Hiring of park personnel was one agenda item Edon Village Council took up during its regular session held Monday, March 21, 2016 in Council Chambers. Mayor Duane Thiel called the evening meeting to order with Councilors Lee Lawrence, Andy Ledyard, Mike Lirot, Dick Chapin, Chip Hulbert, Gale Horn, Village Administrator Randy Mahlman, Fiscal Officer Heidi Bidwell, Village Attorney Tom Thompson, Police Chief Tom Szymczak and one guest in attendance.
Approved by Council as Village Park Department employee was past park superintendent Don Walton. Recommended by Edon Park Board and Edon Summer Ball League (ESBL) organizers after months of discussion, Walton’s duties will include preparing Walz Park ball diamonds (lining fields, mowing grass inside fences, trash removal) for league games; his salary for the season was set at three thousand dollars.
Additionally that evening, Council announced the annual Spring Trash Pick-up has been scheduled for Saturday, May 21. Each spring and fall, the Village provides residents curbside opportunities to dispose of large non-recyclable household items at no additional cost. Anyone needing a list of acceptable and unacceptable items should contact the Village Office during regular business hours.
In other matters brought forward, Council:
•Voted to suspend the three-reading rule to pass Resolution 02-16 Renewal of the Existing One-half (½) Mill Tax for the Purpose of Maintaining and Operating Edon Union Cemetery; the five-year levy will be placed on the November 2016 Ballot.
•Learned the Village’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for $20,000 had been submitted; monies awarded will help offset the 2017 Parkway Street and Sandy Lane Paving Project’s estimated $57,000 cost.
•Approved purchasing a Toro fifty-four inch deck mower for the Park Department at a cost of $4,359.
•Heard Administrator Mahlman’s monthly report noting he had attended the OUPS (Ohio Utilities Protection Services) meeting about becoming members, per Ohio law, of its notification system; a small membership fee ($0-50) will be assessed the Village at a later date (potential grant-funding may cover the cost). He further shared forty-six meters had been installed, most of the new Village street signs were put up and work scheduling would include getting Walz Park open and ready for the season.
•Approved Administrator Mahlman’s recommendation to Mayor Thiel to release Taylor Headley from probationary status and to increase his wage to $14.50 per hour (fifty-cent raise); Taylor recently completed his CDL (Commercial Drivers License) certification requirement.
•Heard Police Chief Szymczak’s monthly Service Log and Vehicle Report for February 2016. He also noted his attendance at Edon Northwest Local Schools’ Emergency Operations meeting as well as the Summit at Bryan Municipal Court regarding e-ticketing; courts want it mandated that all police departments issue electronic citations.
•Was updated by Administrator Mahlman on the status of the Water Treatment Plant’s current wells. A new pump (1995) and new motor (2000) were installed in the original 1982 well while a second well, added in1985, still has its original pump and motor; it was last cleaned in 1996. Watson’s Well Drilling will be checking both wells; their $16,276 quote to install a new pump and motor in the 1985 well has been submitted.
•Reviewed Village Attorney Thompson’s updated Rules of Council standards; a “clean copy” will be readied for passage next month.
•Scheduled a meeting with the Planning Commission on April 12; members will discuss zoning and possible procedural changes.
•Accepted the Financial Report, bills and minutes from the February 16, 2016 regular session as presented.
The next monthly meeting of Edon Village Council will be Monday, April 18, 2016 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Village Chambers.
Lucinda Held-Faulhaber
may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com