SURVEY DISCUSSION Members of the Fayette Village Council and Mayor Borer discuss the coming work needing to be done in order to collect the required amount of surveys needed These surveys are anonymous and will help the village to receive much needed funding
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Fayette Village Council held their meeting on Wednesday, December 13th. The meeting began at 6:00 p.m. with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council first moved to approve the current agenda as amended along with the following previous meeting minutes.
The regular council meeting on November 22nd, finance committee meeting held on November 29th, special council meeting held on December 6th, safety committee meeting held on December 6th, and governmental affairs committee meeting held on December 6th.
Council then moved to hear from visitors who were present with Eric Yurchekfrodle putting forth some good news regarding Mat Johnson.
It was announced that Mat will be the new CDC President starting January 1st. Eric then stated that he had a discussion with the chief of police regarding the implementation of a media campaign with the Tobacco Health Group. Pearl Phelps spoke next and asked for clarification regarding agenda items that state “and Declare an Emergency.”
Mayor Borer explained to Pearl that the term is only used so that council is able to pass an item right away, rather than having to wait for three meetings to pass it. With that, the mayor’s report followed.
Mayor Borer discussed items and events taking place within the village, with some of those items discussed listed as follows.
The Bean Creek Valley History Center is still doing a $15 calendar campaign for anyone who is interested. The Fayette Opera House would be featuring the Clark Family Christmas group on Saturday, December 16th at 7:00 p.m. Community Christmas Caroling would be taking place on December 17th and school will be out for students as of December 22nd. The village office will be closed on the 22nd, 25th, and 29th of December as well as January 1st.
Income surveys were previously sent out and need to be turned back in as soon as possible from village residents.
This income survey is completely anonymous and will help keep the village eligible for grants in the coming future.
One such grant these surveys depend on is a grant for $750,000 that will help to pay for phase 2 of the village water project.
Addresses were picked at random after asking the Office of the Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program to conduct the survey.
It was stated and stressed multiple times that the individual responses are anonymous and are not viewed by anyone at the village. A minimum number of surveys are required to be eligible for funding.
Discussions also took place regarding the water rates, with a fear being that increases may have to be looked at years later if funding is not obtained.
Members of council were given instructions for door knocking in order to help obtain signatures before a company representative for those collecting the surveys will be out the following week.
The administrator’s report followed next, with Administrator Bryan Stambaugh stating Phase 1 of the water project is going well.
He also mentioned that Bryan Excavating continued to make good progress down towards Eagle Street towards the water tower.
Mr. Stambaugh also stated that he gave a presentation to a panel for state funding regarding a park project. His feelings were that the presentation went well and that the village should hear back by the end of May if the request was granted.
More discussion then took place regarding the income surveys before council moved to approve the report.
The VFO’s report came next with it being stated that some extra bills were included in the bill list. The total amount for bills stood at $197,277.42, which council later approved.
Information was then given to council members regarding the next several items on the agenda. A reminder was also given to council members for EPA training before council moved to approve the VFO report.
A report was then heard from Police Chief Richard Bingham who first advised council that Sgt. Jared Armstrong is no longer with the department.
He then laid out what positions are currently out on Indeed before moving on to speak about this year’s Shop with a Cop.
This year will feature numerous kids from the Fayette area and will help 190 kids in total who were able to be registered.
Chief Bingham also let council know that the Fulton County EMA helped the department through a grant which made it possible to obtain two new radios. An additional grant was also acquired which will help to alleviate many issues faced with the radio’s coverage area.
The reading of ordinances and resolutions took place next with the following items being approved. The first reading of Ordinance 2023-15 to enact bonus pay for certain employees of Fayette, Ohio, and declaring an emergency.
The first reading of Ordinance 2023-16 for 2024 employee compensation. The first reading of Ordinance 2023-17 for 2023 supplemental appropriations.
The first reading of Ordinance 2023-18 to repeal section 513.16 of the codified ordinance of Fayette, Ohio, and adopt Codified Section 513.16 to prohibit the cultivation, processing, and retail dispensing of marijuana for any purpose within the Village of Fayette, Ohio.
The measure was passed on a first reading instead of by emergency in order to give residents time to voice their opinions regarding what they would like council to do.
The first reading of Resolution 2023-09 to name a private drive Mary’s Way. The second reading of Ordinance 2023-14 repealing existing sections 166.062, 166.094, and 166.10(C) of the Codified Ordinances of Fayette, Ohio, and enacting Codified Section 166.062, 166.094, 166.10 (C) and 166.27 amending the income tax regulations of the Village of Fayette, Ohio.
The second reading of Resolution 2023-08 authorizing the village administrator to enter into and execute an agreement for emergency management services with the Emergency Management Agency for 2024.
A legislative item was discussed next, with authorization being given for payment of Bryan Excavating Payment Request #2 for $864,346.30 and for Arcadis for construction engineering in the amount of $20,813.55.
With no other items left to attend to, council moved to enter into executive session at 6:46 p.m. Upon their return, the meeting was adjourned.
