By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
The Montpelier Village Council met on March 11, 2024 for their monthly meeting. Present were councilors Kevin Motter, Chris Kannel, Melissa Ewers, Don Schlosser, and Heather Freese alongside Mayor Steven Yagelski, Deputy Manager Justin Houk, Director of Finance Nikki Uribes, Law Director Bob Bohmer, and Clerk of Council Molly Collert.
After a prayer and the pledge of allegiance, council moved to approve the agenda with the addition of an executive session. They then approved the minutes of the February 26, 2024 council meeting, as well as the financial reports.
Mayor Yagelski then welcomed comments from the audience, making sure to assure students from the school that were attending the meeting that they were free and welcome to ask questions at any time.
Good Friday and Saint Patrick’s Day church activities were then discussed before it was shared that the Wabash Cannonball Trail will officially be accepted as a National Park Service Trail as soon as the transfer of ownership is made official.
Then shared was the Williams County Commissioners support of naming two viaducts in honor of veterans.
Resolution 1393 was approved after a suspension of the rules allowing for appropriations to account for a replacement copier for the office and an electrical piece of equipment for temporary power retention in the event of a short.
Resolution 1394 was then approved, with Montpelier joining all other Ohio municipalities on joining Next Generation 911.
Uribes then began the income tax report, where it was shared that they are roughly $38,000 less in the general fund this year than at this point last year.
Village employee surveys are being completed, and legislative meetings were held with regards to bonds promised by President Obama’s team that were later revoked by President Trump’s team, with the issue costing the village about a half of a million dollars to date.
It was then shared that the necessity of transmission projects must be evaluated by those with vested interests and deemed necessary before they are embarked upon, as to avoid unnecessary transmission rate increases.
Ditch work is expected to happen on plugged tiles off of State Route 15, to help mediate the water that has been held in the culvert for far too long.
The recent happenings of WEDCO were then delivered to council, with interest being shown into the results of their recent housing study.
OHM consultants were scheduled to meet at the fire station conference room later in the week.
Yagelski shared that he knows that the conferences in DC have a lot to them, but that they provide such great insight into the process that they should be welcomed when they come near the end of September.
Yagelski shared that it is a great networking opportunity, and that these conferences usually result in beneficial relationships.
The board then entered executive session to discuss impending litigation with no actions made before adjourning, set to meet next March 25th, 2024 at 6 p.m.