(PHOTO BY JESSE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NEED TO KNOW … Waterville-Swanton Road resident Jerri Fink asks about the process to request public records during Monday evening’s meeting of the Swanton Village Council.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Swanton Village Administrator Shannon Shulters raised the prospect of increasing rental fees at Memorial Park during Monday’s meeting of the Swanton Village Council.
According to Shulters, the village currently charges $25 per day per field, which she said does not cover the village’s total maintenance costs for the facility.
“We all know how often the bathrooms get destroyed and [we’re] replacing soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, clogging the toilets, calling public service in to take care of it,” Shulters said.
“I really want to find out what other like municipalities are charging to see what we should be increasing that to.”
Shulters also said the village should consider fees for other events held in the park because of public service costs.
“We might be compensated for police and/or fire, but public service isn’t. We’re not getting that time back out of them. So that’s just something we’re considering,” she said.
WATER/WASTEWATER EMPLOYEE PAY STRUCTURE
Following an executive session at the end of the meeting, the council approved changes to the pay structure for water and wastewater employees.
Under the changes, operators with less than one year of experience will make between $22.50 and $28.40 per hour based on their level of certification, between $22.75 and $29.15 with one to two years of experience, between $25.65 and $31.15 with three to five years of experience, between $26.65 and $31.15 with six to eight years of experience, between $27.40 and $31.90 with nine to 11 years of experience, between $27.78 and $32.53 with 12 to 14 years of experience, and between $28.40 and $32.90 with 15 or more years of experience.
Based on numbers provided by the village, both wastewater employees and two out of the three water employees will receive raises due to the pay restructuring.
OTHER BUSINESS
The council gave final approval on an emergency basis to the village’s 2025 final budget, totaling just over $7 million. The amount marks a roughly $1.79 million reduction from the 2024 budget, which included approximately $8.87 million in expenditures.
The council voted to accept the resignation of Deputy Fire Chief Barrett Dorner from the Swanton Fire & Rescue Division effective April 21.
The council approved hiring of Audrie Hunt as a full-time patrol officer with the Swanton Police Department at an hourly rate of $23.50 contingent upon her completing all pre-employment requirements.
The council voted to authorize a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund agreement for “planning design and/or construction of wastewater or water for the Munson Road Improvements Project.”
A public hearing on a proposed ordinance allowing residents to raise chickens inside the village was scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 28, immediately following a regularly scheduled council meeting.
The village is researching the possibility of hiring an engineer on a contract basis similar to its legal representation in order to provide engineering review on projects to ensure village interests are being accomplished.
Construction of a 20-space public parking lot on South Main Street in what is currently a grass lot to the immediate south of Swan Creek Vision is expected to begin in the next few days.
Shulters reported the village has received a combined 10 applications for a full-time facility operator position at the Water Resource Recovery Facility and full-time operator position at the water treatment plant, with at least seven of them already having their licenses.
She credited the village’s learning partnership with Owens Community College – funded through the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments – for how many qualified applicants had shown interest.
The success comes amid discussions in the Village of Delta to combine their water and wastewater departments due to challenges attracting qualified applicants to operate their wastewater facility.
Shulters reported Ohio Gas personnel accidentally cut into the water main going into the water plant on Monday while relocating a gas line, but that the damage had already been repaired.
Waterville-Swanton Road resident Jerri Fink addressed the council to request instructions on how to make a public records request.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Village Council will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 14 at 219 Chestnut Street.