Montpelier Mayor Pro Tem, Chris Kannel, called the meeting for the Montpelier Village Council to order at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 14, 2021.
Following prayer led by councilor Don Schlosser and the Pledge of Allegiance, council voted to approve the agenda for the meeting as well as the minutes of the previous meeting and the Financial reports.
Mr. Kannel introduced Mr. Harry Phillips, Director of Marketing and Member Relations for AMP, Inc. Mr. Phillips presented the Lyle B. Wright Scholarship to recipient, Lyndsi Engels. The scholarship is for a student whose household receives electricity from an AMP member community.
The candidates are selected based on preparation of an essay on public power, personal achievement during school and community activities, knowledge of public power based on a written test, and their scholastic record. This year’s scholarship, accepted by Miss Engels, is valued at $3000.
Comments made by council members included Ms. Melissa Ewers saying she would like to see the monthly department reports put on the website; and Mr. Nathan Thompson stating that a camera was placed on the west side of the Iron Horse Trail and approximately 880 people have used the trail over the past 64 days.
Council voted to approve a Then and Now Certificate for Fry Brothers, LLC in the amount of $20,475. Fry Brothers removed lime at the Water Treatment Plant and a purchase order was not put out prior to receiving the invoice.
Village Manager Jason Rockey presented the depository agreement for Premier Bank. Mrs. Nikki Uribes, Village Director of Finance informed council that she had met with the Finance Committee after the Proposals were received and it was their recommendation to continue banking services with Premier Bank, which was formerly First Federal Bank. Council voted to accept the depository agreement with Premier Bank.
Rockey presented Resolution 1317, “A resolution providing for the establishment of a new fund consistent with the requirement off ORC 5705.09F and declaring an emergency.
He requested that council suspend the rules and pass this resolution which will crate a fund for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund.
The village is expected to receive approximately $770,000 divided into two disbursements. They currently do not have the guidelines on how the funds can be used. Council did suspend the rules and approve the resolution.
Resolution 1318 was also present by Rockey, “A resolution approving a transfer from the general fund for current expenses of the village of Montpelier , State of Ohio, for the Year ending December 31, 2021.
Rockey requested that council suspend and pass this one also, as it is a housekeeping item in which $25,000 may be transferred from the general fund to pay the Police Pension. This is the first transfer this year.
The third and last resolution for this meeting was Resolution 1319, “A resolution authorizing the Village Manager to enter into an agreement with Spectrum Engineering for maintenance and upgrades to the relays at the Henry Street Substation for the Electric system of the village of Montpelier.”
Suspension of the rules and passage of this resolution were also approved by Council as this is for preventative maintenance and installation of relay upgrades.
In his report, Mr. Rockey commented on the following: that face to face meetings have resumed with AMP and that the electric load has rebounded enough for the solar field to not kick out when JV2 runs.
Ms. Ewers inquired about the tighter EPA restrictions and requirements at the Rate Water Treatment Plant from May 1- October 31. Rockey informed council that ultraviolet bulbs need to be used during the EPA summer.
Council went into Executive Session to discuss the Sale and Acquisition of property, with no action taken.
Ms. Jessica Apple, Clerk of Council, reported that income tax collections at the end of May 2021 was in the amount of $1,063,123.86 as compared to $655,666.79 in 2020 and $897,962.15 in 2019. This is up 62.14% from 2020 and 18.39% from 2019.
With no further business, council adjourned.