2024 ARCHBOLD VILLAGE COUNCIL … (Front L to R) Gary Dominique, Chad Kern, and Kevin Eicher. (Back L to R) Vaughn Bentz, Karla Ball, and Aaron Babcock.
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
Archbold Village Council met for a regular meeting on Monday, February 5 with all council members present. Mayor Brad Grime, Village Assistant Donna Dettling, and Assistant VA Aaron Alt were also on hand.
Immediately following a moment of silence, council got down to business by approving minutes from the January 15 meeting and approved January 2024 financials along with bills and payroll in the amount of $691,959.88.
Police Chief Leo Wixom then took a moment to recognize Dennis Sullivan for 36 1/2 years of service to the village as a patrolman and presented him with a plaque featuring the first badge that he received upon appointment to his post as well as the badge that he turned in upon retirement in December 2023.
Mayor Grime then issued a proclamation naming February 2024 Career and Technical Education Month.
Moving on to legislative items, council adopted Resolution 2024-10 which revises Section 513 Employee Cell Phones of the Employee Handbook.
The revision serves to increase the employee cell phone stipend from its long-standing amount of $30 per month, set in the early 2000s, to $50 per month. This adjustment would result in an additional cost of $1,000 per month for the village.
According to the village administrator, around 50 to 52 village employees receive this stipend for utilizing their personal cell phones for official village matters.
Following a declaration of emergency, Resolution 2024-11 was adopted authorizing the village administrator and finance director to advertise for bids for the upcoming West Mechanic and Pleasant Street Project.
The project includes adding new curbs and gutters to W. Mechanic Street from S. Defiance to Pleasant Street, and Pleasant Street from W. Mechanic to Park Street. The area will also see improvements to storm drains, sanitation, water mains, and new sidewalks.
The preliminary engineer’s estimate sits at $1,170,000 and the village plans to open bids for the project on March 7.
Continuing the State Route 2 Township Road 24 roundabout conversation from the January 15 meeting, council approved Resolution 2024-12 to support an application to ODOT Highway Safety Improvement Program to apply for funds to make improvements to that intersection.
Village Engineer Dexter Krueger elaborated, “As we discussed a couple of weeks ago when DGL was here kind of detailing some of the initial findings of their study, this would be something that would help the application.”
“Just to show council support for what the study is most likely recommending, which is a roundabout at that location. Likewise, we are also asking German Township to offer the same support at that intersection.”
Council then adopted Resolutions 2024-13 and 2024-14 “Declaring Intent To Appropriate Property and Easements For The Public Purpose of Making, Repairing, Improving, or Constructing West Lugbill Road, Lawrence Lane and Schlatter Street As Extended to Join With Intersecting Roads Which Are and Shall Be Open to the Public Without Charge.”
According to Assistant VA Aaron Alt, “Over the years, specifically this section of Lugbill Road and Lawrence Lane has just been private drive…It’s been used by the public – maintained by the Village of Archbold.”
“Regular traffic happens on this road; however, it is the Village of Archbold’s intent to always maintain roads and have them in good shape…before we go on to this road and make the improvements that are necessary, we have to go through the legal process to actually have this roadway be dedicated as right of way.”
Council then adopted Resolution 2024-15 to accept the annexation of approximately 11.217 acres of land to the Village of Archbold. The tract of farmland is situated between Archbold High School and Township Road 24.
While there were no committee and board minutes before council to review there were many departmental reports to cover.
Administrator Dettling shared that Income Tax Receipts for January 2024 were up about 13 percent compared to January of last year.
Water Department Superintendent Scott Schultz was on hand to share with council the 2023 Annual Water Report and TTHM Reports for the 4th quarter of 2023 and 1st quarter of 2024.
Schultz highlighted that Josh Bentley passed his Class III operator certification in December. He also mentioned that the department’s measures to maintain TTHM levels in line with OEPA guidelines have proven effective, resulting in a reduction in reporting obligations from three locations to just two.
Mike Short, Superintendent of the Wastewater Department presented the 2023 Annual Wastewater Report sharing that his team tackled several projects at the plant in the past year.
The maintenance side of the work is handled by three staff members, who consistently do an excellent job. Short also noted that Scott Dominique received his Class III operator certification while Colton Soles and Wade Enderle are currently working toward their Class II certs.
Short also touched on results from the biological nutrient removal (BNR) project which commenced in October of 2022 and the ongoing sewer lining project.
Other reports before the council for review were the Fire & EMS Call Response report for January 2024, Police Department Calls for Service for January 2024, and the Street Department’s Labor Report and Fleet Report for January 2024.
Before closing, Krueger briefed council on a potential study by the Ohio Rail Development Commission noting that state funds may be available to help address the village’s ongoing issue of trains blocking the downtown railroad crossings.
He shared that he is working with Fulton County Engineer Frank Onweller on a grant application to get the wheels in motion for the study.
Archbold Village Council will see its next regular meeting on Monday, February 19, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Scout Cabin at Ruhiley Park.
