NEW AUXILIARY OFFICER Chief Livengood shared that the Pioneer Police Department will soon see one additional auxiliary officer added to their ranks at the last Pioneer Village Council meeting
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
The Pioneer Village Council met on March 11th at 7 p.m. for their regular monthly meeting, first approving the agenda as presented.
Present were Councilors Joseph Nickloy, Randy Cochran, Ben Fiser, Dean Frisbie, Trever West, and Will Cable. Alongside them were Village Administrator Anthony Burnett, Solicitor Tom Thompson, Fiscal Officer Gina Gruber, and presiding over the meeting was Mayor Ed Kidston.
The February 14, 2024 meeting minutes were then approved as presented, as was the February financial report. The bills were approved for payment, as was a HDWR invoice for $140.56.
Police Chief Tim Livengood then shared his report for the month, sharing that there is one auxiliary officer who is finishing training.
Fire Chief Swank shared that the fire department saw 20 calls answered this last month and will soon conduct some training at the schools.
Money for battery powered ventilation fans has been applied for, and the new engine chassis and engine packages have been ordered for the new fire department truck.
Evelyn Deetz then came in and proposed a plaque to be mounted in honor of PW Norris, and GR Joy, who were integral in the founding of Pioneer.
Mayor Kidston shared that there were no objections to moving forward with the project, and Deetz shared that quotes will soon be gathered and presented to the community.
Lizzy Kidston shared that summer recreation has a total of 19 teams signed up from T-ball to junior high teams, with a lot of potential for those signed up.
Game scheduling will begin later this week, with the games beginning at the end of March. Team sponsorship is still being orchestrated, with flyers being sent out to local businesses regarding sponsorship.
Burnett began his report by sharing that there have been plans to redo the sidewalk and bridge drive, as they were marked as strikes at inspection. The EPA service line inventory survey will be facilitated in the near future.
The community center rental rate was then discussed, with it being shared that there is no general commercial rate across the board locally for rentals, and asked if the council would like to change the existing rental process for the center.
The current thought is that there will be two different rates, one for nonprofit and the other for commercial endeavors.
The plan is to use these funds to maintain the senior center, and Thompson was asked to draw up the legislation addressing the issue for the next meeting.
Four bids were received for the digger truck, with Administrator Burnett sharing that the 60-foot truck will be cheaper, quicker to obtain, and ready to go for $364,462.
The vac truck has been reaching the end of its life, with a replacement being looked for in the last three years.
A purchase of intent was signed last year but fell through. A used 2012 one has become available for $74,500, with some repairs still needing to be paid for. The funds would be split up between the water, storm, and sewer departments.
The industrial park extension, which is seeking TIP funds due to the creation of jobs, will need to see an application submitted for the funding, with it being shared that the waterline, storm water line, and street aspects of the project still needing to be completed.
Burnett was given permission to proceed with the grant application and enter an engineering contract for the project pending the award of the grant funding.
The Cedar Street project will be put out for bid in April pending grant acceptance, with notices sent out to residents regarding it.
Gruber asked how those who purchase cemetery lots would go about returning them, with it being shared that the deed transfer process for cemetery lots will be further looked into.
Mayor Kidston shared that no news has yet been given on the solar grant, and that Friday saw a Coldwater, Michigan internet project that should be replicated in Edon that boasts both cheaper costs and faster speeds to the citizens.
The mayor shared that future research will be looked into the costs associated with the program. Council then entered executive session, coming out to pass four ordinances and two resolutions before adjourning, set to meet next on April 13th.
Ordinance 06-2024 amended 2024’s appropriations, and was passed unanimously, as were all but one, Ordinance 07-2024, which was passed on a 4-2 vote with West and Cable voting against the donation of right of way easements for the Nixon Subdivision.
Ordinance 08-2024 approved the purchase of the newer vacuum truck, and Ordinance 09-2024 accepted the bid for the purchase of the new Digger Derrick truck.
Resolution 104-2024 approved the county-wide Next Gen 911 system, and Resolution 105-2024 approved a petition for annexation of village property.
