CRIME TICKS UP … Police Chief John Trejo gives his report to the Swanton Village Council at their last meeting. According to Trejo, October saw the largest number of arrests and charges Swanton has seen in a month at 17.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
A bevy of reports and updates led discussions during the most recent meeting of the Swanton Village Council.
Finance Director Holden Benfield and Village Administrator Shannon Shulters provided some additional information on the budget and village finances after having previously received questions from Councilman Derek Kania.
One of Kania’s questions had to do with a line related to street lighting. According to Shulters, the village had been providing a greater level of service than residents had been paying for. An increase to the line (which will follow an increase to the charged rate) will now make that service break even.
In response to a question about the sources of the fire department’s funding, Benfield reported the department received funds through federal and state grants, mutual aid contracts, cost recovery, contributions, donations, and miscellaneous transfers from the general fund.
RIGHT-OF-WAY SETBACKS
Confusion surrounding village right of way on one street led to a variance approval as well as passing of a new ordinance aimed at addressing the base issue throughout the village in the future.
Shulters said the right of way for the property in question was listed at 10′ in an engineering survey, 12 feet in the building plans, and 17 feet according to the owner.
According to code, the home was supposed to be built 40 feet from the edge of the right of way. It has already been built but was built 40 feet from the edge of the street curb.
The Planning Commission previously heard the variance request but denied it because they wanted the council to decide and to address the underlying issue. Due to the house already being built and the difference only being a few feet, the council approved the variance.
The council also passed a new ordinance which will require all construction that requires a zoning permit to have all construction staking physically verified by a state-registered surveyor or civil engineer prior to construction, at the cost of the property owner.
WRRF PROPERTY
The council held a brief discussion on future plans for the house located at the entrance to the village’s Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF), recently purchased by the village and currently set for demolition.
Both the police and fire departments are interested in using the facility for training purposes – the police as a temporary training location and the fire department to practice breaching walls and cutting holes in ceilings.
The council is also considering selling part of the property to the adjacent DeEtte’s Dream Diner after the house is demolished. The owner of the diner is interested in expanding the restaurant’s currently limited parking area.
SMART METER CONCERNS
A concerned couple shared their research on smart meters (all city customers have smart water meters) and potential radiation exposure risks.
According to Kania, who did additional research after receiving documentation from the couple prior to the meeting, the types of meters referred to in the documentation operated at a much higher frequency and with constant transmission. The village’s meters operate at a very low frequency and only transmit once every 12 or 24 hours, he said.
Mayor Neil Toeppe agreed to look into the safety specifications of the model used by the village and make additional contact with the couple.
POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES
Police Chief John Trejo reported October saw 17 arrests and charges made, the most seen in a month. A large number of recent arrests are also leading to the convening of grand juries, with at least three to four in Fulton County and one in Lucas County.
Trejo said the department also provided an escort for a group of grateful honor flight veterans on November 6.
OTHER BUSINESS
Shulters reported that the contractor working on the combined sewer separation project has been “terrible” at communicating their schedule, leading to an inability to keep residents apprised on its progress. She said the contractor is supposed to start digging next week.
The council approved just under $111,000 in appropriations to cover lines related to payroll, personal services, and health insurance costs in order to cover costs for the remainder of the year.
The council approved hiring of an existing part-time firefighter/paramedic on a full-time basis as well as a new full-time firefighter/advanced EMT and also approved an update to the fire department’s handbook.
The opening of bids related to the screening and headworks project at the WRRF has been delayed to Wednesday, December 6.
The village was able to sell a pair of vehicles as well as some other unneeded property for $27,000 via government surplus auction company GovDeals.
A request for proposals for a new trash pickup service provider have been issued. The village will be considering crack sealing projects on multiple roads next year.
New street lighting and leaf pickup rates for residents were approved on final reading at $32 and $15 per parcel, respectively.
The official date for Independence Day festivities was set for Saturday, June 29. Village Christmas light displays will be put up in the next week.
The council ended its meeting by going into an executive session to consider the creation of an assistant position under the superintendent of public works. The council’s next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 27.