Publicizing its annual Village-wide fall trash pick-up date was one item Edon Council attended to when convening in regular session Monday, September 21, 2015 in Council Chambers. Mayor Darlene Burkhardt called the evening meeting to order with Councilors Roxana Nester, Lee Lawrence, Duane Thiel, Dick Chapin, Chuck Bidwell, Village Administrator Randy Mahlman, Fiscal Officer Heidi Bidwell, Solicitor Tom Thompson and two guests in attendance; not answering roll was Councilor Gale Horn.
Every spring and fall, Edon residents are provided a curbside opportunity to dispose of large non-recyclable household items at no additional cost. This year’s pick-up date is planned for Saturday, October 10. Anyone needing a list of acceptable or unacceptable items (such as lawn clippings, oils, greases, coolants, tires, etc.) should contact the Village Office during regular business hours; further details will also be posted on monthly utility bills as well as the Village website www.edon-ohio.com.
In other action, Council:
•Approved the second of three required readings of Ordinance 07-15: Repealing existing Section 925.01 of the Codified Ordinances and enacting codified ordinance Section 925.01 setting forth user rates for the Village Sanitary Sewer System (with changes based on additional research) and Ordinance 08-15: Repealing Sections 921.02 and 921.03 and enacting codified ordinance Sections 921.02 and 921.03 ~ setting forth rates for the Village Water System (with typo-correction change).
•Heard Administrator Mailman’s monthly report noting the Village’s good chances at receiving its requested $325,000 grant monies for use towards new water plant construction (project applications to the State’s Issue 1 Grant/Loan Program will be submitted to MVPO; following District reviews, a decision could be reached by year’s end); Walz Park tennis court grounds had been leveled, dragged and seeded; swing sets from the “old school” could possibly be relocated to Walz Park (follow-up slated for spring); a Summit Street storm sewer had been jetted and catch basin installed on Walz Street; fire hydrants were painted and planned work schedules included reading, installing and repairing meters along with continuing to locate individual water service valves. Also shared were plans to flush hydrants the Week of September 27 (Monday through Wednesday); each will be numbered and then color-coded to indicate pipe size.
•Heard Police Chief Tom Szymczak’s Department Service Log for August (including 125 calls for service; 31 complaints; 5 citations; 43 warnings; 1 accident; 1 alarm; 2 arrests; 20 assists; 69 follow-ups) and detailed Vehicle Report (including fuel and maintenance costs for two units totaling $881.56). He also noted Edon Church of Christ/Edon Music Boosters’ permit request for October 31 community activities was set for approval and patrolling Edon Days 2015 went well due in part to pre-planning, especially for busy parade and truck pulls events.
•Joined Mayor Burkhardt in welcoming Williams County Prosecutor Katie Zartman to the meeting; Ms. Zartman shared with Council the duties of her office, the responsibilities of two full-time assistants (Mike Juhasz and Rachel Sostoi) and its new location.
•Was updated by Park Board President Martha Michael regarding a possible township-wide Park and Recreation Levy; board members are waiting to hear from Florence Township Trustees and Williams County Auditor regarding the proposal with respect to ORC regulations, guidelines, etc. Currently, a one-half mill levy would generate approximately twenty thousand dollars. She also shared game fields were prepped approximately one hundred times this past season at roughly one hour per field, depending on weather conditions.
•Announced Trick-or-Treat would be observed in the Village from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday, October 31; Trunk or Treat will take place from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Edon Church of Christ as well.
•Was informed by Councilor Nester the flagpole at Edon Union Cemetery Veterans Memorial was in place; Franz Nursery may begin concrete work the week of September 27. Appreciation was extended to Bryan and Edon American Legion Posts for donating the first flag.
•Accepted John and Marilyn Toner’s note of appreciation for the kind recognition extended to them and Richard and Wanda Held through the placement of engraved rocks on the newly acquired east end property.
•Directed Solicitor Thompson to look into options of maintaining the Park Board “as is” verses a Township Board or joint Village/Township partnership in light of a possible Park Levy; Council’s consensus at this time is to retain Walz Park as the only one to exist within the Village.
•Recommended, after discussion, that Administrator Mahlman go ahead and contact Williams County Health Department with concerns stemming from dwellings without proper water and sewage hookups; potential water and sewer ordinances could mandate hookups for future dwelling units within the Village.
•Learned the annual Rainbow of Wellness, hosted by Williams County Older Adult Task Force, would be held Thursday, October 15 at the Williams County Veterans Building and Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission will commemorate its 60th Anniversary on Wednesday, September 30 at Westgate/Exit 2; the special ceremony pays tribute to the exit’s official opening on October 1, 1955.
•Accepted the Financial Report, Bills and corrected Minutes, as presented.
Prior to adjournment, Council voted to enter into Executive Session, at the request of Chief Szymczak, for the expressed purpose of discussing employee compensation.
Upon returning to open session, Council approved the motion to increase part-time officer Nate Allen’s hourly rate to $12.28. Additionally, Council set the starting hourly rate for all part-time officers at $11.28; a dollar per hour raise would follow a successful probationary period.
The next monthly regular meeting of Edon Village Council will be held Monday, October 19, 2015 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Village Chambers.
Lucinda Held-Faulhaber
May be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com