By: Tim Kays
Returning from an executive session on the evening of December 28 to discuss the acquisition of property, members of the Montpelier Village Council suspended the rules of reading and with a 5-1 vote, adopted an agreement with the Black Swamp Conservancy for the acquisition of 122 acres of land.
Councilor Chris Kannel read from a prepared statement as to the proposed action being undertaken, saying,
“Montpelier’s Village Council has spent the past few years improving our community’s infrastructure through strategic investment, grant funding and the fostering of partnerships with local and regional stakeholders.”
“Tonight, Village Council authorizes the Village Manager to enter into an assignment & assumption agreement with Black Swamp Conservancy, an Ohio 501(c)(3) charitable organization. This agreement will allow:
1. Black Swamp Conservancy to submit a grant for funding to purchase approximately 122 acres between the western boundary of the Village and the east bank of the St. Joseph River.
2. Eventually, if and when funding is allocated and the property acquired, the Village will accept the property.
The future addition of 122 acres of existing trails, potential recreation areas and expansive wildlife habit would more than double the potential park area current held by the Village. This future acquisition holds enormous potential for regional economic development, enhanced river management and flood control and expanded access to natural settings for residents of Montpelier and surrounding townships and communities.”
“I am personally very excited about the potential for this property and the growing working relationship with Black Swamp Conservancy. I look forward to the opportunity for our community to interact with this beautiful property and work with our community and regional stakeholders to add this property to Montpelier’s growing number of recreation destinations.”
Headquartered in Pemberville, Ohio, the Black Swamp Conservancy is a land trust dedicated to protecting agricultural land and natural areas through land conservation agreements for the purpose of preserving the rural heritage, unique natural habitats, lakes and streams of northwest Ohio. Since its founding in 1993, the Conservancy has grown to currently protect over 140 properties spanning more than 18,000 acres.
In regular session, Council heard a concern from Mr. Bob Dilworth referencing the wearing of masks by officers of the Montpelier Police Department.
“Do you have a mandate or protocol for your police officers as far as wearing a mask,” Dilworth asked. Council President Dan Willis replied, “When they came out with the rules for the mask, I don’t think police officers, while they’re on duty, are supposed to wear any, but I don’t know about the off duty. Am I wrong on that?” “No,” replied Village Manager Jason Rockey.
“That was my understanding as well. As long as any as a public safety official is acting within that duty, there’s language pertaining to that. Last I knew, unless that’s changed, that was the case that on duty police and fire personnel did not have to wear masks. That’s the way it was last I knew.”
“So even going into a residence, if they are there, they don’t have to wear a mask? That’s the way I’m understanding that,” Dilworth asked. “Yes,” Rockey replied. “I believe that would be the case that they are under no obligation at any time while they’re on duty to wear a mask.”
“But they’re also expected to enforce the mandate,” Dilworth countered. “If a business calls him – somebody won’t put a mask on – they’re expected to enforce that, correct?” “I’m not 100% sure on that,” Rockey replied.
Dilworth continued, “The reason I’m asking this is, I had a situation last week where a friend had fallen. We had to call EMS. EMS wasn’t able to get her up and onto a gurney because of the house. The fire department was called; all the firemen had masks on.”
“I had a mask on; EMS had a mask on. Even the person who had fallen requested I go get her mask out of her car before anybody got there. Your patrolman comes in not wearing a mask. Now I know the Sheriff’s Department wears masks, because a deputy was there also. I asked, and he said they have to wear a mask. I’m not understanding why we would not be wearing it. I can understand not wearing a mask in a car.”
“I can understand not wearing a mask if you pull somebody over, and you’re talking to him outside. I don’t understand why, in a pandemic with people dying, the officers would be wandering around in a house without a mask on.”
“I mean, they’re supposed to be setting an example for the community; is that that not correct?” “I understand what you’re saying,” Rockey answered, “…but there’s no mandate. There’s nothing that requires them to do that.”
Rockey went on to say that he would ask Police Chief Dan McGee his feelings on the subject and report back to Dilworth. “If they don’t have to wear one, fine,” Dilworth said. “But if they’re going into a residence, they should have a mask on. They shouldn’t be wandering around with no mask on when everybody else has to wear one, and we’re in a pandemic.”
“I work in a hospital, so I’ve seen it first firsthand. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no excuse not to have one, especially if you’re going into someone’s home.”
Councilor Kannel reported on the final tally for the Mission Montpelier service projects for 2020. Combined monetary donations totaling $5,000 were received from the Montpelier Rotary, Civic League and the Montpelier Ministerial Association for the three-phase project.
“We just wanted to be transparent about where those funds that came from the community, what they were used for, and how much was spent. So in that accounting, the total over the course of the three official events was 155 unique volunteers, and 604 total hours donated in our community, in the neighborhood cleanup, in downtown cleanup, and in the clearing and maintenance of the Iron Horse River Trail.”
“Our total spent so far is $3,347. A fair amount of it was spent on food, all purchased locally in Montpelier for our volunteers. A significant part of that was spent on building two bridges that actually made the trail accessible.”
“And so we, the team that put together Mission Montpelier, really appreciates the support of our community, the large number of volunteers, the enormous number of hours that were spent.”
“This doesn’t include some of the prep work that was done by some of our volunteers, and some of the other hours that were put in on a couple Saturdays here and there. It really was an awesome effort put on by our community, and we really appreciate the help.”
Councilor Kevin Motter reported on a conversation he had with Mrs. Vicki Briner Lansen referencing the disposition of COVID funds received by the village, and Councilor Nathan Thompson inquired about a public hearing referencing a vacation or a lot split that he had heard about.
“There’s been a couple of things going on,” Mr. Rockey answered. “One was a vacation between Delaware and Linden…also a lot split. And there’s also one there would be a public hearing on…on January 11 for Planning and Zoning to approve setbacks for the property on Lawrence Street which was burnt, for them to rebuild their house.”
“None of those old houses were constructed with the setbacks that we have now, so it takes action from Planning and Zoning and then from Council to allow for…a house to be rebuilt there.”
In other actions, Council approved a request from Chief McGee to remove Montpelier Police Officer Austin Batt from his six-month probationary status. “I’ve had some contact with Officer Batt,” Mr. Rockey said. “He’s doing an outstanding job. Chief McGee speaks highly of him.”
Council moved to approve the 2021 Superior Township Fire Contract in the amount of $37,666.33, and the 2021 Bridgewater Township Fire Contract in the amount of $8,118.00.
“Yesterday,” Mr. Rockey reported, “…Chief Dan McGee left for military deployment for a term of possibly up to 90 days. He’s not able to disclose a lot about his job duties and things like that, but he did a very thorough job in making sure that the department knows who’s responsibilities are what and who’s in charge of certain areas of the department.”
“He sent me and all of the officers…a ‘continuity of services’ document that explains those things very clearly. He will still be in touch with what’s going on with the department and with the village. He just won’t physically be in the office for a little while.”
Continuing his report to Council, Rockey said, “Mr. Willis and I had been talking for some time about closing off the end of East Lawrence Street down at the dead end. East Lawrence Street, after the 700 block, dead ends into property owned by Winzeler Stamping. They have requested that that end be closed off.”
“There’s things going on down there that they’re not crazy about…after hours, and just wanted to make sure there weren’t any objections from Council on making that happen. You may have seen where we put up gates at the end of Gravel Street. It looks really good. Those gates were fabricated by the village, painted up, poles were set…we did all that work ourselves in order to try to keep the cost down.’
“In the case of East Lawrence Street, Winzeler Stamping would handle the cost of manufacturing the gates or of fabricating the gates, on the same design that we use over on Gravel Street, so the cost to the village will be very minimal.”
“They’ve agreed to lock those gates, but allow village crews, especially for snowplowing purposes…we would have a key to the gate and be able to open them up to push snow off the end of the road and be able to access a utility easement.”
Tim can be reached at tim@thevillagereporter.com
