COUNCIL QUESTIONS…West Unity Council president, Kevin Gray asked Village Administrator, Josh Fritsch, at the October 13, 2022 meeting, about the possibility of street repairs. Seen also are council members Steve Marvin, Terri Lebowsky and Shawn Blaisdell. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Amy Wendt
Following a lengthy executive session at the end of the October 13, 2022 West Unity Council meeting, a motion was made and approved to hire Mark Hagans of Archbold, Ohio as the new Village Solicitor as of January 1, 2023.
Hagans will be replacing Katie Rakes who resigned earlier this fall.
In regular business council voted to approve the minutes of September 8, 2022 meeting and Resolution 10-2022-24 “in the matter of receipt and action on bids received for the Village of West Unity, Lincoln Street Resurfacing.” made to suspending the rules and declaring it an emergency.
Helms & Sons Excavating Inc. of Findlay was given the bid as it came in a little under the engineer’s estimated budget of $300,000 at $291,996.
In the village administrator report, Josh Fritch advised the following: calls have been received by the village inquiring about leaf pickup.
It has been decided that it will begin on Monday, October 17, 2022 and that residents will be notified on Facebook.
He also reported: Denny Bell should have the railroad property surveyed by October 14, 2022; Family Dollar has materials on the property that they are going to build on.
Sale negotiations are ongoing and as of October 6, 2022, Family Dollar has not purchased the property from Kee Mansfield; the village has applied to the Ohio Public Works Commission for a water line replacement project.
The total estimated cost of the project is $619,062; With an expected receipt of grant money from the OPWC in the amount of $175,000, the cost would be reduced to $444,062 to the village.
Fritch advised that he is also going to apply for a CDBG grant to further reduce the village’s cost for the project; The new playground has been installed at Memorial Park and area children are now able to enjoy it.
The village has not received the flashing lights from the Ohio Department of Transportation for the Kamco area.
The crosswalk at Linden and Jackson is also complete except for the equipment that ODOT is providing.
The village has been advised by ODOT that it is anticipated flashing lights will be received by the end of October and big trash pickup went quick this time with each side only taking one day to clean up.
Solicitor Katie Rakes informed council that the Family Dollar sale negotiations are ongoing.
The process is being slowed down due to Family Dollar corporation not consulting with local people which has caused some confusion and slowed down progress, however they are working through it.
Rakes also advised that she is currently working with Katie Zartman from the prosecutor’s office toward a resolution of the railroad issue and they are making progress.
They anticipate that a consent judgment entry will be filed with the court in the matter soon.
In another matter, she and Fritch are working on an ordinance to regulate mobile home parks.
She advised that most villages are now creating separate mobile home zoning districts.
She is also working on the water and sewer Ordinance and it should be ready by next session.
Chief of Police JR Jones submitted the monthly September report to the council with the total number of calls at 99.
Trick or Treat will be held on October 29, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This timeframe falls in line with what has been done in the past.
Jones also set up a meeting with the Safety Committee on December 8, 2022 at 6:15 p.m.
The clerk’s report was submitted to council by Fiscal Officer Sarah Higdon.
Higdon explained that in 2020 a depository agreement was made with Farmers & Merchants State bank stating that all Village money would be deposited with F&M.
When the state auditors reviewed the village records, they noticed that this depository agreement was not approved in a council meeting. Council voted to approve.
She also informed council that the state auditor advised that two new appropriation accounts must be created within the general fund for the fiscal officer’s OPERS and Medicare expenses. This was also approved by the council.
Mayor Don Leu informed the council that more names are coming in for the naming of the new street, with the newest suggestion of Willards Way.
He also recognized Bart Westfall, who was not present, with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition and appreciation for his service on the Appeals Board for the village for many years.
The mayor also offered a thank you to chief Jones and the police department for their fast work in recovering a stolen car in the village.
Councilman Kevin Gray advised that the bids have come in for curb and gutter replacement.
He informed the group that prices have increased and now they are looking at grinding down what they have currently.
There was much explanation from the village administrator about options. No decisions were made.
Gray also inquired if sidewalk charges will need to be increased due to the rising costs of concrete.
Fritsch said that there were not many sidewalks to do this year so they have only spent about $5,000 – $7,000 so far out of the $10,000 sidewalk budget.
He said that the charge is currently $8 per linear foot and that did not completely cover the costs and the residents had to make up the difference.
Council members Steve Marvin, Terri Lebowsky and Shawn Blaisdell thanked chief Jones for all that his department is doing and thanked everyone for the great work on the big trash pickup.
Council then went into executive session at 8:10 “to consider the sale of property and the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official licensee, or regulated individual , unless the employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing by division (G)(1) of section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code” and “to consider the sale of real property.”
Council exited executive session at 9:45 p.m. and voted to accept Ordinance 2022-9 “An ordinance establishing the ranges and rates of pay of certain officers and employees of the Village of West Unity Ohio for the calendar year of 2022 and declaring it an emergency” (Utility Supervisor one with crew leader description and one without the crew leader position).
The ordinance also approved setting the police chief’s pay at $45,000 to $65,000.
The next regular council meeting will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at the village hall.
Amy can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com