PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
DOCUMENT REVIEW … Council members (from left) Sharon Blinzler and Brian Bowsher review special promotional rental rates for the Lewis E. Brown Community Building.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
On Wednesday, July 15, the Edgerton Village Council met with Mayor Bob Day calling the meeting to order at 6 p.m. After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Day said a brief blessing of guidance and a request for favorable weather for the upcoming homecoming celebrations on Saturday, July 18.
Fiscal Officer Denise Knecht continued with the roll call. Members Brian Bowsher, Sharon Blinzler, Pam Wampler and Jason Gruver were present, with Chuck Wallace and Leslie VanAusdale absent.
Also attending were Administrative Assistant Amanda Knecht and acting Village Administrator Doug Zimmerman.
Gruver moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting, held on July 1, and Blinzler seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Homecoming Events
Moving on to reports, Mayor Day was first highlighting the upcoming homecoming events within his report. The parade will begin at 9 a.m., which is slightly earlier than normal, but with the recent extreme heat it may be a better time frame for the parade.
There will be plenty of activities at Miller Park and throughout town, including a patriotic sing-along, a choir, cupcakes for America’s Birthday, and a closing performance by Auburn City Band at the Picnic Pavilion.
The event will also give the community a chance to view and explore the newly completed Lewis E. Brown Community Building.
Administrator’s Report
The administrator’s report followed, with Zimmerman updating council on ongoing projects throughout the village. He noted that both the sidewalk and crosswalk projects are moving forward, with the village issuing a notice to Environmental Design Group (EDG) to proceed.
A sidewalk project meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 17, and the crosswalk project will meet on July 21.
Zimmerman reported that the water treatment plant and water tower project are awaiting a quote from Metalink to connect the two systems, though he has encountered technical issues accessing the electronic file.
The sewer improvement project has now been advertised twice and will soon move into the selection phase. Once an engineering partner is chosen, the contract will follow.
The JW Lift Station is still awaiting parts, and a purchase order has been issued for the transformer repair approved at the previous meeting, with the unit scheduled to be sent out.
Community Building Update
The community building is finishing up a few minor details. One such detail, not directly related to the building but to the grounds, is algae growth in the pond.
Fin Farm LLC out of Ridgeville Corners has been contacted and provided algae treatment at a cost of $1,700, and a second treatment was planned for full effect.
Lastly, Zimmerman informed the council of a possible salary schedule review, which was done five years ago. The quote for review is approximately $7,100 to $9,300.
Fiscal Report
The fiscal report followed, with only two items being presented by Denise Knecht. The credit card reports were not yet available for this meeting and will be presented at the next meeting.
Knecht closed with the last item in her report, paying the bills. Bowsher moved to approve, and Wampler provided a second. The motion passed.
Fire Chief Report
The report section closed with the Fire Chief report, being presented by both Fire Chief Scott Blue and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Adkins.
Adkins was first to report that for the third year in a row, the fire department received a TC Energy grant in the amount of $15,000.
TC Energy is responsible for the natural gas pipeline that runs by the M&W carryout, north of the village.
Chief Blue followed with a report on the recent ISO rating evaluation. ISO is a grading agency that comes in to do the assessment. He explained that the assessment reviews three areas: the emergency communication system, the Edgerton Fire Department, and the village’s water system.
Each category begins at zero, with points awarded based on specific criteria, which were provided to the council in printed form. Emergency communication earned a score of 9.2 out of 10.
The fire department received 27.4 out of 50, with Blue noting that meeting the full training requirements is nearly impossible for a part-time volunteer department due to limited available hours.
The water department scored 29.99 out of 40. There were also bonus points awarded for community risk reduction, with the department receiving 3.23 out of 5.5.
These programs include the smoke alarm installation program and school programs administered by the fire department.
The overall total points scored were 69.82 out of 105.5, with some additional points detailed in the printed report.
The department received a Class Four rating, matching last year’s score. Day noted that in the ISO system, a lower class number indicates a better rating. He asked about the threshold for achieving a Class Three, and Blue confirmed the requirement is a score of 70.
Blue also pointed out that the rural area surrounding the village carries a 4Y designation, which can influence insurance rates for those properties.
Resolutions, Motions and Ordinances
The agenda then progressed into resolutions, motions and ordinances. The first item for approval was the previously discussed TC grant for $15,000.
Gruver moved to approve with a second from Wampler. All members approved.
The second item, explained by Day, was to approve a promotional “Lewie” rate for the new community building. Any booking scheduled from August 1 to October 31 would receive a 50% discount.
Denise Knecht added the deposit and all other requirements remained the same. Day noted that information would be available this Saturday at the homecoming event.
Again, Gruver moved to approve. Bowsher seconded, and all members approved the promotional rates.
The final item for approval was Ordinance 1169, a supplement to the 2026 annual appropriations to cover the remaining cost of the sidewalk project.
The total project cost of $188,000, contracted with EDG, was allocated across three funds: the general fund, the capital fund and the income tax capital fund.
Denise Knecht noted that the income tax capital fund would still retain a 19-month carryover, while the general fund would maintain a 15-month carryover. Bowsher moved to approve the ordinance, Gruver seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Council Discussion
Day then opened the floor for council discussion. Gruver offered a reminder to conserve energy during peak-use days, suggesting residents shift tasks like laundry to off-peak hours.
Amanda Knecht noted that during the recent heat wave she shared similar guidance on social media, following AMP (American Municipal Power) recommendations, and she welcomed the additional reminder.
Day also noted he tries to share and amplify the social media posts as well.
Bowsher stated he was approached about cement and construction trucks blocking a driveway near the Edgemont Colony Apartments.
Bowsher noted he advised the resident that if, after being asked, the operator does not move the obstructions, to contact the police department.
Day agreed that was the correct approach and stated, “Progress is messy and intrusive.”
With no other item to discuss, Gruver motioned to move into executive session. Wampler approved, and the meeting adjourned to executive session with no action planned to follow.
The next Edgerton Village Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 5.