OTHER SAFETY MEASURES Councilor Vaughn Bentz right discusses with a member of the public other possible safety measures that may be pursued at the corner of Township Road 24 and State Route 2 while the village waits on state funding for a roundabout in that area
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
On Monday, May 6 the Archbold Village Council met for its first regular meeting of the month at its temporary chambers in Ruihley Park’s Scout Cabin with Councilors Gary Dominique, Chad Kern, Kevin Eicher, Karla Ball, Vaughn Bentz, and Aaron Babcock present. Also on hand were Mayor Brad Grime, Village Administrator Donna Dettling, and Assistant VA Aaron Alt.
Upon opening the meeting, and after a moment of silence, council approved minutes from the April 15 meeting and the April 2024 financial reports. They also gave the green light for the payment of bills and payroll in the amount of $647,617.80.
Before addressing the legislative items on the agenda, council opened the floor for public participation and Tim Rupp of Archbold joined the conversation about proposed temporary safety measures at the dangerous intersection of Township Road 24 and State Route 2 on the west edge of the village.
Rupp shared that he had recently been released from the hospital following an injury-inducing motorcycle accident at the busy intersection just a week before.
“Believe me, I’m all for a roundabout, I don’t want you to think anything different. =And I realize that it’s at least a three-year project and in there (referring to a newspaper article) they had some countermeasures which I think are all – some are good, some are not so good. But there is an effort to try to do something before.”
Sharing his observations of the intersection’s current configuration, Rupp noted, “Going westbound out of town, there’s a 35 mph sign back at Quality Glass…and we jump to 50 mph at Aerial Titan, which is the old Felitz operation.” And 55 mph – there’s a sign at County Road 24 on a pole (very near to the intersection).”
Rupp feels that the speed limit locations are “a little odd” considering Con Agra, Archbold Medical, Main Stop, Dollar General, and other professional buildings are in the immediate area and contribute to the high traffic numbers during certain times of the day.
Heading eastbound, Rupp noted that the speed limit changes from 55 mph to 50 mph just a short distance east of the intersection. The speed limit is then reduced once again to 35 mph within the village limits at Aerial Titan.
“So basically you’re going 55 miles, coming eastbound into that corner – no indication you’re supposed to slow down…So it seemed odd to me, out in the country, there is no ‘Reduced Speed Ahead’ – a yellow sign that indicates an intersection ahead.”
Rupp also suggested that a blinking red/yellow light over the intersection could be an effective temporary fix to the problem.
Councilor Bentz shared with Mr. Rupp, “We reviewed a study that was pretty enlightening about traffic patterns and had recommendations. And we talked about speed limits. Unfortunately, the state makes that a little more difficult.
Councilor Kern added, “From what I got from that last meeting, it’s a state route. We have to go through the state to get it changed even though it’s within the corporation limit.”
Kern also speculated that there were significantly fewer businesses when the original speed limits were posted many years ago. “But I think you are right,” Kern continued, “Back when those speeds were put out there, there were not probably doctor’s offices, probably very few professional buildings, LaChoy (shipping and receiving) was not moved down where they’re coming in and out.”
Referring back to solutions discussed in a previous council meeting, Bentz suggested, “I think we really need to seriously look at the 4-way stop, just based on the time studies.”
Bentz noted that Con Agra could also be contacted about moving its fence, which currently runs along the south side of State Route 2, back a few feet to increase visibility for those stopped on the southern leg of Township Road 24.
Temporary measures implemented to increase safety thus far include the installation of flashing stop signs and rumble strips on Township Road 24 at the intersection.
The village will receive the outcome of its state funding request for the construction of a roundabout during the first week of July.
Moving on to other items, heard for its third and final reading was Ordinance 2024-24, a piece of legislation to create Chapter 154 “Vacant Property and Building Registration” of the Archbold Codified Ordinances.
The law creates a system for identifying and registering vacant residences and commercial buildings within the village.
Registrations remain valid for one year and if the property remains vacant after that year, the property owner must re-register the property and a registration fee will be assessed.
If the property remains vacant indefinitely, the property must continue to be registered annually and the fee for that property registration will increase.
Following the reading, Mayor Grime noted, “I think this ordinance speaks to the property owners who live near these properties – adjacent to them and also speaks to the neighborhoods. It’s a start.”
Councilor Babcock shared his thoughts on the matter noting, “I’ve been back and forth on this since it started. Both sides – for and against.”
“I also don’t want to infringe on somebody’s rights – a property owner – you know – and tell them what they can and cannot do with their property. But at the same time – you know – addressing the squatter issue, with squatters comes a safety concern.”
“In turn, it becomes a neighborhood, a police force – just a safety concern all around. And I put myself in a neighbor’s perspective – if I was living near or next to one of these properties, it just wouldn’t be acceptable. So having said that, I’m all for it.”
Kern had a different view on the matter, “After reading this for the past few weeks, the only problem I have with this – and I’m going to paraphrase this – the owner of a vacant building or house should pay an annual fee for the first year that the building remains vacant, and it doubles after that.”
“That’s the only part of it I don’t like. If they are to pay a fee for not registering, I don’t have a problem with that.”
“But paying this fee because it’s vacant, does nothing about keeping it up, keeping it looking better or anything like that.”
The fee associated with the vacant property registration was on the minds of other council members as well.
Bentz noted that the village already has in place legislation to assess fees to owners who do not keep nuisance properties maintained.
He inquired of Assistant VA Alt, “So is the (registration) fee intended to be a penalty, or an incentive, or to cover costs or all of the above?” Alt responded, “It’s all of the above.”
Bentz added “I think I’d like us just to keep an open mind in future years, that we do have another mechanism. I respect opinions about fees and I’m kind of there too, but I want this – I think – I certainly see value in this.”
Following the lengthy discussion, Council then proceeded to vote on the measure with Dominique and Kern casting “no” votes and Councilors Eicher, Ball, Bentz, and Babcock voting “yes” to pass the ordinance which will go into effect in 30 days.
Moving on to the last piece of legislation on the agenda, council passed Resolution 2024-30 which authorizes Jen Kidder, the Director of Parks and Recreation, to submit an application for financial assistance from the NatureWorks Program to fund shade structures for the new Splash Pad.
Council also reviewed minutes from the Park Board meeting held on April 17 and Councilor Ball noted that the village’s disc golf course will be featured in an upcoming edition of the Ohio Magazine.
Dominique inquired about the status of a potential dog park. Kern, who also serves as the council’s Park Board Liaison, shared that the group is having conversations about location possibilities and right now, an older tennis court within the park system is a good contender.
Park Board representatives are reaching out to community members for feedback and the conversation will be continued at the next Park Board meeting.
In reports before council, Income Tax Receipts showed an increase factoring in withholdings up 3.42% which corresponds to an overall increase of 8.99% according to VA Donna Dettling.
Also in reports, council reviewed the Water Department’s TTHM 2nd Quarter Report with Dettling noting that the goal is to stay below 80 parts per billion (ppb). “We are well, well below that which is something to celebrate,” added Dettling.
Other April 2024 reports before council included the Fire & EMS Calls for Service, the Police Department Call Response, and the Street Labor & Fleet reports.
Council then entered an executive session for purposes of employment and property and no action was taken following that session according to the village administrator.
Archbold Village Council’s next regular meeting is slated for Monday, May 20, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.