PHOTO BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
TIME CLOCK … Council had a lengthy discussion about whether to implement an electronic time clock for the village employees to make payroll easier for the fiscal officer.
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Lyons Village Council met Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance. Village officials reported that lead and copper testing had been completed at 10 required locations, with no lead detected.
Results were sent to the participating residents and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The village has requested permission to continue testing every three years rather than annually.
WATER ISSUES
Council also discussed discrepancies among water-meter readings, customer billing records and the amount of water purchased from Wauseon.
Officials said incorrect meter multipliers had been discovered and corrected, but additional differences remain between the village’s Badger/Beacon meter system and its billing software.
Technical support is investigating, including one reported discrepancy of approximately 100,000 gallons between system reports.
Officials said the village’s calculated water loss had fallen to about 25 percent. They hope future billing cycles will provide more reliable comparisons once the corrected settings are fully reflected.
Council also discussed seeking grant funding to replace aging meters and eventually place more meters in outdoor pits for easier access.
Council discussed an incident involving approximately 1,600 gallons of water reportedly taken without authorization from a village hydrant near County Road 10-2 in the Winameg area.
According to the discussion, a local water-department employee who lives nearby encountered an employee of Gerken Paving using the hydrant while returning home.
The water-department employee contacted village officials, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office was called. The Gerken employee reportedly told the responding deputy that he had been directed to obtain the water.
However, when a village official contacted a company representative, the representative said he had not sent the employee to the hydrant.
Council members expressed concern that the village could not know whether water had been taken on other occasions.
Although the value of 1,600 gallons was described as relatively small, council members emphasized that hydrant water belongs to the village and cannot be taken without permission.
They also noted that the company could have contacted the village and requested authorization before using the hydrant.
Council briefly discussed filing charges but ultimately reached a consensus to bill Gerken Paving for the 1,600 gallons and send the company a formal letter stating that unauthorized use of the village water system is prohibited. The letter will warn that another incident could result in prosecution.
DOWNTOWN SEWER
Council also reviewed a sewer arrangement serving several downtown properties. A decades-old agreement appears to assign responsibility for a shared line and grease-separation system to a bank, but questions remain about whether that agreement is still enforceable.
The arrangement involves the bank, a pizzeria and other nearby properties that share portions of an older sewer system.
Officials said the agreement dates to 1976, when the bank chose to retain the existing system rather than pay to connect around the front of the property.
The shared system has experienced another blockage. The bank questioned whether it remains responsible for cleaning and jetting the line, particularly because the original agreement named a predecessor bank and did not include full legal descriptions of the affected properties.
The village solicitor is researching the agreement and related records. Council members discussed bypassing the grease-separation tank and connecting the properties directly to the municipal sewer. Questions remain about which property owners would be responsible for the work and how its cost would be divided.
PARK INTEREST AND SECURITY CAMERAS
Council reviewed proposals for internet service and security cameras at village parks. Spectrum quoted monthly internet prices of $75 for 500-megabit service or $115 for one-gigabit service.
The company indicated it could extend service from the road into the park at a cost of less than $10,000, which Spectrum would cover.
A separate estimate placed the cost of installing one camera near the recycling bins at approximately $1,940. Installing three cameras and wireless equipment at a park was estimated at approximately $4,985.
Council members agreed that cameras are needed but favored waiting for more information about planned fiber-optic service before proceeding.
Officials also discussed whether the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office might assist with license-plate-reading cameras similar to those used in neighboring communities.
Two residential-grade wooden play structures were removed from Green Park to bring the village into compliance with its insurance requirements.
Officials said replacement commercial equipment could cost between $75,000 and $100,000.
Council discussed whether commercial equipment at another park could eventually be relocated to Green Park.
However, officials must first determine whether restrictions associated with an Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant would allow the equipment to be moved.
AED
The village is expected to receive an automated external defibrillator through a donation. Officials initially plan to place the AED at the village office. Additional units could eventually be obtained for parks or other public areas.
TIMEKEEPING
Council held an extended discussion about adopting electronic timekeeping software for the village’s two full-time and three part-time employees.
Supporters said the system could improve the accuracy of time records, allocate employee hours among village funds and simplify payroll.
The proposed software would allow employees to clock in through a computer or phone and add notes showing the work performed.
Officials also discussed offering direct deposit to employees and making electronic payments to vendors.
The bank would charge the village approximately $25 per month for those services. Electronic payments were described as more secure, particularly in light of a previous problem involving a village check for approximately $40,000.
Some council members questioned whether electronic timekeeping was a necessary expense for five employees.
They also worried that requiring longtime employees to use a time clock could create the impression that council no longer trusts them.
Council discussed how the system would account for weekend work, after-hours calls, travel for village business and the village administrator’s work outside normal office hours.
The possibility of making the administrator a salaried employee was also raised. No final decision was recorded.
OTHER BUSINESS
The village’s new handheld water-meter reader has arrived and is working. Officials are addressing a sound-setting issue that affects the audible notification as meters are read.
The new roof on the lagoon building was completed July 17. Village records are also being assembled for an upcoming audit, with auditors expected to collect the first group of documents.
Council is awaiting structural approval connected with the water-tower project. Work had tentatively been expected to begin Aug. 24, but officials said it could be delayed if the structural plans are not approved promptly.
The village received ballot language for two levy renewals scheduled for the November election.
Council also discussed storm-drain and sewer jetting services. Swanton quoted a rate of $300 per hour, while another provider quoted $225 per hour.
The village prefers to use county equipment when it is available, but the county’s jetting equipment was reported to be out of service.
The July sheriff’s report listed 38 patrol hours, 13 complaints and one speeding citation.
Council approved the July meeting minutes and financial reports. With nothing further, the meeting was adjourned at 8:53 p.m. The next regular council meeting will be held on September 14 at 7 p.m.