Despite bitter weather conditions throughout the area, members of the Wauseon City Council convened for their regularly scheduled 5:00 meeting on Monday, January 6. Council welcomed newly elected members Richard Frey and Kathy Huner and Mayor Doug Shaw administered the Oath of Office to both as well as to Heather Kost, who won her bid to serve the city for another term during the last election. Terms for Frey, Huner, and Kost will run from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2017.
After the oaths were administered nominations were opened for Council President. Councilor Kost placed herself among the canidates and explained that she views the role of Council President as being a liaison between council and city administration. She also explained that her current position in EMA, knowledge of the administrative side, and being a member of several boards helps her to understand the balance between council and administration. Kost also noted that, with having already served two years on council, that she would be a good fit for the position of Council President.
Councilor Don Mathews nominated Councilor Shane Chamberlin to fill the role of Council President and Chamberlin responded that he feels that he is ready for the position. He noted that he has learned to accept different perspectives even when he does not agree with them and explained the appointments that he would make for the varying council committees. He also stated that he would do his best to communicate Mayor Shaw’s ideas and suggestions to council. He closed by saying that he would love the opportunity to fill the role as Council President and appreciated Councilor Mathew’s nomination.
It was moved and agreed upon that nominations be closed at that time and Councilor Huner moved, with a second by Councilor Mathews, to elect Councilor Chamberlin to fill the role of Council President. However, with three yea votes (Huner, Mathews, and Chamberlin) and three nay votes (Kost, Allen, and Frey), the vote resulted in a tie. At that time Councilor Chamberlin asked if Councilor Mathews would be interested in serving as Council President. Councilor Mathews responded that he was not interested in filling the postion.
Mayor Shaw stated that he would like council to decide amongst themselves to elect a council president but, in the event that they could not reach agreement, would break the tie at the next scheduled meeting. Councilor Chamberlin responded that he would like to remove his own name from the list of nominees and to have that voted on. Councilor Huner responded, noting that one of the most significant aspects to consider in electing a president is experience. She explained that she has seen much good that Councilor Kost has done for the city of Wauseon. However, she explained, she has not previously sat on council with Kost whereas she has with Chamberlin. She went on to say that this is why she had chosen to cast her original vote for Councilor Chamberlin and to express her belief that council had to very good candidates to consider. At that time Councilor Chamberlin went forward, moving to have his name removed from consideration. With council’s approval of that movement, Council Fred Allen moved and was seconded by Councilor Frey to elect Councilor Kost as Council President. The ensuing vote was all in favor and Councilor Kost will serve as Councilor President for the term of January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2015.
With this issue being decided on, council moved on to approve the previous meetings minutes and then to hear department head reports. Fire Chief Rick Sluder reported that the Fire Department has been very busy due to the inclement weather and that, in order to eliminate travel time, the station was manned around the clock. He also expressed his gratitude towards the Police Department and Public Works Department for their support and hard work during the storm. Police Chief Keith Torbet also expressed his gratitude towards the Public Works Department and noted that they did a phenomenal job in keeping the city’s streets open.
Director of Finance Jamie Giguere reported that she had provided council with Income Tax Revenue report for 2013 and noted that the revenue is up 3.29% from 2012. She also noted that she had not as of yet officially closed out the books for year-end but will have that task completed by the next meeting. Also provided to council by Giguere were a list of bills that had been previously approved to be paid at the end of the year.
In legislative matters Mayor Shaw read out loud by title Resolution 2014-01, which authorizes the mayor to enter into a City-County Dog Services Contract with the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County. The rules requiring three readings were suspended, declaring the resolution an emergency, the resolution was passed unanimously, and is now in effect.
Presented for second reading was Resolution 2013-38, which authorized the mayor to enter in an agreement with Arcadis for Engineering Services for the design, bidding, and construction related to the secondary digestive cover replacement at the city’s Water Reclamation Plant. The rules for three readings were once again suspended as the resolution was declared an emergency. Passing unanimously, the resolution will be in effect in 30 days.
Read and passing on third reading were Resolutions 2013-36 and 2013-37. Combined, these resolutions authorize the mayor to enter into agreements with Arcadis for engineering services for the design, bidding, and construction related to the primary settling tank and flocculation clarified equipment replacement at the city’s Water Reclamation Plant as well as for development of an Emergency Action Plan and Operations, Maintenance and Inspection Manual for the city’s underground raw water reservoirs. Both passed unanimously and will be in effect in 30 days.
New business brought before council included the acceptance of both the JAG (Justice Assistance Grant) and VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) grants. Council President Kost then moved and was seconded by Councilor Mathews to accept the nominations to various board sand commissions for the stated terms of expiration. Nominations accepted included:
Charter Revision Commission – January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2014: Heather Kost and Fred Allen.
Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council – January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2016: Sue Dieringer, Larry Fruth, Fred Allen, and Kathy Huner.
Human Rights Board – January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2016: Dave Maxon, Pat Penrod, and Gloria Marlatt.
Planning Commission – January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2017: Rick Frey.
Tree Commission – January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2016: Tom Savage and Don Mathews.
Pride Wauseon Preservation and Design Review Board – January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2016: Rick Giffin.
With no further business being brought before council, the meeting was adjourned.
