By: Bill O’Connell
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
On Monday, 3/28/16, Mayor Ann Roth called to order the meeting of the Swanton Village Council at 7:00 PM with the full compliment of council members in attendance as well as the village administrator and the village clerk. Minutes from the previous council meeting were approved followed by a report from the Public Service Committee Chairperson, Councilwoman Tamara Haselman.
Ms. Haselman reported a faulty fire hydrant in the Turtle Creek area was replaced the previous Friday without having to turn off the water. She also said that Village Admistrator Rosanna Hoelzle will be contacting Republic Services concerning the village’s upcoming Recycable Trash Days. Currently, they are scheduled every other Monday unless it happens to be a holiday in which case the pick up moves to Tuesday. April’s pick up dates are the 11th and the 25th.
At 7:05 PM the council called for an executive session and adjourned to another room to discuss personnel appointments. This was due, in part, to the unfortunate recent death of Swanton Water Plant operator Michael Forche. At 8:05 PM the council reconvened.
Am emergency ordinance, 2016-07, to appoint Brian Hildebrand to the position of Water Treatment Department Superintendent with an annual compensation of $54,000 was put forth before the council and passed unanimously. A second ordinance, 2016-08, to appoint Steve Giese to the position of Waste Water Treatment Department Superintendent with an annual compensation of $54,000 was also put forth before council members and passed unanimously as well.
In old business the council heard the second and final reading of Ordinance 2016-06, the ordinance approving the appropriation to provide for current expenses and other expenditures for the fiscal year ending 12/31/16. The ordinance passed 6-0.
Since there was nothing under new business Mayor Roth proceeded with her report. “I think it only appropriate to recognize long time village employee Mike Forche who passed away last Friday and be thankful for his service to the village,” said the Mayor. The village will be making a memorial contribution in his name to the Lucas County Metro Parks/Oak Openings Fund.
The Farmer’s Market will be held again this summer in front of the Swanton Pharmacy on the corner of Airport Highway and Hallet beginning on the first Saturday in June, 6/4/16, and every Saturday until 8/27/16. Unlike previous years the market will not extend into September due to the Airport Widening Project.
The Mayor also reported she will be attending the Fulton County Mayors Meeting on April 6th in Wauseon and the Planning Commission, after a prolonged hiatus, will be meeting on April 12th at 6:30 PM. The vacancy on the Planning Commission has yet to be filled and there is still just one application to be considered.
Councilman Paul Dzayk reported that work continues on the Community Center. “At this point in time, the restroom partitions are being installed,” he said. “Once those are in we can put the fixtures in and do some touch up painting on the walls and paint the doors. We’re hoping to get our final inspection and be ready to move in by the end of April.”
Mayor Roth recommended a professional painter be hired to finish the painting on the doors and windows and that the doors be spray painted as opposed to rolled or brushed. All council members agreed.
Administrator Hoelzle reported that of the four engineering firms considered by the committee for the Garfield Road Bridge Project, DGL Consulting Engineers of Maumee was the recommendation to council. “Their references had nothing negative to report and they all said DGL knew what they were doing and prices were coming in as they should,” she said. Ms. Hoelzle added that more funding for the project could be secured down the road. The council voted 6-0 to accept the recommendation.
An update on the Park Street Project was given and the rebidding will be on April 21st at 3:00 PM at the village offices and will be presented to the council at their April 25th meeting.
A new agreement between the Village and the Toledo Port Authority(TPA) to provide fire protection for Toledo Express Airport was discussed. It was written with essentially the same language as previous agreements with one major change, the term went from two years to month-to-month. The reason given for the change was the TPA is now in negotiations with the 180th Air National Guard(ANG) to take over fire protection in the future. “The government is freeing them (ANG Units) up now to be able to do that, said Fire Chief Howard Myers. “Since they’re right there on site it makes more sense.” The council voted unanimously to accept the agreement with the new terms.
Because of the increased number of personnel issues the Village has been dealing with recently, Ms. Hoelzle recommended the formation of a Personnel Committee that would be comprised of three individuals including herself and the Human Resources Director, Karla Sexton. The proposed standing committee would meet every second Monday at 5:30 PM. A 6-0 vote carried the motion.
In other business the council approved the job postings for a Class II Water Treatment Operator and a Class III Water Treatment Operator. Applications will be due to the Village on April 19th at 2:00 PM. In the final order of business Ms. Hoelzle reported that the Village as made a contribution of $1,000 to the Swanton Chamber of Commerce’s Fine Arts Exhibit that will be held in October of this year. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Bill O’Connell may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com