By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The Delta Village Council met recently, with Interim Village Administrator Samuel Chappell providing background and tips for the public on how to use, opt out of, and navigate the village’s electric aggregation program.
Council members voted at the last meeting to renew the village’s agreement with the Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition, which will last for the next two years.
Chappell said that through the program, the village partners with the governments of Toledo, Sylvania, and Lucas County, among others, to give them more buying power and thus a better rate.
Residents who opt in will be billed at a fixed rate of 9.6 cents per kilowatt hour of usage, while those who opt out will automatically go direct with ToledoEdison or they can shop around for the best deal they can find on their own. They can also choose to use the program initially and then opt out at any time.
Chappell recommended residents who would like to look for a plan on their own should visit energychoice.ohio.gov online for an “apples to apples comparison” of available plans.
According to Chappell, residents who choose to opt out need to be aware of how electric utility billing works.
He said some plans charge monthly fees and termination fees, and could last as few as three months before the rates change.
“If you’re paying attention and have your watch set to the end of the contract and you go to somebody else, great, you’ll keep getting low rates” Chappell said.
“But if you don’t, that rate could double or go up a lot more, and now you’re going to pay a lot more for electricity than you would if you were to stay part of the NOAC aggregate.”
He also explained that some electricity bills are broken down into generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, so it may look like residents are being charged two or three times when all of those are included in all plans but may only be listed as one combined price.
He compared it to bundling home and auto insurance, where both are listed separately on a bill while only one total amount is being charged.
Chappell said that, among other factors, the proliferation of data centers has led to a historic demand for power while the supply has either remained stagnant or been reduced due to some power production facilities spooling down.
Anyone with further questions about how the aggregation plans work can call the village for assistance. Chappell added that no aggregation contract has yet been signed for the village government’s electricity usage.
NEW VACUUM TRUCK
Council members voted to authorize the purchase of a jet vacuum truck from Brown Equipment Company at a cost of $575,000.29.
The item was passed on an emergency basis due to the old truck failing completely since the last council meeting.
According to Chappell, the village has been forced to rent a truck for several days because of the failure.
Councilman Kyle Riley cast the sole dissenting vote on both the suspension of the rules to allow the item to be passed on an emergency basis and the approval of the purchase itself.
Council members also voted to pass – on first reading – an ordinance authorizing the sale of the old truck, which will likely be used for parts.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members approved on an emergency basis the adoption of an investment policy, at the request of Finance Director Joanne Clapp. Clapp said the Ohio Revised Code requires that municipalities have such a policy in place.
Council members approved on an emergency basis the payment of certain invoices.
Council members approved the purchase of a drain line for an effluent channel at the wastewater plant that had no means to drain fully, previously causing the buildup of suspended solids.
The purchase, at a cost of $27,028, was included in the 2026 budget.
Council members approved on final reading transfers from the general fund of $1.1 million to the Fulton County water operating fund and $600,000 to the police fund.
The transfers are being made for clarity in financial statements, to separate expenses for those purposes from the general fund. Both amounts were included in the 2026 village budget.
Council members approved on final reading an ordinance allowing the sale of a surplus 2009 Chrysler Town & Country minivan.
Council members approved on second reading an exemption authorizing the renewal of farmland in the agricultural district.
Council members approved on first reading an annual memorandum of understanding with the Fulton County Department of Job and Family Services.
Council members approved on first reading an ordinance repealing a section of the municipal code barring the village from buying back cemetery lots.
At a previous meeting, they authorized the village administrator to buy back unused lots at their original, lower cost for resale at the current price. Repealing the code section will allow that to take place.
The council voted at the end of new business to go into executive session “to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official.” No action was taken as a result of the session.
The next regular meeting of the Delta Village Council will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 16, at 401 Main Street in Delta.
