Delta’s Police Department will be subjected to a compliance check from the Ohio BCI.
“We have been graciously selected randomly for a quality assurance check,” Chief Nathan Hartsock said of a notice from the attorney general’s office, at the Delta Village Council’s April 17 meeting.
The check will report on how well the department is using a system to check license plates and arrest record checks and other requests, Hartsock said. Two years ago was the first time any agency in Ohio had a compliance analysis and Hartsock asked for one to be performed on Delta last year, he said. “I am confident we are going to pass this one because we didn’t have problems last year,” Hartsock said.
The department is losing another officer to Whitehouse. This will be the third officer lost to the other community, Hartsock said. “It’s getting harder and harder to fill the spots with what’s out there,” the chief said.
Council member Lynn Frank said she would like to discuss officers’ salaries with the chief and then make a presentation to the Finance Committee.
Village Administrator Brad Peebles and Law Director Kevin Heban have discussed and agreed on a new contract. The attorney’s previous deal with the village expired Dec. 31, 2016, but nobody noticed. Council approved the new contract making Heban and his firm, Heban, Sommer and Murphree, law director with Ordinance 17-17. The new deal will be at the same rate as the past two years, Peebles said.
The village will continue to have property and casualty insurance coverage through the Ohio Plan. After comparing costs from another company, it was determined the Ohio Plan, was a better plan for the village.
The Ohio Plan as presented by Beck Insurance April 3 showed the village’s premium had been reduced from $40,830 to $34,962. A quote from Andres, O’Neil and Lowe for a similar package came in at $35,951. “Some of their coverage wasn’t as good,” Peebles said. “And the deductibles were higher.” Council approved Resolution 17-03 renewing the policy.
The council also approved the first reading of Ordinance 17-18 to enter into an agreement for financing with Ohio Water Development Authority to construct the raw water delivery system needed for Nature Fresh Farms.
OWDA has committed up to $2 million in financing at a fixed rate of 1 percent for 30 years. The village will bid the final segment of the project; all the required bids will be gathered to determine the total loan request. The village estimates the total loan will be between $1.1 million and $1.2 million. The total amount of bids is expected to range from $1.5 million to $1.7 million. There $500,000 in CDBG grant funds available to help offset the costs. The village will advertise for bids with a May 9 opening planned.
In other news, the administrator’s report included the following highlights:
- The village has received six inquiries and two applications so far for the 2017 sidewalk program. Notices were inserted into residents’ water bills.
- The village has been using its law director to collect delinquent income taxes. So far, the village has settled 17 outstanding issues and collected $6,057.66. Six payment plans have been established with nearly $4,000 to be paid.
- The first monthly brush collection took longer than expected. The process normally takes about a day-and-a-half, took about four days the week of April 10.
- The village has replaced 736 of 1,218 water meters.