The Delta Village Council continued discussion of a proposed fire district at length in their February 27th meeting.
In the Finance Committee report, Councilor Lynn Frank reported that, according to her calculations, a recent York Township finance report indicated the village was due nearly $42,000 for fire services between 2013 and 2015. Citing the vagueness of the report, council opted to defer any action or further discussion until more information is sought from the township.
Continuing discussion of a proposed fire district between numerous entities in the county, Village Administrator Brad Peebles suggested that council use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to partially pay for a proposed feasibility study of the district to be conducted by the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association.
The CDBG funds, totaling $11,250, were originally allocated to council by the county in 2014 for the purposes of downtown revitalization.
However, with the lack of interest in using the dollars and the possibility of them being revoked, council favored approaching the Fulton County Commissioners to reallocate the funding to be used for the $18,000 study. The commissioners previously rejected a request to use county revolving loan funds towards the study,
After previous continuous debate on annexation and the fire district between York Township and the village, council reviewed the most recently revised Fire Service Agreement, the third proposal for a one-year 2018 agreement. Council approved Peebles in moving forward with the agreement pending review from Law Director Kevin Heban.
Peebles also informed council of a $300,000 shortfall in funding for the Wilson Street Bridge project. After meeting with the Maumee Valley Planning Organization, Peebles is confident the village could be awarded additional funding, totaling about $198,000, from the state through another CDBG. Council approved Peebles applying for the grant on behalf of the village.
Council also passed an ordinance, under emergency status, lowering the weight limit Wilson Street Bridge from 6,000 to 3,000 pounds after a recommendation from the Ohio Department of Transportation. The north bound lane of the bridge will remain will remain closed, restricting traffic to one lane.
In other business, council approved:
-the third reading of an ordinance to adopt an administrative policy addressing the enforcement of zoning compliance and property nuisance matters,
-the second reading of an ordinance authorizing Peebles to enter into contract with Delta Lawn Ranger, LLC, for lawn maintenance services,
-the first reading of an ordinance to replace a former ordinance and amend the name of the company OH Exchange Facilities, LLC, to include “a Delaware Limited Liability Company” for the placement of a broadband communications tower on village property.
A public hearing held concerning an application for another 5 year term to allow an agricultural plot west of County Road FG to remain under agricultural district status for tax related purpose brought little discussion and approval from council.
Shawn Wymer, a former Henry County Sheriff’s Department deputy, was also sworn in as an officer of the Delta Police Department.
Cory Johnson may be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com