MEMORIAL RIDE DETAILS … Kevin and Kim Oxender present memorial ride progress to council at the February 13 meeting. (PHOTO BY ANNA WOZNIAK, STAFF)
By: Anna Wozniak
The Pioneer Village Council meeting began on February 14, 2023 at 7 p.m. with a call to order. A motion to approve the agenda was made by Trevor West and seconded by Randy Cochran before being unanimously approved by the council.
The minutes of the last regular meeting were moved to be approved by Cochran and seconded by Traci Filson before unanimous approval.
A motion to approve the financial report as given was moved by Filson and seconded by Cochran and then unanimously approved.
A motion to approve and pay the bills as presented was moved by Ben Fiser and seconded by Filson before being unanimously approved.
A motion was made to approve the payment of the Village of Pioneer Hometown HDWR Invoice for January was made by Filson and seconded by Cochran before its unanimous approval.
Kevin and Kim Oxender then came before council to detail their success on what is to be the 10th Annual Kaleb McLaughlin Memorial Ride.
Registration for the ride will take place July 8th, 2023 at 11 a.m. at $20 a bike. Downtown Pioneer will also see a wide variety of events.
Friday there will be a parade. Saturday there will be a Team Tiffany 5K, duck race, blood drive, a butterfly release, bicycle giveaway, bull riding, fireworks, craft centers, vendors, a silent auction, and free children’s face painting.
Sunday will feature a community worship service. For more information, please contact Kim Oxender at (419) 212 – 4563.
A movement to approve the Kaleb McLaughlin Memorial Ride firework budget was made by West, seconded by Fiser, and then unanimously approved.
Also unanimously approved was the change in venue for the Kaleb McLaughlin Memorial Ride Bull Riding event, which was moved by Fiser and seconded by Filson.
Police Chief Tim Livengood then started giving the Pioneer Police Department report by first introducing new hire Jacob Speiss, of Byran; previously employed by West Unity Police Department.
The chief expressed great excitement at the addition of Officer Speiss before discussing grants they are still in the process of applying for.
Chief Livengood then took a moment to speak about a mental health awareness event that they will be hosting at the end of March.
This event will be to promote understanding between all city employees and officials and mental health professionals. A report was also given on the current K-9 training project’s progress.
The fire department gave a report detailing equipment grants they have been applying for, and council remarked on how easy to follow the new report format was. A safety committee meeting will be held sometime in March.
Alan Fiser then began the administrator report, speaking on how the weather has not been cooperative with their prior plans for the “rip-rap” project. They would like to see this completed by August 31st.
Alan Fiser then introduced a motion to council to mark Large Trash Drop-Off for Pioneer as April 21st; 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and April 22nd; 7:30 a.m.- 12 p.m. A movement to approve the motion was moved by West and seconded by Cochran before being unanimously approved.
The police department will be auctioning a car and a few other items at auction March 3rd.
Councilor Bill Turner promised to look into the possibility of cracking cement around the manholes on Route 15.
The fiscal officer report, by Elizabeth Kidston, included a motion to approve a Records Meeting for March 6th, at 6:45, as well as move the regular meeting session to March 6th at 7 p.m.
The motion was made by Filson and seconded by Turner before being unanimously approved.
A report made by Assistant Clerk Gina Gruber highlighted the plans to initiate paperless billing via email for electricity consumers.
The email enrollment does not require the entry of a billing method, and consumers can pay in office via cash or check.
Gruber hopes to initiate an online bill-pay method through Bridge Payment. Gruber would also like to remind the public that no-cost ACH payments, dated for the 16th of every month, are still available to consumers.
Councilor West reported that the coyote problem is being handled, and the council reminds the public that discharging a firearm within corporation limits is illegal.
Mayor Ed Kidston reported that Gina Gruber was to take Al Fiser’s position representing Pioneer Village in WEDCO effective after March 31st.
A motion to declare Ordinance No. 2-2023 an emergency was made by Filson and seconded by Cochran before being unanimously approved.
Ordinance No. 2-2023, which allowed for the sale of personal property of the Village of Pioneer, was then unanimously carried in a motion made by Fiser and seconded by West.
A motion was then made by Filson and seconded by West to enter into executive session. The motion was unanimously approved by the council at 7:44 p.m.
Anna can be reached at anna@thevillagereporter.com
