K-9 PROGRAM … Officer Randy Mills talks to council about starting a K-9 program. (PHOTO BY DANIEL COOLEY, STAFF).
By: Daniel Cooley
The Pioneer Village Council meeting of October 10 began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by roll call.
All six council members Ben Fiser, Bill Turner, Traci Filson, Will Cable, Trever West and Randy Cochran, were in attendance.
Council began the meeting by approving the agenda, followed by approval of the meeting minutes from the last regular council meeting held on September 12.
Council then approved of both the September financial report as well as the payment of the bills.
Next council approved the payment of the Pioneer Hometown Hardware invoice for $550.96. Police Chief Tim Livengood then gave the police report.
Livengood stated that the fall festival was a success. He then reported that a grant was submitted to the state for body cams.
Livengood said that body cams are becoming more of a necessity. Livengood said that Officer Randy Mills has successfully completed his probationary status and asked council to approve him for full-time status. Council approved the request.
Next, Livengood stated that the police department has applied for a $500 grant. That would enable Pioneer policemen to go to school.
He also reported that they have finished the first two groups of Ohio Collaborative, so the department is more than halfway through that process.
Officer Mills then stated that the police department is asking for permission from council to begin the process for starting a K-9 program.
The program could then begin sometime next year. Mills said that a good portion of the startup money is already there.
Mills stated that a K-9 is trained to look for drugs and can then alert policemen to the drugs.
Mills said that he has everything needed to train a dog, including a kennel, but does not have a K-9 type vehicle.
Mayor Edward Kidston then stated that if there are funds available outside of the general fund, he would be in favor of the K-9 program.
Council then approved the request to start the process for a K-9 program in Pioneer.
Fire Chief Denny Fackler then gave the fire department report. He stated that there were 24 calls handled this past month.
Fackler said that repairs are needed for the village’s tanker and two fire trucks. But his biggest concern is that the steering tires on both trucks need to be replaced.
After debate, Mayor Kidston recommended that the total amount for the steering tires of $4,000 be paid now from the general fund.
Because the general fund is currently quite low, Kidston recommended that the rest of the needed repairs be held off until the start of 2023.
Kidston also asked Fackler to check on ballpark figures needed for a new fire facility.
Visitor Jamie Pitts then put forth a request to start a food pantry. She has talked to council before about this subject, but the one thing the pantry lacks is getting a location. Pitts said that funding will be totally based on donations.
Kidston recommended that Pitts keep on doing what they are doing and continue to let council know how things are going.
Kidston strongly suggested that the pantry investigate getting a facility outside of the village and not within the village itself.
Kidston reported that he and two council members attended an electricity conference in Columbus. All of them learned a lot more about electricity.
Next council passed resolution 108-2022. This accepts the amounts and rates that are determined by the budget commission and can then be certified to the county auditor.
Council them moved into executive session. Upon return from executive session, council approved ordinance 10-2022. This authorizes Pioneer’s participation in the Ohio Treasurer of State’s Ohio market access program.
Next council approved resolution 109-2022, designating certain funds within the capital projects fund, involving capital improvements to the village electric system.
That was followed by council approving resolution 110-2022. This authorizes the village administrator to enter into an agreement regarding the electric service agreement between the village, AquaBounty Farms and AquaBounty technologies.
Council then agreed to adjourn the meeting.
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com