ANNUAL REPORTS … Officer Tyler Gorsuch and Montpelier Police Chief Dan McGee listened as Electrical Superintendent Kevin Mercer gave the annual report on his department at the March 14, 2022 Council meeting. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
Montpelier Village Council began the March 14, 2022 meeting as always with call to order, roll call, prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
The meeting was led by Council member Don Schlosser as neither Mayor Steve Yagelski or Council President Chris Kannel were present.
Council voted to approve: Agenda; Minutes from February 28, 2022; February 2022 Financial reports; Then and Now Certificate for Pneu-Matic Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $1312.28; Resolution 1340 Authorize the advancement of funds for WWIP Grant Fund (suspend and pass); Resolution 1341 Amended appropriations (suspend and pass)
In her Income Tax Report, Nikki Uribes reported that the village income tax collections are up 83% with $495,923.44 collected so far this year.
Village Manager Jason Rockey reported that the Police Dept. noticed some dangling glass at 215 W. Main so the village crew boarded it up for safety.
Bids were opened last week for the Brown Lane Turn project with only two bidders with both under the engineer’s estimate. They will bring the recommendation soon for approval.
Curt Roan (Project manager), Tony Hoeffel (Engineer) and Mark Smith (drafting) are working on the bid packet for CSO7 and are aiming for Fall construction. He responded to a question that Trash Drop off will be in May.
Council woman Melissa Ewers reported that she, Council member Heather Freese and Parks Director Sandy Gordon went to the Wabash Cannonball meeting on March third.
She gave a short report and informed council members that they are talking about getting uniform trail signage.
Annual Departmental Reports were given by Electrical Superintendent Kevin Mercer and Police Chief Dan McGee. Mercer began by reporting to council that his department keeps the lights on 99.7 % of the time. He stated that the biggest benefit this year was the hiring of Dakota Benner.
He is an excellent hire and is moving right into climbing school. His climbing skills are really good and he has already done his bookwork so he is going to be able to go right into his second year.”
Pole replacement has been going well. Henry Substation had all new relays added.
Council member Kevin Motter thanked Mercer for the great job that he and his department do, especially when there is a power outage. He said it bothers him when people “run them down” on social media as the crew does a great job.
Chief McGee introduced Tyler Gorsuch, an officer that joined the department in November, coming from the Stryker Police Department.
“We are very happy to have Tyler on board and look forward to many years of service with us,” he said.
McGee had a 21 page written annual report, but highlighted a couple items in the report: the great activities they were able to enjoy with the community, the training that officers did for the year, and how many awards were given out this year.
He mentioned the Appreciation Banquet and how it makes him happy to be able to hand out so many awards in the presence of family and peers.
When he mentioned that Montpelier had 58% of the cases in court in Bryan, Council member Nathan Thompson how that is perceived.
McGee said that, as the department works carefully he looks at it as “we are just doing our job.” They had a big case load and handled it well.
The department got the Standard for Vehicle Pursuits for the sixth year in a row and he is very proud of that.
Council went into executive session to consider the Appointment, Employment, Promotion or Compensation of a Public Employee.
When they came back into open session, a vote was taken to appoint Justin Houk as Deputy Village Manager. With no further business, the meeting adjourned.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com