(PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
SCHOOL SHOOTER TRAINING … Swanton Police Chief John Trejo speaks to the Swanton Village Council about recent active shooter training he attended along with the fire department.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
A parking lot project on South Main Street is moving forward after a split vote by the Swanton Village Council at their meeting Monday evening.
Several business owners approached the council at a previous meeting requesting a paved parking lot be added in the grassy area south of the railroad tracks next door to Swan Creek Vision.
After receiving a quote from Ebony Construction – the contractor currently undertaking the Hallett Avenue project – the project was brought to council for a vote.
“Do we have the money to do this, yes. I personally would like to see where the bidding for Munson and Crestwood falls because those are the two most likely to end up being bid before paving season starts and we can see how much that’s going to cost, where it’s going to fall, how rapidly the streets fund is going to get eaten up,” Fiscal Officer Holden Benfield said. “I believe it will be more efficient to get it done next year”
However, not all the council members were in agreement that the project was worthwhile at this point.
“I understand the issues with the business up there, we just have a lot of other things that people continue to call me about, talk to me about,” Councilwoman Dianne Westhoven said.
According to Westhoven, the more pressing issues her constituents reached out to her about were handicap accessibility, alleys being in bad shape, and potholes.
“I just think right now this just isn’t – it’s important, but I don’t think it’s an emergency,” she said.
Councilman John Schmidt said he was of the opposite opinion.
“I think it needs to be done, and it needs to be done fairly quickly, simply because of the patients going to the eye clinic and the veterans going to the VFW, it’s an aging population, and I am concerned for the safety of all of those individuals, particularly in a grassy field where they now park,” Schmidt said.
Councilman Patrick Messenger agreed, saying the village was not going to be able to plow a grassy field efficiently if it ended up being a snowy winter.
In the end, the council voted four to one to move forward, with Westhoven voting against. Councilman Derek Kania was absent.
The timing of the work was left up to Village Administrator Shannon Shulters to determine through conversations with the construction company regarding the availability of workers and materials.
The amount of the bid was not specified other than being greater than the $75,000 threshold for which a council vote was needed.
WASTEWATER RATE INCREASE
The council voted to approve on first reading an ordinance increasing the wastewater rate 10 percent in 2025, 2026, and 2027, 8 percent in 2028, and 5 percent in 2029. By the end of the increases, the total increase for users only paying the base fee (for 0-2,000 gallons) will be around $15, according to Benfield.
Two more readings and votes will be held in order to give the measure final passage.
FIRE/POLICE TRAINING
Fire Chief Cuyler Kepling and Police Chief John Trejo reported on a recent training they both attended – Trejo along with the Fulton County Special Response Team – based on a school shooter scenario. The fire department trained in tactical emergency casualty care (TECC) and the police department on law enforcement response.
“They provided 18 or 20 students that were actors who played victims in the school, so as we’re searching the school and looking for this active shooter, they were actually grabbing us and playing the role. They had music blaring, it was pretty stressful,” Trejo said.
“So, as we entered the school, it was the closest thing you can get to without it actually happening.”
According to Kepling, the fire department completed just under 600 hours of training over the last three years, but this year have completed 1,172 hours including 120 hours at the school training.
“We’ve been taking training as a big priority this year,” Kepling said. said.
POLICE PENSION FUND
Toeppe reported the state legislature is looking to increase police pensions “substantially” in order to bring it up to parity with fire pensions.
Currently, mandatory municipality contributions to fire department pensions come in at the equivalent of 24 percent of their pay, while for law enforcement that number is only 19.5 percent.
The proposal is to bring police pensions up to 24 percent as well, which would cost the village roughly $32,000 according to Benfield.
“It’s not a major concern of mine,” Benfield said. “There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it. If it passes, we have to do it, it’s a requirement.”
He said he has already slated the expected cost increase into the temporary 2025 budget.
Both fire and police personnel contribute 12.25 percent of their own wages to their pensions.
Toeppe called the increase “yet another unfunded mandate that comes from the state legislature.”
OTHER BUSINESS
Village Administrator Shannon Shulters reported South Main Street is set to be repaved next week, at which point Airport Highway will also be resurfaced to smooth the road. She also reported the current phase of Hallett Avenue will be completed next week and it will be fully reopened until March, when the next phase will begin, with expected final completion in May.
The council voted to accept the resignation of Planning Commission member Robin Howard and to appoint Swanton High School teacher Joe Nye to complete his remaining term, set to expire on Dec. 31, 2025.
Trejo reported the police department is getting a quote for an impound lot to be located on the property in front of the Water Resource Recovery Facility, where vehicles could be stored and daily storage fees charged to the vehicles’ owners.
Trejo reported the police department is joining the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and Wauseon Police Department in using a new reporting system being offered free through the state.
The council authorized the submission of a proposal to Swanton Township regarding emergency services. The proposal does not constitute an agreement and is in response to a request for a proposal from the township administration.
The council authorized Kepling to enter into an automatic aid agreement with the Richfield Township Fire Department. The council approved the sale of surplus village property.
Kepling reported there were 117 calls for service in October – about 50 more than in October of 2023 – including 98 EMS calls and 19 fire incidents. Overall there have been nearly 1,200 calls this year, 12 percent higher than last year and 21% over the 10-year average.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Village Council will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 25 at 219 Chestnut Street.