COUNCIL … The Swanton Village Council listens as Mayor Toeppe delivers his report. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER, STAFF)
By: Jacob Kessler, Staff
The Swanton Village Council held their meeting on Monday, November 28th. The meeting began at 7:01 p.m. with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.
Council first moved to approve the current meeting’s agenda and previous meetings minutes. Next, with no public wishing to address council, the meeting moved on to committee reports.
In regard to the Committee of the Whole, the employee benefit program was discussed as well as the option to renew the United Health Care program.
Following the committee recommendation, council moved to approve the health care program.
Moving on to public safety, a vehicle exhaust removal system was discussed. Bids have been received with costs ranging from $60,000.00 to $90,000.00.
Council will have Lt. Kepling and Chief Dziengelwski from the fire department look at the quotes in order to give a recommendation.
A grant will be obtained to pay for the exhaust system. Most of the cost will be taken care of under this grant.
The finance report was discussed next before council then moved to approve several village employee resignations, terminations and hirings.
The mayor then gave his report and stated that he has continued to have his regular meetings.
He also stated that a potential litigation matter will be discussed in executive session and that he had conducted an exit interview.
The village administrator gave her report next and stated that she had been working with the Christmas in Swanton committee.
Everything is coming together, and a schedule will be released. She also informed council that she had met with ODOT at the Wauseon garage regarding snow removal.
ODOT personnel expressed a desire to have Village of Swanton personnel out to tour the facility in order to build a closer relationship with the village.
The building’s HVAC system was then discussed. The HVAC system had been on its last leg for quite some time and ‘band aids’ were being applied to keep it running.
The unit had finally gone out and instead of fixing the 12-year-old unit which could fail again, a new unit was installed.
Employees were met with in order to speak about open enrollment coverage to get a sense of how they were feeling, and the village solicitor was met with regarding the village handbook.
Next, the administrator stated that she had a meeting with a representative from ABC regarding ways to promote the events in the village.
The Tree Commission had their final meeting of the year and discussed the trees removed throughout this past year and the possible trees to be planted next year.
Christmas in Swanton will be taking place this weekend, Saturday December 4th, at 10:30 a.m. along with a parade.
With no other business to discuss, council moved to enter into executive session at 7:17 p.m.
Following the session council moved to adjourn the meeting.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com