WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT… Superintendent Mike Short presented the WWTP 2022 Annual Report to AVC. (PHOTO BY AMY WENDT)
By: Amy Wendt
On Monday, February 6, Archbold Village Council heard Year-In-Review Reports for 2022 presented by various department heads.
Archbold Police Chief Leo Wixom shared with council that the APD had 10,420 calls for service and traveled 120,277 miles.
While a majority of the calls for service were pro-active patrolling of businesses and home checks, APD saw a trend of mental health calls for service increasing by 64%.
Wixom reported that in 2022 all APD staff who did not currently have the training, received CIT certification (Critical Incident Training) to equip the department with skills to de-escalate situations with minimum use of force as well as respond to people in mental health crisis.
In 2022 APD experienced an increase in narcotics reports by 66% and in four incidents, NARCAN was administered.
In all four instances of NARCAN use, the lives of the recipients were saved. The department also continues to be a part of the M.A.N. (Multi-Area Narcotics) Unit.
The APD, in conjunction with the Archbold Area School District, continued the SRO (School Resource Officer) program and agreed to another 3-year contract.
The district SRO went through two weeks of training in Columbus to become a certified D.A.R.E. instructor and the first D.A.R.E. class was held in over 10 years.
All APD staff completed (CPT) Continuing Professional Training as required by the state.
Mayor Brad Grime asked Chief Wixom if body cams will be purchased in the future.
Wixom confirmed that a grant in the amount of $52,000 has been awarded to the department for the purchase of cameras.
The chief further elaborated that upon upgrading some existing server equipment, the purchase of those cameras will be pursued.
The police department 2022 Year-End Data was also briefly reviewed.
Superintendent of Water Scott Schultz was on hand to present the 2022 Annual Report for the water department.
The department cited a total 2022 income of $2,539,013.49 and total expenses for the year of $2,112,638.77.
The superintendent’s report states “I have been reporting on the anion treatment since 2013. I am happy to announce this is the last report where I will mention anion treatment. The anion officially went offline 4/18/2022.”
The village’s water has been trihalomethanes (TTHM) compliant according to Ohio EPA standards since July 2022.
On November 14, Archbold’s new 200,000-gallon elevated tower went into service. The department had an increased number of main breaks which the department expected due to the higher system pressure.
Due to the increase in breaks, it was decided to not fill the tower as full when the plant is not manned.
This practice will continue until warmer weather then they will operate the tower as designed.
This will allow crews to complete repairs in more favorable weather. In 2022 eleven water main breaks were repaired compared to three in 2021.
The water department report also states “Plant employees did an outstanding job this past year; working through GAC start-up and plant upgrades, shuffling work hours, proved that this bunch of employees strive to work together.”
Currently, the plant can still operate without adding a third shift. Schultz shared that two new employees passed the Class I Water Professional exam.
Schultz concluded his report by making the recommendation, “It is time for Archbold and Wauseon to look at joining our two water systems.”
“There are many emergency possibilities that either community may need another source of potable water, it only makes sense that the two communities join forces.”
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Superintendent Mike Short presented the department’s 2022 Annual Report to Council.
The WWTP services an estimated population of 6,000 which includes the Village of Archbold, Elmira-Burlington, Ridgeville Township, Sauder Village, as well as those who work in the Village.
Short reported that the total 2022 income was $2,356,936.37 and total 2022 expenses were $1,970,960.59.
Superintendent Short shared with council that his department is collaborating with the EPA on a new biological process to remove phosphorus.
The first three months of the new project have shown promising results, saving the Village $20,000 in electricity.
Short also noted that the next step is to explore ways to harness off-gas produced during the waste treatment.
Three employees received their Class I EPA licenses and one received his Class II EPA license.
According to Short’s report, “The employees at the wastewater have done a tremendous job this year saving the village money by performing many of the wastewater department projects in-house.”
“I have all hard-working employees willing to do anything that is asked of them. We as a department try to use the money, we have wisely for the Village of Archbold and try to help sustain our plant for the future of Archbold.”
Planning Director Aaron Alt rounded out the year-end reports by presenting the 2022 Zoning Report.
“We did have quite a bit of a decrease in zoning permits. Not to start off my report on a down note, but I don’t think we can base everything that our community has going on based on zoning reports,” shared Alt.
“We actually only ended up with 62 permits that were issued in 2022. I think one thing that’s notable in this report, is that we have five different business entities that had six different projects going on, and that was 4.6 million dollars worth of investment into the community out of a total of 6.125 million,” he continued.
Alt also informed council that there are two lots available for purchase that include a tax abatement for 10 years.
Following the department head reports, council issued a proclamation designating February 2023 as Career and Technical Education Month.
It was noted by Mayor Grime that this is something done every year upon request of Four County Career Center.
A first reading was held on Resolution 2023-07 – Approve Entering into a Community Garden Lease with the Archbold Community Garden Group and authorizing the village administrator to execute and oversee the lease agreement.
Abby Pennington spoke on behalf of the Archbold Community Garden and shared with council that informational flyers were mailed to all residents who live within close proximity to the garden site.
There will be an informational Q&A presentation open to the public at the Scout Cabin in Ruihley Park on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 pm.
Council approved Resolution 2023-08 for the renewal of the employment agreement for the Economic Development Coordinator, Jim Wyse, after suspending the rules.
Village Administrator Donna Dettling added, “The mayor, myself, Aaron and Karla (Ball) met to review some of the expectations we had, and whether or not we felt he was fulfilling them, and we absolutely do. We think it’s a great idea that we hired him and that we’re getting plenty out of it.”
Council heard a first reading of Resolution 2023-09 – A resolution declaring a moratorium on the acceptance of applications relating to the establishment or expansion of small box discount stores Indefinitely.
Following the reading, Mayor Grime clarified, “that doesn’t absolutely mean that they can never come into town, but we have discretion.”
Council reviewed the Building & Grounds Committee minutes of January 16, 2023, Income Tax Receipts January 2023, Fire & EMS call response January 2023, and Street Department Labor & Fleet Report January 2023.
In correspondence, the mayor advised council that the annual Fulton County Fire Association Dinner will be held on February 21, 2023, and all members are invited.
Following the full agenda, council went into executive session pursuant to ORC 121.22 (G) Employment.
No action was taken as a result of the executive session per Administrator Dettling.
The next Archbold Village Council Meeting will be held on Monday, February 20, 2023 at 5:30 pm.
Amy can be reached at amy@thevillagereporter.com
