CHRIS WALKER December 18 2023 was officially proclaimed as Chris Walker Day in commemoration of Walkers last day serving the Village of Montpelier as law director
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
The Montpelier Village Council met on Monday, December 18, 2023 at 6 p.m. Present were Mayor Yagelski, Village Manager Jason Rockey, Director of Finance Nikki Uribes, and Clerk of Council Molly Collert joining Council President Nathan Thompson and Councilors Melissa Ewers, Heather Freese, Don Schlosser, Chris Kannel, and Kevin Motter.
After a prayer and the pledge of allegiance, council voted to approve the agenda for the meeting as presented before approving the minutes from the November 27, 2023 meeting.
Mayor Yagelski then made a proclamation making December 18 officially Chris Walker Day in honor of the now-prior Montpelier Village Law Director.
The mayor thanked him for being a “lifelong resident of Montpelier” who has “really dedicated a lot” to the village. This honor was in recognition of Walker’s service to the village for the past 20 years, as a lifeguard, police officer, and law director.
The mayor made sure to laud Walker’s involvement with complicated legal advice and council decisions before everyone thanked him for his service to the village, as well as wished him best on his next endeavor.
The financial reports from November were approved as presented before the mayor welcomed an attending father and son duo, thanking them for their presence.
A motion was then made approving a contract between the village and Rupp, Hagans & Bohmer for legal services, as was an annual motion made for the electric cash reserve policy -which ensures that there are funds available in the electric fund for use at the behest of AMP, so that their overall cash balance is better as an organization.
A motion was then made approving tax write-offs as of December 18, 2023 on taxes that are uncollectible before Resolution 1385 was passed with one amendment.
Resolution 1385 provided for a change to the employee compensation plan structure, which entailed reclassifying treatment plant operators.
Ordinance 2270, which amends the village tax code to allow for HB33 municipal tax code updates, was approved on its first reading after a suspension of the rules.
The Montpelier income tax report was approved as presented before Village Manager Jason Rockey shared that the Iron Horse River Trail project is moving along, with a meeting involving ODOT discussing designs, sewer tiles, and drainage particulars.
Drains should see the start of construction the week of January 8th, and the helical piers to combat the marsh have arrived.
It was shared that a new sergeant has been appointed to the Montpelier Police Department, with two of the three open positions now filled by Duaine Cluckey.
There was a meeting regarding the pool restoration project feasibility study, and it has been decided that it should be worked on in three phases for accessibility and financing purposes.
The Montpelier Class of 1973 was thanked for their donation of a granite bench at Main Street Park, and then Rockey asked for permission to waive the tap fees for the properties off of Lindon Street for the WCPA.
Council gave that permission, holding further discussion on wanting to reserve precedent for waiving tap fees to non-profit entities.
The Montpelier Village Council then voted to enter executive session at 6:35 p.m. with no actions made after.
