Local residents will soon be adjusting to new traffic-patterns as Edon Village Council approved changes during its regular session held Monday, July 21, 2014 in Council Chambers. Mayor Darlene Burkhardt called the evening meeting to order with Councilors Roxana Nester, Lee Lawrence, Duane Thiel, Richard Chapin, Chuck Bidwell, Gale Horn, Fiscal Officer Heidi Bidwell and Solicitor Tom Thompson in attendance.
With passage of the third and final reading of Ordinance 04-14, stop signs at the eastern and western intersection of Railroad and South Main Streets will be removed to allow right-of-way access on Railroad Street. Motorists traveling south on South Main Street will also note the placement of a new “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop” warning sign at the northern intersection of the two streets to ensure safety for all drivers.
Slated to go into effect thirty days from approval, the proposed changes were first brought to Council by Police Chief Tom Szymczak at the request of Edon Farmers Co-Op. Managers believed travel for grain trucks, etc. to their plant via Railroad Street would greatly improve with modifications to the intersection.
Additionally that evening, Council agreed to remove “One Way” and “Do Not Enter” signage currently posted at the southern (East Indiana Street) and northern (Park Street) ends of Kaiser’s Super Market parking lot. Discussion on the possible change was prompted by Councilor Nester’s concern with the illegible sign located at Park Street.
“Is there a newer “Do Not Enter” sign [the Village] could put up to replace the old one near Baker Park?” she inquired of Street Superintendent Jim Brigle. “I noticed someone driving [into the parking lot] going the wrong way; the sign is hard to read.”
Noting the Village owns the section where the water tower once stood, formal responsibility of what essentially is a drive through a parking lot remains unclear. “Without knowledge of who’s responsible ~ and what portion is actually [the Village’s] ~ citing people going the wrong way creates additional issues if the property isn’t ours,” shared Chief Szymczak. As a result, violations to the “one-way” and “do not enter” postings are presently not enforced.
“We should take the signs down if we’re really not going to enforce them,” commented Councilor Bidwell. “You can’t have a one-way street on private property.”
The consensus of Council’s subsequent dialogue was to remove the “One Way” and “Do Not Enter” signage at the grocery store parking lot.
In other action, Council:
•Was updated by Edon Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Whitman on plans for Edon Days 2014. Set for August 1-2-3, happenings taking place include concessions, live bands, Street Dance, Cruise-In, Co-Ed Softball and Sand Volleyball Tournaments, Parade, Truck Pulls, Sidewalk Sales, Craft Show, Art Show, Community Church Service, Ice Cream Social, Children’s Entertainment, and Alumni Flag Football Game. Council thanked Mr. Whitman for letting them know what’s going on during the annual event; appreciation for trying to keep the Village “alive” and for using local Parks was also noted by members.
•Voted to suspend the three-reading rule to pass Resolution 03-14 ~ Authorizing and Directing the Mayor of the Village of Edon to execute any documents necessary to subscribe to the Everbridge Mass Notification System as coordinated by the Williams County Board of Commission. (The associated annual subscription, approved last month for a one-year term, will cost the Village $271.63).
•Approved continuing the Water Tower Antennae Contract with Bright.net Internet Services for an additional five years; the initial five-year lease agreement, including a three percent fee escalation clause, would automatically renew at the end of the year unless objections were voiced ninety days prior to expiration. Currently, the agreement generates approximately two hundred twenty-five dollars in monthly revenue for the Village.
•Accepted Police Chief Tom Szymczak’s recommendation and approved hiring Nathan Allen of Montpelier and Matt Sammons of Bryan as part-time officers for the department (circumstances have recently created a staffing shortage); both are recent graduates of Northwest State Community College’s Law Enforcement Academy and will participate in the field training program, including Edon Days, before being released on their own.
•Was updated by Councilor Nester regarding the Edon Union Cemetery mini-excavator purchase; Florence Township Trustee Scott Longanbach will present specifics next month. Councilor Thiel also noted the Park Board would convene in August.
•Was informed by Councilor Horn that ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) would have “No Engine Brake” signage returned to East Indiana Street at the end of the month. (At June’s meeting, residents Peggy Mathers and Matt Bauer inquired why the signage, removed two years ago, had not been replaced).
•Heard four applications had been submitted for the Village’s part-time Zoning Inspector position; upon review, candidates did not meet field experience or background requirements for employment. Planning Commission members will explore the possibility of hiring an engineering firm to fulfill the duties; it is hoped to have a recommendation by next month’s meeting.
•Heard Police Chief Szymczak’s June Service Log (including 116 calls for service; 31 complaints; 16 citations; 29 warnings; no accidents; 2 alarms; 1 arrest; 9 assists; 49 follow-ups ) and detailed Vehicle Report (including $588.95 in fuel costs). Additionally, he noted he had attended last month’s Chamber of Commerce meeting to review Edon Days ~ its required permits, the Department’s patrolling schedule and vehicle and golf cart usage during the event.
•Learned Street Superintendent Brigle would begin preparing the Village’s downtown area (repainting parking lines, crosswalks, etc.) for Edon Days 2014; he will also coordinate mosquito spraying throughout the Village when conditions warrant.
•Accepted the Minutes, Financial Report and Bills as presented.
•Voted to enter into Executive Session prior to adjournment for the expressed purpose of discussing personnel; no action was taken.
The next regular monthly meeting of the Edon Village Council will be held Monday, August 18, 2014 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Village Chambers.
