(PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
REQUIREMENTS … Village Manager Jason Rockey discusses upcoming EPA requirements.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
In observation of Veterans Day, Montpelier Village Council met on Tuesday instead of the normally scheduled Monday.
Mayor Steve Yagelski called the meeting to order at 6pm. Roll call was taken with members Kevin Motter, Chris Kannel, Don Schlosser, and Heather Freese in attendance, Nathan Thompson arriving shortly after. Melissa Ewes was absent.
Also present were Village Manager Jason Rockey, Clerk of Courts Molly Collert, and Director of Finance Nikki Uribes. A moment of silence was taken for prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Starting with the approval of the agenda, Freese asked for an executive session to be added to the agenda, which was approved by all members.
Next both minutes from the October 28th and November 4th special meeting were approved. The financial report for October 2024 was approved swiftly with no questions from council.
With no comments from the audience, members were given the opportunity to comment. Kannel spoke first about the guest speakers at the rotary, Drew Shepard and Dakota Benner, who shared about their experience in Florida.
Mayor Yagelski added that during the PMC meeting a member from Lakeland Florida could not give enough thanks to all the workers who traveled to assist with hurricane relief.
Motter shared details of reconnecting with his lifelong friend Gunnery Sergeant Greg Gillispie who was honored with the Hometown Hero award at the school for Veteran’s Day.
The agenda moved on to the approval of a donation of 600 feet of 1¾” attack hose and three nozzles to the Brady Township Fire Department.
The motion was introduced by Freese and seconded by Kannel, but ultimately did not pass with Motter voting no.
With no new updates from Uribes, Resolution 1408 for appropriations for 2025 the second reading was passed.
Resolution 1409 to approve the Tap Grant application, which would include improvements for the Wabash Cannonball Trail, was passed.
Following was the approval of the third and final reading and passage of Ordinance 2276 vacating alley Kint and Brodner Addition.
The Income Tax report figures were presented by Uribes, highlighting an increase from 2023 but still behind the 2022 totals.
Village Manager Rockey followed with several items to cover. First, he shared figures from the AMP annual power supply update.
Highlights included the power supply portfolio, 40% of which is renewable power and the lower cost per kilowatt hour compared to larger suppliers like Toledo Edison.
He followed with a correction on the reported approval of the Ohio Department of Development demolition projects. While the projects have been approved, they are not yet guaranteed including 4 projects in Montpelier.
The state has approved a $500,000 budget per county, but the individual projects have not yet been vetted.
Rockey provided updates on the lead service line inventory, an ongoing project in compliance with the EPA. First the village had to compile a list of all lead service lines, consisting of about 1600.
Next the village will notify all affected residents via letter. Several questions arose on what this would entail such as the village being responsible for replacing residential lead containing pipes and what kind of period this would be required.
No clear date was provided but Rockey assured they would have 1-2 years to submit a plan before proceeding. Rockey did provide some background information, stating that the village had been replacing pipes since 2000.
Also, current sampling is taken and tested from 20 residences likely to contain lead service lines each year and none have exceeded the EPA limit for Lead.
February testing resulted in the water being determined to be non-corrosive which assists in not picking up lead contaminants from pipes.
The final two updates were the public posting of an opening in the Water and Sewer Distribution department and the last few construction projects on the Iron Horse trail which should be completed by the end of the week. The meeting adjourned to executive session at 6:35.