(PHOTO BY LEAH SINGER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
FINAL READING … Members of the Stryker Village Council gather and prepare for the meeting that inclued the third reading of an amendment to the sidewalk ordinace.
By: Leigha Singer
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Stryker Village Council held their monthly meeting on Monday, September 16th, 2024 at 6:00 pm at the village hall.
Mayor Joey Beck began the meeting by introducing Patsy Mealer to lead in prayer. Following prayer was the Pledge of Allegiance led by Jim Mealer, army veteran, followed by roll call.
Council members Dusty Potter, Sean Ingram, Stanley Whitlock, Nick Wlasiuk, Dave Benner & Vicki Cameron, president, were all in attendance.
Also in attendance were village administrator Alan Riegsecker, Fiscal Officer Beth Rediger, Chief of Police Steven Mendez, and Attorney Kevin Whitlock from Barber, Kaper, Stamm, McWatters & Whitlock Law Firm.
Mayor Joey Beck’s first order on the agenda was to ask for a motion to pass the minutes from last month’s meeting. All members voted yes, with Ingram abstaining.
Mayor Beck then asked for a motion to pass the finance packet dated September 13, 2024. Before making the motion, Mayor Beck asked Rediger had anything to add, and she said that the expenses were a little over $84,000 and the revenue was just over $103,000.
The mayor then asked if there were any questions for the fiscal officer, and since there weren’t, he asked for roll call. All members in attendance voted yes.
The next item Mayor Beck addressed was the Records Committee, stating that the council was given the minutes tonight, and the brief overview of that is that there are some records that are up for disposal that did get approved by the committee and Rediger is scheduling with a company to come in on October 24 to come in and destroy three bins of records appropriately.
Mayor Beck then asked Rediger to explain the upcoming communications training. Rediger explained that everyone on council is required to do the training, which is an 8-minute video from the state auditor’s website.
The certificate of completion can be printed after the training course is completed. Everyone on the council has until September 30 to turn in the certificate to her.
The next order of business was the announcement of Trick-or-Treat times within the village, which will be Saturday, October 26 from 5:30-7 pm. Dusty Potter spoke about other festivities occurring the same day. Mr. Potter said that there would be a Fall Festival held at the Springfield Township Park before Trick-or-Treat, with a tentative run time from 2-5 pm. Mayor Beck then stated that they will be handing out candy at the village hall during Trick-or-Treat, jokingly adding that a requirement to attend is to supply the best tasting candy, because they’ll sample the candy as well. Mayor Beck told the village council members that they are all welcome to come up to pass out candy.
Mayor Beck then stated that the village council had been invited to attend (as a group) the Bryan Area Christian Prayer Breakfast on September 24.
The next order on the agenda was to look for a motion to pass the third and final reading to amend ordinance #2007-13R (sidewalk ordinance). Section 905.01 MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING SIDEWALKS currently states: All maintenance of existing sidewalks shall be under the control of the Village of Stryker. No additional expense shall be incurred by the resident of Stryker other than the two dollar ($2.00) monthly charge posed with Stryker’s utility bill for pedestrian safety. Districts have been established by Council (i.e., high traffic, moderate, and low pedestrian traffic).
And Whereas, section 905.01 MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING SIDEWALKS shall be amended to the following: All maintenance of existing sidewalks shall be under the control of the Village of Stryker. No additional expense shall be incurred by the resident of Stryker other than the two dollar ($2.00) monthly charge posed with Stryker’s utility bill for pedestrian safety, unless the sidewalk is being replaced due to damage caused beyond normal use caused by the property owner, his/her agent, or his/her tenant. When the damage is caused by the property owner, his/her agent, or his/her tenant, the cost shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner. Districts have been established by council) i.e., high traffic, moderate and low pedestrian traffic).
The ordinance shall take effect at the earliest time permitted by law. The first reading was July 15; the second was August 19 with the third and final reading being September 16, all of 2024. All members voted yes to pass the amendment to this ordinance.
Following the amended sidewalk ordinance motion, was a motion to pass and ordinance to amend section 925.01(b) of the Codified Ordinance of the Village of Stryker. All in attendance gave a yes vote.
Information given pertaining to this order states: BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Village of Stryker, of three-fourths (3/4) or more members voting in the affirmative, to amend Section 925.01 (b) of the Codified Ordinance of the Village of Stryker as follows: (b) Minimum Charge each used shall pay a minimum charge based on the size of meter installed for him/her in accordance with the following schedule: 5/8-inch x 3/4-inch meter $17.00 per month, 1-inch meter $20.57 per month, 1 1/2- inch meter $37.74 per month, 2-inch meter $63.67 per month, and a 3-inch meter & larger is $167.71 per month.
If any of the above meters provide water to more than one mobile home, apartment or commercial establishment, the minimum monthly charge shall be equal to the number of individual units times the above rate for a 5/8-inch x 3/40inch meter or the monthly rate for the site of meter installed, whichever is greater.
The ordinance shall take effect at the earliest time permitted by law, which will be January 1, 2025. The first reading was August 19; the second was September 16 with the third and final reading being October 21, all of 2024.
The next order of business was the discussion of the Village of Stryker Ordinance #2024-09, and ordinance to amend section 921.07(j) of the Codified Ordinance of the Village of Stryker. Information given on this ordinance states: BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Village of Stryker, of three-fourths (3/4) or more members voting in the affirmative, to amend Section 921.01 (j) of the Codified Ordinance of the Village of Stryker as follows: (j) Monthly Base Charges.
Within the corporation limits of the Village, there is hereby levied and charged upon each mobile home, apartment, commercial establishment, industry, or lot, parcel of land or premises on which there is situated a building, structure or other facility, which is either directly or indirectly connected to a sewer having its ultimate outlet at the Stryker WWTP, a monthly base charge which shall be $19.00 per month. All in attendance voted yes.
The first reading was August 19; the second was September 16 with the third and final being on October 21, all of 2024. The amended ordinance will become effective on January 1, 2025.
Mayor Beck wrapped up that part of the meeting, announcing it was time to move on to the village officials. Chief Steven Mendez was first to speak, noting that many have seen the speed radar sign around town.
Chief Mendez noted that the Stryker Police Department was given use of this sign by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. They selected various locations in the village to monitor and regulate vehicle speeds, ensuring the safety of the community, which is crucial now that Stryker Local Schools is back in session.
Chief Mendez went on to note that it is not just a duty but also a shared responsibility to play a crucial role in keeping the kids safe. He cited a reminder that all drivers must stop for stopped buses flashing red lights, and speed limits around the school are 20 MPH during school hours.
Drivers must stop for pedestrians who are in the crosswalk, and people must keep their cell phones out of their hands while driving.
Chief Mendez also stated that he wishes he had more cooperation from the school concerning this matter; he believes there should be some cones up reminding people they need to stop, as well as some yellow signs placed in the crosswalks.
Officer Mendez also stated that the department will send two officers at the end of the month for Crisis Intervention Training for law officers to help them respond to mental health and behavioral health crises.
CIT training provides officers with the tools and skills to recognize situations involving mental health, respond effectively to promote a positive outcome and reduce the use of force. This training will be free and hosted by the Four County ADAMhs Board.
Mayor Beck then asked if anyone had anything to ask the chief, and council member Dave Benner asked if the speed sign collects data, and Chief Mendez answered that it does have the capability.
President Vicki Cameron had a few questions for Chief Mendez about parking issues and elections signs as well, but Chief Mendez stated that unless a formal complaint was made regarding the situation, that he will not enforce the issue because it is “going to rattle the doors on every citizen here.”
Concerning the election signs, Mendez said that he could call the election board (concerning the rules and regulations) but that’s something he won’t enforce.
Sean Ingram then asked Mendez, stating he knows it’s not their responsibility, but was curious if there had been a resolution to the vandalism that took place in the bathrooms at the Springfield Township Park bathrooms during Homecoming.
Mendez state they found out who did it and reached out to the Springfield Township Park Board committee and left a message and they got back with him, but he was off duty that day, so he still needs to get in contact with someone from the board, but they haven’t been easy to contact.
He will go off of their recommendation on whether or not to press charges on those involved. At that time, there were no more questions for the chief.
Mayor Beck then asked Alan Riegsecker to speak about the village’s upcoming project. Mr. Riegsecker stated that they did apply for OPWC Funding through the state, and it goes through the county level first, and the deadline was last Friday.
The county will decide by a points system who will move to the state level. By the end of October or the beginning of October, they’re going to try to stake their claim on their funds for a project totaling $771,000 for water tower restructuring and telemetry project at the water treatment plant.
The grant money they’re asking for is $325,000, and they would have to come up with $162,500 on a 0% loan from the Ohio EPA and their portion would be approximately $198,000 with a project completion date near the middle of 2026.
Mr. Riegsecker was asked to explain what was needed, and he said the water tower (not the school water tower but the other tower) needed painted inside and out and the telemetry needs updated because it is currently only running on half the electricity it should because the parts to replace are obsolete.
Rediger went on to state that if they do not receive the grant funding for the project, they’d decide order of importance and do the projects in stages, with telemetry being first, since it is the most important. Rediger stated that they have to the EPA that they’re working on it and making progress, and there are a lot of steps to go through the state.
Rediger also stated that there is a chunk of waterline along Defiance Street that needs attention, as well as the village hall building needing structure repair.
Riegsecker answered a few more questions, and then moved on to say that Fall hydrant flushing will begin October 7, starting on the north side of the tracks, and concluding on October 10 on the south side of the tracks. They ask that residents not wash clothes on these days due to a red tint in the water.
Riegsecker went on to state that the leaf pickup program will start the first or second week of October. They ask that the piles be at the curb, not in it, and be free of debris, trash, stone, sticks etc. The village will pick up leaves and sticks, in separated piles only. The leaves will go through a vac and be composted.
The village also offers a compost dump outside of the village hall for items such as garden waste, dead flowers, etc. These items will not be picked up on the street, only leaves and tree branches in two different piles.
Mayor Beck then went around the room and asked if anyone else had anything to add. Mr. Potter used the opportunity to remind everyone of the upcoming Fall festival, citing that it will be a good time. Mr. Wlasiuk stated that they looked at other towns’ ordinances when considering the amendments to their sidewalk ordinances.
Cameron added comments about things circulating on social media, such as the group of Stryker citizens who got together to help out another citizen, and that people were also wondering about burning fires within the village limits.
Someone on the post stated that there were no burn bans currently, but to be vigilant due to the dry conditions of the grass, and have a hose nearby, ready to use if need be.
Chief Mendez then added that the Williams County Fire Chiefs have issued an open burn ban, meaning no one in the county can have bonfires, etc., and if anyone would like to read this information for themselves, it can be obtained from the Facebook page for the City of Bryan Police Department.
Mr. Wlasiuk added that there would be a tire event September 19 from 9-5:30 pm at the Engineering office on County Road G. Cost was $1 per tire with a 10-tire limit per vehicle. They accept all small vehicle tires but not large vehicle tires from tractors, semis, etc. Tires must be removed from the rim before being recycled.
At this time, there was a motion to adjourn. The next Stryker Village Council Meeting will be held at the Stryker Village Hall on October 21, 2024, at 6:00 pm.
