By: Shar Dimick
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
At their July 6th meeting City Council approved the first reading of a resolution to transfer the four ball diamonds south of Harmon Field to Wauseon Exempted Village Schools Board of Education.
Thomas A. McWatters III, Director of Law, explained that to council that there will be a deed of the transfer of the property and in turn an easement to the city for utility and infrastructure access.
Councilor Shane Chamberlin asked McWatter’s if the 2011 agreement would change as far as the use of the property after the transfer. McWatters replied that the primary purpose of that agreement was to set forth the transfer of the property, but it also contained a side agreement in respect to the use of the ball diamonds afterwards.
Council must approve two additional readings of this legislation and then if approved the transfer will be in effect 30 days after the third reading.
In department head report highlights:
•David Wright, Regional Planning Director, stated with the recent rains that the citizens can contact the Fulton County Regional Planning office on questions about flood plains (last updated in April of 2011) in the area and flood insurance. He also in regard to the Downtown Revitalization grant that he is awaiting approval on environmental review on two of the businesses and is starting to meet with engineers in the area to get their estimate what it will cost for crosswalks and ADA compliant. Wright also said they are still waiting for approval of the library’s application for the Target Opportunity grant.
•Tom Hall, Code Administrator, reported that Sullivan’s has begun their fence project and the Upper Crust project is underway as well.
•Dennis Richardson, Director of Public Service stated that a preconstruction meeting for the the Linfoot St. project and a meeting with the citizens affected by the project will be scheduled later this month. He aslo reported that the first meeting of the Advanced Energy Improvement Corporation, the PACE program, was held and at that meeting the Code of Regulations, officers, etc., were adopted. Now the Rupp Enterprises’ project can move forward.
In other business, council approved:
•An emergency resolution on first reading to place a 2.6 mill tax levy on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled election for the construction of a new pool.
•The third and final reading of of four ordinances related to the proposed charter changes for placement on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled election and include revisions to qualifications of a council member, adding a method to remove an unqualified council member and eliminating an acting mayor’s ability to vote twice, reference to the director of finance as an elected position and lack of qualifications as a basis for removal of a public official under section 11.01.
•A scheduled public hearing on July 20 at 5:00 PM to request a zoning change at the south 26 feet of lot 100 on 835 Third ST from B2 (Highway Service District) to R3 (Single Family) in order to split the lot.
•The reallocation of $33,000 from park wages to the public works wages ($25,000) and storm sewer wages ($8000) and $28,000 from park benefits to public works benefits ($25,000) and storm sewer benefits ($3000).
•The appointment of Lisa Smith to the Charter Revision Commission for the term July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018.
•Mayor Huner’s designation of Dave Murry and Lou Thourot as essential employees pursuant to Section 147.10 – Use of City Vehicles.
Shar may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com