.
Kevin Brooks stated that there has been no text, email, or calls from Jason Hamman since the 3rd of December, 2021. He talked to Buckeye Hills about this and they have not heard from Mr. Hamman either. Kevin Brooks also stated that we have not been invited to any of the Port Authority Meetings since December, 2021. Mr. Brooks does not know if Mr. Hamman still works with us in terms of economic development or not which is fine however, some communication stating this would have been appreciated. So Mr. Brooks is going to try again to reach out to Jason Hamman to see what is going on.
Mr. Brooks reported that the Phase 1 environmental has been done on the lot next door which is where the new municipal building will be. The Phase 1 was done by Triad Engineering and if anyone wants a copy to review let him know and he will send via email. The Phase I Environmental study will unlock some potential for grant funding for the new building. Carol Hehr asked if there were any cars found underground when the Phase 1 was done. Mr. Brooks replied that there were no Core drilling samples done, only about 1/3rd of the new building will be underground and it will be on the extreme north side where there were no questions about anything being buried. Councilman Jamie Hill said he
is very surprised that there was no drilling done since we are thinking there are cars buried on that parcel and he is concerned of settling. Mr. Brooks replied that a significant amount of research was done on this study and there have been numerous houses and buildings on the site. Councilwoman Carol Hehr asked about the sidewalks caving in on both ends of the property. Mr. Brooks replied that he knows the one section towards our end that was replaced was due to tree roots.
Kevin Brooks was in touch with ODOT regarding the downtown project. The project was awarded to Shelley and Sands in February. The anticipated start date was mid-April but that has been pushed back
to Mid-July or early August due to materials needed for the vast majority of the project being on backorder. Actually, we can look at this as a positive thing because Alumni weekend can be held without a lot of restrictions downtown. Councilman Ray Hughes asked what the timeline is for the project, he is concerned about it being done before the winter months. Mr. Brooks replied 120 days is the timeline so it should just make it before winter. Carol Hehr asked what we will be doing with the islands between now and the time the project is started. Mr. Brooks replied that no one has said anything about the islands at this point. He did say that Kristy Rothenbuhler has the usage agreement completed but we thought we would be in the middle of construction so we had no plans for the maintaining of the islands. Kevin Brooks said it would be up to Council to talk about what they want to do with the islands because of the delayed start and he would be happy to execute the usage agreement if someone wants do something or maintain the islands for the time being. Carol Hehr stated that the islands are the first thing that is seen when coming into our town and she would like them maintained. Mr. Brooks said that if we are approached by someone wanting to plant or clean-up the islands we can go over and execute the usage agreement with them. Councilman Ray Hughes asked what the chances would be of Shelley and Sands moving in equipment or materials to the downtown area early. Mr. Brooks replied it would be unlikely and when they do move materials and equipment in they will be using the area below the pool as their yard. Ray Hughes also stated that he does not want someone to put a lot of money in flowers or bulbs that they think will come back year after year and they may only be there a couple months until construction. Council decided that if someone approaches regarding the user agreement for the islands we will take a look at it and make a determination. Solicitor Rothenbuhler spoke and said that it will be easy to make changes to the user agreement for the islands if necessary but she is thinking not necessarily to plant but to keep trash picked up and the area clean.
Kevin Brooks reported that May 9th – May 13th dumpsters will be parked at the Municipal building
for clean-up week in the Village. This will be posted on our Facebook page. There will be no paint, tires, electronics, or no yard waste allowed and the dumpsters will be monitored. Councilwoman Carol Hehr stated that there is no excuse for residents to have a lot of junk on their porches, we are giving them a way of cleaning up and getting rid of it.
Kevin Brooks also reported that the brush dumping at the Cemetery has been suspended because of a violation. We have never had any issues out at the Cemetery with the dumping until this past week when someone dumped a load of wet green grass on the brush pile so the dumping has been suspended indefinitely. Also, allegedly kids from the school have been using the bottom road and shortcutting across Oaklawn Cemetery, so that has been coned off as well. Dale English stated that if we do allow brush dumping again there will be camera’s set up monitoring. Mr. Brooks agreed, he has already talked to Chief Corey Jones about this and the camera’s at the Cemetery will be used to monitor the brush dumping area if re-opened.
Mr. Brooks said the Farmer’s Market will start May 19th at the Municipal building. The signs will be out at the end of next week. There is no charge to set up, electric is provided as well as water. The Farmer’s Market is for individuals to sell vegetables, meats, or home-made items. The Farmer’s Market will run through Thanksgiving. Carol Hehr asked about Farmer’s Market being a yard sale to which Mr. Brooks replied that last year there was a church organization that set up to sell yard sale type items for Farmer’s Market but they asked permission and we allowed them to do it on a 2 week basis, however, Farmer’s Market is not meant to be a yard sale.
Buckeye Hills is starting a One Ohio Region Twelve Committee. One Ohio is a newly created program under the Attorney General’s Office that has passed the administering of $808 million from key distributors to the opioid epidemic across Ohio. The Committee will last throughout settlement payout over the next 18 years and will determine term length at our first committee meeting on May 23rd.
Woodsfield has one automatic seat on the committee that goes to the Village Administrator unless Council chooses to appoint someone else. Kevin Brooks is asking that Council make a motion to appoint
the Village Administrator to One Ohio Region Twelve Committee as the Village of Woodsfield’s representative. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Carol Hehr second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 4-0.
Kevin Brooks also stated that Daniel Denbow is in attendance to take pictures of Council members for the website, so please do not leave until your picture is taken.
Dale English reported that there are people that are blocking off parking spaces. There has been a situation that has happened two times where someone has blocked off parking spaces without permission from the Village. Kevin Brooks said he has been approached by 2 businesses upset about blocked parking spaces. Ray Hughes asked if we could issue citations for this and Mr. Brooks said yes we can. Mr. Brooks also stated that people are also not cleaning up after their dogs, this is a citable offense and he has talked to Village Officers about this because there have been several complaints of dog droppings on sidewalks. Carla Wobschall from the Monroe County Beacon office asked, regarding the blocked parking, if it was a residential area do you still need permission to block off parking areas. Kevin Brooks replied that technically you do still need permission from the Village and all you have to do is notify us and let us know what is going on, it is just a matter of courtesy.
VI. Fiscal Officer Report:
Lori Cunard stated that Mayor’s Court training in Columbus last week went well.
Lori Cunard let Council know that May 18 – 20 Lori Cunard and Brenda Mauck will be attending the MFOA Conference in Columbus. Lori also let Council know that there will be Certified Public Records
training during the conference. This is required for Mayor and Council every 4 years. If Council members would like Lori to attend on their behalf each Council member will need to sign off on a statement stating that she is attending on their behalf. She will have a statement written up for Council members to sign off on for next Council meeting.
Lori Cunard has Ordinance # 05-2022 that Council President, Dale English will bring up for vote during Mayor’s report.
Dale English noted that the Village received another royalty check from Gulfport in the amount of $39,618.47. Solicitor Kristy Rothenbuhler spoke up and stated that from a legal perspective she is not happy that the Village is not getting royalty statements with the royalty checks. She will be contacting Gulfport and asking them to send statements so we can see what the production is, what the deductions are, and see what months the Village is even getting paid for. Kevin Brooks asked if we have even received all of our bonus monies for the parcels. Kristy Rothenbuhler replied that there were some title issues but no the Village has not, she has reached out to Gulfport several times but they have yet to get back with her to let her know that their title matches her title.
VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report
Anthony McDaniel – absent
Jamie Hill – Nothing to report
Carol Hehr – Nothing to report
D. Ray Hughes – Nothing to report
VIII: Solicitor’s Report:
Solicitor Kristy Rothenbuhler stated that she received a phone call from an individual who is not a resident of the Village. He was inquiring about the new building and asked why the old building is being demolished. She stated that we will have a rubber stamp type letter that she will be sending stating Thank you for your issue but the Village has moved on from this and the decision has been made. Kristy
Rothenbuhler also stated that the individual said there is an issue with sidewalks so we can take a look at the Ordinance but again he will be sent a letter. Kevin Brooks spoke up and stated that sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner or business owner but we do offer the sidewalk replacement
program for individuals wanting to fix or replace their sidewalks. Mr. Brooks also stated that if the individual is not a resident of the Village he does not feel we owe him any explanation. Solicitor Rothenbuhler thinks that he believes the state statute supercedes the Village ordinance but she is just going to send him a blanket letter and move it on. The sidewalk replacement program pays 50% up to $500.00 for construction of replacing your sidewalk, you must submit an application to the Village, the Village will go out to check the replacement and when the invoice for sidewalk replacement is received it will go to the Fiscal Office for payment.
Solicitor Rothenbuhler said she has several things pending that they will be working on this week. She is working on a road use maintenance agreement for a small portion of Barber Ridge with Equitran. She has an appointment with Bob Allen, E. L. Robinson for Certificates of Title for the sewer separation project, multiple Gulfport gas leases, the program overview for the D. O. R. A. district the Village has moved on, and the bill of sale for the train cars. Kevin Brooks let Council know that there is a meeting Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. with legal counsel and they are welcome to attend.
IX: Mayor’s Report:
Dale English let Council know that the Shrines is going to be setting up at different businesses in the Village to collect for Children’s Hospital, this will take place on May 20th and 21st.
The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Ray Hughes made the motion. Carol Hehr second. Anthony McDaniel – absent, Motion passed 4-0.
The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court Report, April, 2022. Ray Hughes made the motion. Jamie Hill second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 4-0.
The Mayor asked for a motion to pass Ordinance #05-2022, An Ordinance Providing for Amending and Revising Specific Line-Items in the Appropriations of Expenditures for the Village of Woodsfield, during Calendar Year 2022 (Declaring an Emergency). This Ordinance is for receiving in the funds for one of the FEMA Project. Jamie Hill made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Carol Hehr – yes, Ray Hughes – yes. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 4-0. The Mayor then asked for a motion to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance #05-2022 by it second reading (Declaring an Emergency). Ray Hughes made the motion. Carol Hehr second. Tom Kirkland – yes, Jamie Hill – yes. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 4-0. The Mayor then asked for a motion to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance #04-2022 by its third reading (Declaring an Emergency) and adopt. Jamie Hill made the motion. Ray Hughes second. Tom Kirkland – yes, Carol Hehr – yes, Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 4-0. Ordinance #05-2022 adopted.
X. Un-Registered Visitors:
Carla Wobschall announced that S.O.M.A. is hosting a prayer service this Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the First Methodist Church. She invited everyone to attend to pray for our nation.
XI. Adjourn:
Councilman Jamie Hill made the motion to Adjourn from Session. Carol Hehr second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Michael E. Ricer, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer