THE NEW AND THE OLD … From left to right are newly elected Edon Council member, Austin Thiel, seated is Village Solicitor Tom Thompson, Mayor Duane Thiel administering the Oath of Office, and returning council members Lee Lawrence and Dan Ankney. The Oath of Office was the first part of the January 17, 2022 Village Council meeting. David Loughborough was also sworn in when he arrived later. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
The reorganization of council is something automatically done during the first meeting of the year by every village council.
Edon Village Council did so at their January 17, 2022 meeting, swearing in returning council members Lee Lawrence, Dan Ankney and David Loughborough as well as newly elected member, Austin Thiel.
Also decided upon were the following:
-Monthly meeting time will continue to be the 3rd Monday of each month at 7 p.m., except for February 22 (4th Tuesday).
-Lee Lawrence was re-elected as President Pro Tem of Council (as Mayor is president of council in Edon)
-Committees were named: Safety – Brook Morris, David Loughborough and Austin Thiel; Public Works – David, Austin and Dan Ankney; Park – Lee Lawrence; Zoning – Dan; Cemetery – David; Finance – Lee, Dan and Brandon Thiel; WEDCO representatives for Edon are Karrisa Fritch and Chad Ordway (Village Administrator) for a new two year term.
With council member Brook Morris attending via speaker phone, council members present in person voted to approve the minutes of the previous meeting and the presentation of financial report and bills.
Police Chief Tom Szymczak reported that he wanted to move his current working officers to $21 an hour. Council voted to approve this. Latest hire is almost finished with training and he has two more who are interested in part time positions.
He shared that he was going to participate in a Career Day at the Fire Department on Wednesday, January 19 with High School students. The electronic speed signs are helping to slow people down.
As of January 17, the Park Project Fund Raiser was at $96,122.43. Ordway reported that the water and sewer reports are in from EPA, he is currently updating the Safety policies to be approved next month, and a Public Works meeting can be held soon to update on all that is being done.
Village Fiscal Officer, Heidi Bidwell, has completed the paperwork for the Bryan Area Foundation to apply for a grant for the Park Fund, and they will be starting on the Nature Works grant after they have a public meeting. Bidwell said they should hear from BAF at the first quarter mark.
In New Business, council approved Ordinance 122 to execute an agreement to purchase a Front Loader as part of the five-year plan, to replace the backhoe, and declaring an emergency.
It was clarified that there will be no new debt, as they will be completing one debt and moving that payment to this debt. Probably the next large piece of equipment they replace will be the large dump truck.
Council president Lee Armstrong handed out copies of the Council Rules that were adopted in 2016, to review and point out, at future meetings, anything that might need to be revised.
With no more business that evening, the meeting adjourned at 7:32.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com