LORI CUNARD
August 23, 2023
Meeting Minutes (7-17-23)
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
July 17, 2023
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on July 17, 2023.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Anthony McDaniel, Leann Harper, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
Absent: Solicitor Ryan Regel
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Dale English made the motion to accept the July 6, 2023 meeting minutes. Tom Kirkland second. Motion passed 6-0.
III. Registered Visitors/Guest:
None
IV. Old Business:
DORA – Solicitor Ryan Regel was absent for the meeting so updates on DORA are tabled until the next meeting.
V. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks reported that July 27th @ 9:00 a.m. is the walk-thru on the downtown project and a punch list will be done from the walk-thru. The only hold up as of now is they have ordered green arrows for the north/south direction on Main Street. There will be a fourth clip that goes on the bottom of the traffic light signal that will be an arrow to signify the north/south traffic to turn left. Until the arrows are delivered and installed, the traffic pattern will stay the same. Once the arrows are installed the traffic pattern running north/south will be opposite of each other which will add 18 seconds to the total cycle of the signal. ODOT has said they will work with us on adjusting the timing as needed because there are some concerns over the extra 18 seconds during the school year when the buses are running and there is extra school traffic. The concern is the east/west traffic lanes will back up during the extra timing of the north/south lanes of traffic. Currently, they are demoing the old traffic signal poles and taking out the bases of them. Once they are out, Shelley and Sands will come in and complete the concrete and paving and the project will basically be done.
Leann Harper asked about the back in parking regarding trucks. She said people have commented that when trucks are backed in all the way to the curb the bed of the truck is out over the sidewalk. She asked if it is a problem and if they are actually taking up sidewalk space. Kevin Brooks replied that there are some instances where they are over the sidewalk, but he does not think it is an issue. He said we have only had one instance since the back in parking has begun where a truck backed in and actually touched one of the decorative light poles. Leann Harper asked if we could get bumpers to stop them from backing in too far. Kevin Brooks replied that we could get stop bars, but they are costly, and he does not think ODOT will provide them for us, but we can ask. He said if this does become an issue and we think they are needed we can check into getting the stop bars but as for now he does not think there is a problem. Kevin Brooks said Chief Corey Jones will keep a watch on this and if it becomes a problem, he will let us know.
Mr. Brooks said we are still waiting on the brackets for the “Back in Parking Only” signs and as soon as they come in the signs will be put up. Kevin Brooks also said that once the traffic pattern is completed, the issue with the bushes at the front of the islands that Tom Kirkland brought up a couple weeks ago will be resolved. Mr. Brooks would rather wait for the completion of the traffic pattern and let the issue resolve itself rather than take out the bushes, Council agreed.
VI. Fiscal Officer Report:
Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard reported that there is an Ordinance in council packets. Leann Harper asked if the Ordinance is for adjustments to line items for the mid-year to which Lori Cunard replied it is.
Mayo Hehr asked for a motion to pass Ordinance #08-2023, An Ordinance Providing for Amending and Revising Specific Line-Items in the Appropriations of Expenditures for the Village of Woodsfield
for the Calendar Year 2023 and Declaring an Emergency. Leann Harper made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Dale English – yes, Tom Kirkland – yes, Tiffany Ramsay – yes, Matt Schaber – yes. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance #08-2023 by its second reading, declaring it an emergency. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Leann Harper second. Dale English – yes, Tom Kirkland – yes, Tiffany Ramsay – yes, Matt Schaber – yes. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance #08-2023 by its third reading, declaring it an emergency, and adopt. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Dale English second. Tom Kirkland – yes, Anthony McDaniel – yes, Leann Harper – yes, Matt Schaber – yes. Motion passed 6-0. Ordinance #08-2023 adopted.
VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Dale English – Nothing to report.
Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report.
Anthony McDaniel – Nothing to report.
Leann Harper – Nothing to report.
Tiffany Ramsay – Nothing to report.
Matt Schaber – Matt Schaber reported that he talked to M.A.C.O. regarding the vinyl skins for the controller boxes. He said you can get regular vinyl or vinyl with a magnetic backing. He said they have the size to cover all the panels on the boxes. The cost for all four controller boxes would be about $1,500.00 and that would include all of the screen printing. The vinyl with the magnet only goes to 24 inches wide so Kevin Brooks suggested just running it down the middle of the panel on the box. Matt Schaber said he has an appointment tomorrow in Marietta to get other pricing on the skins. Mayor Hehr asked Matt Schaber if he would be making a recommendation on what goes on the skins. Matt Schaber said he asked if the blank vinyl could be painted and he was told that they could be but, the paint would not last on the vinyl, but the screen printing will last approximately 5-7 years. Mayor Hehr said she would like to suggest that we open this up to residents to see what they would like to see on the boxes. She said anyone who has a suggestion can contact herself, Matt Schaber, or Kevin Brooks. Matt Schaber said he will have more pricing at the next meeting. Anthony McDaniel asked if we could incorporate the public input for the boxes at the next Community Strong Committee meeting. Mayor Hehr said yes, we can do that if anyone shows up. Leann Harper stated that if they are really interested then they will show up. The next Community Strong Committee meeting is July 27th @ 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.
VIII: Solicitor’s Report:
Solicitor Ryan Regel is absent.
IX: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Leann Harper made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court report, mid-July 2023. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Motion passed 6-0.
Kevin Brooks stated that the Property Maintenance Committee has implemented the Façade Improvement Program for businesses. We have had our first recipient and it was Jerry Lee’s. There have been 2 other businesses that are interested, forms are available. Just to re-cap for Council, the Façade Improvement Program is similar to the Sidewalk Improvement Program and Property Demolition but for businesses in the Village. We will reimburse a business one half of their cost up to one thousand dollars for façade renovations or improvements including signage.
Mayor Hehr said she is going to add 2 more houses on the Landbank to have torn down. She has 4 definite and 3 more that she is working on but if we can get 4 down it would be wonderful.
Mayor Hehr stated there is a Resolution in Council packets for the Police Levy. She reminded Council that at the last meeting (July 6th) we passed a Resolution that was declaring the necessity to Levy a tax. The Resolution presented this evening determines to proceed levying a tax. Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to pass Resolution #2023-06, A Resolution Determining to Proceed with the Submission to the Electors of the Question of Levying a Tax in Excess of the Ten-Mill Limitation. Matt Schaber made the motion. Dale English second. Motion passed 6-0. Anthony McDaniel asked if anything needs to be changed per Solicitor Ryan Regels email. Mayor Hehr replied that nothing needs to be changed in the Resolution but the language that actually goes on the ballot is what Solicitor Ryan Regel will determine.
Chief Corey Jones thanked Council for allowing him to be present. He stated that he appreciates the opportunity Council has given to the Police Department. Chief Jones said the Woodsfield Police Department is seeking the approval of a 3-mill police tax levy on the November 2023 ballot. The funds generated from the levy will be used to maintain and increase police protection in the Village and for purchasing a police vehicle and other equipment directly related to the operation of the Police Department.
Chief Corey Jones also gave Council a statistical report for the 2nd quarter of 2023 for the Village Police Department. He also included the major highlights from the quarter, he said if anyone has any questions regarding the report, he would be glad to answer them. Leann Harper stated that the calls to service for the 2nd quarter increased by 38% which she said is a huge jump from one quarter to the next. Chief Corey Jones said they stay very busy to say the least.
Dale English commended Chief Jones and the department, they do a great job.
XI. Un-Registered Visitors:
None
XII. Adjourn:
The Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dale English made the motion. Leann Harper second. Motion passed 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer