The Metamora Village Council gathered for its regular session on the evening of Monday, October 6, 2025. Mayor Cathy Mossing called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance.
All members of the council were in attendance, along with Village Administrator and Zoning Inspector Jeff Pawlaczyk and Deputy Clerk Debbie Lietzke. The group quickly moved through routine business, including unanimous approval of the September 15th meeting minutes.
Two community members, Sandy and Ervin Witt, were present to share plans for an upcoming tree planting in memory of Landon Kreischer.
The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, and will take place at the entrance of the 10 Mile subdivision. The village’s Tree Commission had already given its approval for both the species of tree and the location.
Also present was Jeff Truckor, who raised concerns about several struggling trees in front of the Farmers’ Wagon.
He recommended that the village test the soil or analyze leaf samples before planting replacements. Councilman John Pupos offered to contact the local extension office or the USDA for guidance.
Ongoing property issues were also discussed, particularly regarding a neglected home on Maple Street. Fulton County Commissioner Joe Short updated the council on his efforts to contact the Rice family, who own the property but no longer live in the area.
The situation has impacted a local business, and with communication proving difficult, Commissioner Short plans to inform the family of potential options through the LandBank program.
Mayor Mossing then turned attention to village finances, noting that officials are looking into transferring funds from the current checking account into an MSB Public Funds Account, which could offer higher interest.
Before making any decisions, the village will evaluate how much money typically remains in the account to determine what could safely be moved.
Infrastructure planning also continued, with further discussion of the village’s sidewalk replacement program.
Since property owners are responsible for maintaining their own sidewalks, the village plans to send out letters explaining the policy. An informational meeting may also be held to address any public questions.
Following recommendations from a recent inspection, council voted to spend $1,200 to hire Douglas Fence to add flared ends to the guardrails on the Swanton Street Bridge. Council President Gary Loar also offered to bring in a portable welder to repair rust spots on the adjacent pedestrian bridge.
Meanwhile, officials confirmed with the Fulton County Auditor that the correct address for the village park is 202 Park Street. A new sign will be ordered to replace the one currently listing Memorial Drive.
Later in the meeting, the council approved Ordinance #2025-15, which accepts the rates set by the Fulton County Budget Commission and authorizes the necessary tax levies.
The ordinance was passed as an emergency measure following a unanimous roll call vote. Council also approved the creation of a new expense account and the transfer of $810 to cover the extended warranty on the village truck through Ford Protect. Current village bills were reviewed and approved for payment as well.
In matters of old business, the council approved two maintenance-related motions. One authorized the removal of leftover debris from the old recycling center, which will be taken to the county transfer station.
The other allowed for the purchase of a pallet of lime from Berkey Farm Center in preparation for the upcoming baseball season at the park.
Employee evaluations were scheduled for Monday, October 20, beginning at 5:45 p.m. No committee meetings will take place that evening.
Council and planning commission members also received the first draft of proposed zoning code updates. A meeting to review and discuss the draft is planned for Wednesday, October 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Office.
During new business, council addressed questions that had come up regarding the public’s use of the park.
While the village cannot restrict people from gathering in the public space, anyone wishing to use the restroom facilities must rent a shelter house to gain access.
In zoning matters, a permit application was filed on October 2 for the installation of a fence at 289 Swanton Avenue.
The village also received certified mail on October 6th from a resident requesting updates on zoning violation complaints that were originally filed in July.
Deputy Clerk Heather Lumbrezer completed her portion of the response, and Zoning Inspector Jeff Pawlaczyk was given a copy to fill out his section.
Council entered executive session at 8:15 p.m. to discuss a potential property purchase. The session concluded at 8:26 p.m. with no decisions made. The meeting officially adjourned at 8:30 p.m. following a motion by Councilwoman Karen Siefker.