Following the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, Delta Village Council moved into the business of the March 15, 2021 meeting. Approval of the minutes for the March 1, 2021 meeting was given first.
Kyle Comers addressed the council to express his interest in the vacant council seat. He said he feels the purpose of municipal government, especially for small villages like Delta, “is to provide a very general service and public safety.”
“Actively pursuing population growth and trying to get people to come here, I just don’t see that as a requirement of a municipal government.”
He mentioned other small towns in northwest Ohio that have seemed to keep a rural feel to them. That is what he envisions and what he thought when he moved to Delta.
He said he understands the feeling for the need to increase the population but using tax abatements to draw people there seems like it might put stress on the infrastructure of the village.
He shared that when he was asked if his thoughts represent the majority of Delta, he thinks maybe not but there are others who feel the way he does. He basically said that the council does not seem to be asking, “What does the village want?”
He said he was not being petty but with a position open, it seems to him that they picked someone who thinks just like they all do and will protect their agenda, instead of someone who might vote against what they want. He stated that he feels they should be more well rounded.
Mayor Frank Wilton shared the State of the Village for March 15, 2021. An anti-discrimination statement to the community was also read:
“To all residents and business partners, Over the past few months, you have likely heard the administration of the Village has been confronted with an issue directly related to racially motivated comments being made in public.
It is also clear that the community wants and deserves to know that the elected and appointed leaders of Delta take this very seriously.
At the conclusion of an outside investigation, it was confirmed that employees of the Village were directly involved in the incident or aware and failed to address the situation. As a result, one employee was terminated, and two others disciplined for inaction.
Since then, all employees have been scheduled to participate in discrimination and harassment training, with supervisory staff participating in additional classes focused on the handling of such situations.
We commit to our residents, business partners and individuals who work or visit in Delta, that this community will not accept this type of behavior from our employees or its leaders.
We ask each of you to assist us in promoting Delta’s motto as being truly “The Community of Opportunity.” It was signed by Mayor Frank Wilton and President of Council Mike Tanner.
Council President Mike Tanner gave out committee assignments for the year. Village Administrator Brad Peebles reported: we continue to have dialogue with Senator Brown about the act the new President Biden has passed that will send more finances to the villages.
It sounds like Delta might get approximately $610,000 dollars with some restrictions on spending. Finance Director Stephanie Mossing asked for approval of the invoices, which council approved.
In old business, council voted to approve: third reading of Ordinance 21-05 Authorizing the village administrator to dispose of certain real estate not needed for any municipal purpose; Second reading of Resolution 21-03 Endorsing the joint solid waste management plan update for the solid waste district of Defiance, Fulton, Paulding and Williams Counties.
In new business, Ordinance 21-06 First Reading An ordinance to supplement ordinance 20-30 making supplemental appropriations for the current expenses of the Village of Delta for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 5, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.
