COMMUNITY GARDEN DISCUSSION … Mayor Brad Grime and administrator Donna Dettling discuss the progress of the community garden. (PHOTO BY AMY WENDT, STAFF)
By: Amy Wendt
Archbold Village Council met on Monday, November 9 where it was noted that plans for the proposed community garden are “moving forward.”
During the discussion of the Park Board Packet 11-2-2022, Village Administrator, Donna Dettling updated the council on progress being made on the project.
She advised that a suitable piece of property located in Ruihley Park on Williams Street next to the Scout Cabin parking lot area was suggested by Archbold Parks and Recreations Director, Jennifer Kidder.
Upon checking out the property suggested by Kidder, Abby Pennington gave it a “thumbs up”.
Dettling continued “we are moving forward on getting a lease document together for that property.”
Dettling expressed that she would like Kidder to review the document so “everyone is on the same page.”
From there, it will go before the Buildings and Grounds Committee before council’s final approval.
“I’m extremely pleased that council was excited about helping this group out and the park board and everybody has been extremely accommodating” Mayor Brad Grime added.
In other matters, council approved the minutes of October 17, 2022 Council Work Session for setting a budget plan, and also bills & payroll in the amount of $624,715.98 and October 2022 financial reports.
Council also approved various “housekeeping” matters after the suspension of the rules:
– Ordinance 2022-63 an ordinance to repeal and replace Ordinance No. 1981-23 establishing a fee policy for newly constructed streets and declaring an emergency.
Administrator Dettling elaborated, “On the 17th of October council work session, we met and discussed a number of things, including this ordinance from 1981 that allows us to recover money if the village decides to build a street where there is no street, and that ordinance needs to be updated on a more regular basis than what we’ve done in the past, so you will be seeing that one every year as a housekeeping item, just to make sure that we are keeping up with current costs.”
-Ordinance 2022-64 an ordinance to repeal and replace Ordinance 2022-31 adjusting certain water, wastewater and stormwater fees and declaring an emergency.
Per Dettling “Again, companion item from the meeting on the 17th of October, and this one we do look at once a year and I have actually written it into both of those ordinances that we are required to look at them once a year.”
“They may not get updated, but at least we bring them forward and look at them and decide whether or not we need to update any of those fees that are in there because of prices going up, or down for that matter.”
Councilman Vaughn Bentz clarified “This is more for tap fees and different things, and not the monthly water bill.”
-Resolution 2022-65 Accepting Change Order No. 1 FINAL for miscellaneous street resurfacing project, contract 4-2022 and declaring an emergency.
Administrator Dettling advised, “this is a housekeeping item…this is a decrease overall on this contract of $12,580.32 for a final contract price of $176,169.68.” Dettling continued “again, it’s just closing out the project.”
-Resolution 2022-66 accepting bids for the purchase of chemicals for the water and wastewater departments for the year 2023 and authorizing the village Administrator to contract therefore and declaring an emergency.
The village looks at the chemical prices every year and there have been “fairly decent” increases associated with those this year.
“The good news is that both departments are doing a great job with some initiatives that are helping to reduce the amount of chemicals that they need,” Dettling explained.
-Resolution 2022-67 extending a lease to Rodney Buehrer to rent approximately 185 acres of farm ground located on E. Lutz Road and authorizing the village administrator to enter into lease agreement and declaring an emergency.
-Resolution 2022-68 Accepting Change Order #1 FINAL for miscellaneous sidewalk improvements project, Contract 6-2022 and declaring an emergency.
Per Administrator Dettling, “This one was also if you would look at the quantities, this was an increase of $8,273.07 which made the overall contract price $52,078.07.”
Council also reviewed the income tax receipts October 2022, Fire & EMS call response October 2022, Street Department Labor & Fleet Report October 2022 and police department calls for service October 2022.
The next council meeting is Monday, November 21, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.
Amy can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
