(PHOTO BY INDIA KENNER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
EXPLAINING THE SERVICE … Amy Roth from Frontier Communications presents a slideshow about fiber optic service.
By India Kenner
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
india@thevillagereporter.com
The Montpelier Village Council met on Monday, January 13th at 6 pm at the Montpelier Police Department conference room. The meeting was promptly called to order at 6 pm after the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer and roll call.
Mayor Steve Yagelski, Council President Kevin Motter, council members Don Schlosser, Nathan Thompson, Chris Kannel, Melissa Ewers, and Heather Freese were in attendance.
Village Manager Jason Rockey, Director of Finance Nikki Uribes, Clerk of Council Molly Collert, Deputy Manager Justin Houk, Law Director Robert Bohmer, Ashley Epling from WEDCO, Amy Roth from Frontier Communications, and a few community members were also in attendance.
First up the agenda for the meeting was approved along with the minutes from the December 16th meeting and the financial reports —no comments from the audience.
For comments from the council/committee, Mayor Yagelski informed the council that the village is not responsible for trash bins and recycling bins hit by snowplows.
Next on the agenda was to appoint the 2025 Council president. Mayor Yagelski appointed Heather Freese. Council approved this motion.
Amy Roth from Frontier Communications visited the council to discuss the Fiber to Homes project. She presented a slideshow showcasing the benefits of fiber optic internet and the speeds and installation.
A construction meeting for the project is scheduled for January 14th. Roth explained that the project had just been completed in Hicksville, with about four different crews, and that the company services 256 exchanges or villages.
Ashley Epling from WEDCO approached the council to ask for approval on the Enterprise Zone agreement with Creative Liquid Coatings or Ordinance 2277.
This is an expansion of Creative Liquid Coating that plans to bring at least fifty new jobs to the area. The council suspended and passed the agreement.
Council member Ewers had a few questions regarding the social media policy in the handbook to ensure all protocols were being followed.
Rockey and Law Director Bohmer explained everything was following the guidelines.
The Jefferson Township 2025 Fire Contract motion was passed along with Resolution 1413 American 250, and Resolution 1414 amended appropriations which Uribes explained were mostly purchase orders that carried over from 2024.
Resolution 1415, a compensation plan structure for hourly and salaried employees up to 2.4 percent, the same as minimum wage increase, was passed.
Resolution 1416, ODNR Grant Agreement and Resolution 1417, establishing a new fund for Wabash Cannonball Trail were passed by the council. For the income tax report, Uribes commented that the collections were up by 2.4 percent.
For the village manager’s report, Rockey commented on the Tap grant from OHM and the safe routes to school project.
He also mentioned that postings will be going up for three job openings, one in the street department, one in the water department, and one for electrical lineman.
The Montpelier Village Council meeting adjourned at 7:10 pm. The next meeting will be on Monday, January 27th at 6 pm.