MANAGER REPORT … Montpelier Village Council listens to Jason Rockey’s village manager report. (PHOTO BY ANNA WOZNIAK, STAFF)
By: Anna Wozniak
Montpelier Village Council met on Monday March 27, 2023 at 6 p.m. Present were Council President Nathan Thompson, members Heather Freese, Don Schlosser, Melissa Ewers, and Chris Kannel.
Also present were Montpelier Law Director Chris Walker, Mayor Steve Yagelski, Clerk of Council Molly Collert, and Village Manager Jason Rockey.
After a prayer and pledge of allegiance, council approved the agenda for the meeting with the amendment of an added executive session. Then the minutes for the March 13, 2023 meeting were approved before Council heard committee reports.
Village Manager Rockey has been hard at work applying for grant funding, and the Village is well underway with Spring preparations relating to tree cleanup and floral formulations.
Council President Nathan Thompson then made a motion to approve Resolution 1370, which authorized the Village to open up bidding on paving projects for milling, base repair, drainage, asphalt overlay, and berm work on village streets. The motion was carried unanimously after being seconded by Don Schlosser.
Council then carried Resolution 1371, which approved the village’s order of road salt in a contract with ODOT.
Ordinance 2266 was left at its first reading and will raise village water rates to compensate for increases in operating costs. Costs were last raised in 2020.
Ordinance 2268 was motioned to be approved by Heather Freese and seconded by Thompson. This ordinance conveyed property involved in the recent demolition occurring in Montpelier to the Williams County Land Reutilization Corporation “Land Bank.”
Ordinance 2269 allowed for the Village of Montpelier to partner with the AMP Renewable Energy Credits sale program.
The village lacks the personnel and knowledge in how to convert their RECs (renewable energy credits) into resources.
Partnering with AMP (American Municipal Power) to sell these RECs will allow the village to benefit from their solar fields.
Ordinance 2269 was motioned for approval by Chris Kannel and seconded by Thompson.
Jason Rockey then gave the village manager’s report, which consisted of conversation around the intricacies around engineers and ODOT requirements.
A $220,200 Ohio Public Works Commission grant was recently awarded to Montpelier, providing nearly a third of the projected costs of the sewage lining project.
Concerns over the new water meter “mushroom” lids were brought up, as they seem to stick up further than the previous ones. These concerns were promised to be looked into.
Council has also assured that annual department reports will be given this year, although discourse was held on the contemplation of a new method of delivery.
Council seemed oriented towards asking department supervisors to outline the goals of the future in order to estimate future needs.
Montpelier Village Council then voted to move into executive session at 6:50 p.m. wherein no action was taken.
Anna can be reached at anna@thevillagereporter.com