VISITORS AT COUNCIL … Around twenty visitors attended the November 14, 2022 Pioneer Village Council meeting, seen here behind Fire Chief Denny Fackler as he gave his report to council. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
The November 14, 2022 Pioneer Village Council meeting was attended by around 20 guests who were not on the agenda to speak, so just sat quietly during the meeting and gathered outside in the cold when council went into executive session.
There did not seem to be a consensus amongst the group as to who, if anyone, should get on the agenda for the December meeting, except that they felt it should be someone who is a Pioneer resident.
Concerns mentioned were their continuing one about the use of too much water by AquaBounty and a new one, that they had questions about what happened at the October 10th meeting that prompted a legal notice to be put in the paper about AquaBounty. They did not appear to get any answers that night.
The concern about the legal notice, mentioned outside, which apparently was approved at the October 10th meeting, is clarified in the minutes that were approved at the November 14 meeting.
According to the October 10, 2022 minutes, Council voted to approve:
- Motion to accept an agreement with John Bentine, Attorney at Law, for utility contract with AquaBounty not to exceed $10,000 without further approval. (Bill Turner voted against, with all others being “yea”)
- Resolution 110-2022 Authorizing and directing the village administrator to enter into and execute a collateral assignment consent and agreement regarding the electric service agreement between the Village of Pioneer, AquaBounty Farms Ohio, LLC and AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (Unanimously accepted)
The November 14, 2022 council meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call (with Will Cable absent) followed by the approval of the minutes of the October 10, 2022 meeting, the financial report and the payment of bills.
Police Chief Tim Livengood was in Columbus so Lt. Jonathan Roberts stepped up for his report time.
Other than the regular numbers report, he had nothing specific to share, and no one had any questions.
For October 2022 there were twenty incident reports, sixteen traffic warnings issued, two traffic citations, three criminal charges, and two accidents.
Fire Chief Denny Fackler reported that they had “a pretty crazy month with thirty-five calls.”
They had one a day, with five calls on one day, so it was “pretty busy.” They got the new front tires for the fire truck that were approved last month.
Al Fiser, Village Administrator, shared that the medical insurance with Medical Mutual was up for renewal with a very low increase of 2.9%.
He also shared that they advertised for the farm contract for the 71 acres that the village rents out to a farmer every five years.
The highest bid that came in this year from the four bidders, was from Logan Reese out of Montpelier for $18,320. A motion was passed to approve the renewal of the medical insurance.
In her fiscal report, Elizabeth Kidston shared that she has the 2023 holiday schedule ready and it will be approved at the December meeting along with the wage schedule, if the councilors do not see any reason to modify the holiday schedule.
Council members were each given opportunity to speak and councilor Bill Turner brought up his concerns on the “condition of the curbs and grass” with the job all done.
Some discussion was held between Turner and Fiser, with Fiser stating that the punch list has been “cleaned up” and approval was given by the site inspector and Village Street Supervisor, and Turner saying that he feels it needs to be checked again.
Mayor Ed Kidston recommended that Turner meet with Field Inspector from Bell Engineering, Seth Coles, and share his observations with him.
Fiser scheduled that meeting for the coming Friday. Fiser reiterated that the village does still have $30,000 held back to make sure the seeding is all done.
Mayor Kidston announced Tree Lighting will be held at 5:30 on November 19 and Senior Dinner will be held on December 13.
He then recommended that council approve the agreement for 2023 Bish, Butler, Thompson which would keep Tom Thompson as their village attorney for the year at $140 per hour up to twenty hours per month.
He explained that this was a 7.5% increase and council voted to approve the recommendation.
Also approved was Ordinance 13-2022 authorizing and directing the village administrator to enter into a lease agreement for the lease of approximately 71 acres of land, authorizing the village administrator to perform all necessary acts to effectuate the lease of real property and declaring an emergency.
Council then moved into executive session to discuss personnel with no action taken following the return to open session.
The visitors who went back in did not address council about their water concerns. One resident, Ken Coy, asked about the terraces that Bill Turner had addressed earlier in the meeting and said that he would like to meet with Turner and Coles on Friday.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com
