With the “New Village Hall” renovation finished and demolition of the “Old Village Hall” nearing completion, Edon Village Council paused to review the summer undertakings during its regular session held Monday, September 17, 2012 at Village Hall Chambers. Mayor Darlene Burkhardt called the evening meeting to order with members Roxana Nester, Duane Thiel, Dick Chapin, Chuck Bidwell, Sam Steffes, Fiscal Officer Heidi Bidwell and Solicitor Tom Thompson in attendance; not answering roll was Councilor Lamar Kline.
“Recently, I compiled all the costs for [our] new Village Hall here,” shared Mayor Burkhardt. “With the ‘extras’ we did (electrical upgrades, exit lights, night deposit box, office signs, furniture, carpet) and the $34,883.10 purchase price, the project total came to $48,406.58.”
However, as the Mayor further explained, that was not the final cost. With the $20,000 grant from FirstEnergy Solutions and an $11,509 savings on the Village’s portion of the Phase III Sidewalk Project (reallocated CDBG monies resulted in the $26,509 project being fully funded), costs were significantly reduced. “When subtracting the $31,509 [we saved], the total cost for the Village to buy this building and convert it to offices came to $16,906.58.”
Additionally that evening, Mayor Burkhardt noted separately all expenditures for the “Old Village Hall” project. “What we have for costs to date ~ demolition ($21,500), asphalt paving ($6700), siding and insulation ($16,700) ~ comes to $44,900. With the additional asphalt and prep to the existing sidewalk ($2995) and asbestos removal ($1320), the total is just under fifty thousand dollars ~ $49,215 ~ right where we wanted to be.”
Over the past weeks, residents have grown accustomed to the changing landscape downtown and are now enjoying the new look their Village has taken on. “The two Jims (Jim Brigle and Jim Kiess) really did a great job with this building,” stated the Mayor. “A lot of people have come in and [commented on the changes]. They’re pleased and we’re pleased as well. We’re very happy to be here.”
In other action, members:
• Accepted the Minutes, Financial Reports and Bills as presented.
• Heard Chief Tom Szymczak’s monthly Service Log (including 118 calls for service, 27 complaints, 15 citations, 46 warnings, 2 accidents, no alarms, 3 arrests, 17 assists and 50 follow-ups) and Vehicle Report ($1018.23 in total fuel and maintenance costs for both department vehicles). He also shared there were no major issues during Edon Days, even with the rain, truck route signs were posted by the State at the Village limits and No Trucks signs would be posted at three locations on East Indiana Street ~ South Church Street, South Main Street and North Main Street.
• Learned from Street Department Superintendent Jim Brigle crack sealing jobs on Village streets (maintenance to prevent water getting through into asphalt and causing additional crack failures) had recently been completed; would like to seal the remaining streets next year. He also noted he’s working to secure Edgerton’s assistance (as schedules permit) in cleaning Village catch basins.
• Approved the third and final reading of Ordinance 08-12 to repeal existing Section 921.04 of the Codified Ordinances ~ Direct Sales to Tank Trucks ~ and enacting Codified Ordinance Section 921.04; newly established bulk water rates would be set at ten dollars per one thousand metered gallons with a twenty-five dollar minimum charge for requests totaling less than one thousand gallons.
• Approved the purchase of fifty ton of salt from The Arms Trucking Company of East Claridon for seventy-five dollars per ton.
• Learned Solicitor Thompson had been asked to look into revisions to Ordinance 1321.05 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction (first passed in 1997 at FEMA’s request); current Federal Emergency Management Agency updates are more specific. Additional guidance and recommendations will be presented next month after further review of an ODNR sample ordinance; cost-effectiveness of a revised Ordinance (extra expenditures associated with added protections for the Village, needed for compliance) will be explored as well.
• Heard the Verizon Communications Tower would likely be in service around the middle of October.
• Was informed asphalt at the former Village Hall site would be installed within the week.
• Set Saturday, October 20 as the annual Fall Trash Pickup date.
• Announced Trick-or-Treat would be observed in the Village from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 27.
The next regular meeting of the Edon Village Council will be held Monday, October 15, 2012 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Village Chambers.