SCHEDULED TO BE REMOVED … The donation box off of Maple Street in Metamora is set to be removed after continued issues with the area becoming a dumping ground. (PHOTO BY ANNA WOZNIAK / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
The Metamora Village Council met on June 3rd, 2024 at 7 p.m. Presiding over the meeting was Mayor Cathy Mossing, and alongside her were councilors Robert Armstrong, John Pupos, Lee Ann Miller, Cindi Pawlaczyk, Gary Loar, Karen Siefker, and Village Administrator and Zoning Inspector Jeff Pawlaczyk.
After details were discussed on the concession stand freezer, the Sheriff’s report for April was approved as presented.
Spraying for thistles will be taking place early the following week, and it was asked that it be inquired into what is going on with the organic waste pile, and Administrator Pawlaczyk that they are composted twice a year at both the reservoir.
The drain over by the soon to be demolished duplex was found to be clogged after a routine street washing.
The details of a new Environmental Justice Justice40 Initiative grant that doesn’t have income requirements have been announced, with more information available after a webinar held later the following week.
Chicken dinners have been going well so far with supply issues being detailed, and all of the gardens have been completed, with over $1,300 in donated plants planted.
Compliments were given on the memorial area, and watering and mulching details were laid out before council. A personnel schedule update was given on the Chicken BBQ dinners, with seven people needed for each shift.
Ordinance 2024-12, which allowed for amended appropriations for the coinciding due dates of two loans, as well as the replenishing of the electric and insurance funds was then approved.
This ordinance was passed on its first reading after a suspension of the rules and declaration of emergency.
It was shared that a call has been made to Toledo Edison regarding veterans’ flags, with it being shared that they are possibly looking at putting veteran flags and Christmas lights on their electric poles.
It was added that this may be a slow-moving process, with specifications of light usage needing to be given to the company prior to approval.
The veteran flags would be placed from Labor Day to Memorial Day, with more requests coming in to honor more veterans with more flags.
It was then shared that pesticide licensing will face an additional renewal fee, with it being shared that all courses must be redone due to a failure to register for classes before license expiration.
Information on the park levy renewal has been submitted, with two ordinances drawn up by the village attorney and sent to the auditor.
The Fulton County Board of Elections said that the process is a year ahead, with everything needing to be updated next year and the previously approved ordinances needing to be repealed.
A letter from a 5th grade Evergreen student was read out loud, with money given back to the village for the damage caused by them attempting to climb over a fence.
Council decided to accept the donation and add it to the park fund and were glad to see proactive parenting.
A motion was then made amending the verbal agreement for painting the office, as only the back half had been completed, and then the bills were approved as presented.
The sound and projector system were tested, with it being shared that a larger screen will be needed for the July 19th movie night. The licensing fee and some concession costs for this event were donated by Gleaner’s.
The popcorn machine needs to be tested to see if it is still operational, and flier and poster materials need to be compiled.
The necessary screen sheet for the movie night was reported to be $189 for 180 feet of screen and accompanying tarp, with a motion then made approving the purchase.
Bids for painting the front village offices were discussed, with the lowest bid being accepted. The project had an estimate running at almost $9,000.
The September 13th deadline for the Ohio Public Works Grants was discussed, with it being shared that the village has hopes of submitting an estimate for the parking lot project and possible street repairs, with the original blueprints ready for the parking lot ready for evaluation.
It was shared that costs will soon need to be evaluated for a rehaul of the security system, and research has started to be done for necessary information.
Ordinance 2024-11, which replaced parts of the village’s maintenance codes, was given its first reading, and then discussion turned to vacated alleys.
It was also stated that solicitors should be consulted regarding the alleyway issue, and that the exact history of the ownership and plotting of these alleys cannot be found.
This inaccuracy is being remedied mostly to address inconveniences caused with title issues concerning resale.
Fire extinguishers for the Chicken BBQ pits, that were approved at the last meeting, were donated -with it being shared that each pit will have three extinguishers, including the newly added fifth pit.
The donation, made by Snow’s Fire Protection, was shared to be available to the village for future celebrations.
A quote for tree removal and maintenance was then discussed, with the project estimated to run $4,000. The recurring costs of putting maintenance projects out for bid was discussed, with it being shared that additional maintenance personnel would be needed to enable the team to allocate their current resources to these projects.
The topic was tabled, and then discussion turned to the F-permit received for the Party in the Park. Fencing and / or tree planting concerns in Kessler’s lot were then discussed, with it being shared that the assumed overall goal is to cover up the dumpster area.
The derelict conditions of the Maple Street donation box were then discussed, with council deciding to take an active stance on removing the box to discourage dumping.
The Boy Scouts have put up flags around town, with the village maintaining and replacing them. The flags are village property and are to be put up and taken down by the scouts.
The zoning issue on the Simon property on West Main Street behind Fisher’s office was discussed, with it being shared that the code will be used to help enforce blight standards.
As soon as Party in the Park is over, council will be taking actions to get the property cleaned up. A motion made at 8:06 p.m. adjourned the meeting, with council set to meet next on June 17th at 8 p.m.
