REGULAR MEETING

COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP

MAY 20, 2019

 

THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP COUNCIL WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:30 P.M. BY MAYOR RAY DELONG.  COUNCIL PERSONS PRESENT: KENNETH REINHART, DEAN RISTER, MIKE ROHRS, KEITH WEST, RUDIE REEB, AND JAN REEB.

 

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: SOLICITOR MELANIE FARR, ADMINISTRATOR SARA KEERAN, EMS CLERK ASHLEY MCDOUGAL, AND FISCAL OFFICER AIMEE LICHTY.  MEDIA PRESENT: PETER GREER – CRESCENT NEWS. VISITORS PRESENT: FOUR (4) HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNMENT STUDENTS, MIKE KNAPP, AND BOB ADDIS.

 

MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING HELD APRIL 15, 2019, WERE REVIEWED.

 

  • MOTION MADE BY ROHRS, SECONDED BY WEST, TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 15, 2019, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.

 

THE APRIL DISBURSEMENTS WERE REVIEWED.  DISCUSSION ON EXPENSES.

 

  • MOTION MADE BY REINHART, SECONDED BY ROHRS, TO APPROVE THE APRIL RECONCILIATION REPORT. 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS.  MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.

 

VISITORS

FOUR (4) HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNMENT STUDENTS AND MIKE KNAPP PRESENT TO OBSERVE.  BOB ADDIS ADVISED COUNCIL THAT FIRE CHIEF RAY FRIEND WILL BE RETIRING AT THE END OF JUNE WITH 33 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE VILLAGE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  HE ASKED COUNCIL IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD PRESENT FIRE CHIEF RAY FRIEND WITH HIS HELMET AT HIS RETIREMENT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE VILLAGE TO BUY A REPLACEMENT HELMET.

 

  • MOTION MADE BY WEST, SECONDED BY REINHART, TO APPROVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GIVING FIRE CHIEF RAY FRIEND HIS HELMET AND THE EXPENDITURE TO BUY A REPLACEMENT HELMET. 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS.  MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.

 

POLICE REPORT

POLICE CHIEF CLEMENS PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT SHOWING 148 CALLS FOR SERVICE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL WITH 35 OFFENSES.

 

POLICE CHIEF CLEMENS AND ADMINISTRATOR KEERAN INFORMED COUNCIL THAT THE VILLAGE IS HAVING ISSUES IN THE PARK WITH KIDS DESTROYING AND DAMAGING PARK PROPERTY AS WELL AS FIGHTING.  CAMERAS AT THE PARK ARE MONITORING ACTIVITY 24/7, AND THE CAMERAS CAN BE VIEWED ON POLICE CELL PHONES AND AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICE.  PARK RESTROOMS ARE ON AN AUTOMATIC LOCK/UNLOCK TIMER.  KEERAN WILL SCHEDULE MEETING WITH PARK BOARD TO REVIEW THE PARK RULES WITH HER AND CHIEF CLEMENS PRESENT, AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO REVISE THE PARK RULES.

 

CHIEF CLEMENS NOTIFIED COUNCIL THAT THE PRESENCE OF JUNK CARS AND TALL GRASS ON PROPERTIES IN THE VILLAGE IS AN ISSUE AGAIN.  ADMINISTRATOR KEERAN HAS ALREADY SENT LETTERS TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITH THE WORST CASES, BUT THE POLICE CHIEF AND ADMINISTRATOR WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF MORE CAN BE DONE.  SOLICITOR FARR WAS ASKED TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE OF NUISANCE PROPERTIES AND WHAT THE VILLAGE CAN LEGALLY DO ABOUT PROPERTY CLEANUP AND REMOVAL OF JUNK VEHICLES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

 

CHIEF CLEMENS INFORMED COUNCIL THAT HE HAS ADDED JESSY MAY, JARED SANCHEZ, AND ANDREW MOORE TO THE RESERVE POLICE FORCE.  CLEMENS WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HIRING OF A FULL TIME OFFICER IN REPLACEMENT OF DAMIEN ESPARZA, WHO RESIGNED TO JOIN THE PAULDING COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT.  JESSY MAY HAS BEEN WORKING A LOT OF HOURS FOR THE VILLAGE IN REPLACEMENT OF DAMIEN AS WELL AS HELPING INSTALL CAMERAS AT THE DEPOT.  JESSY MAY HAS BEEN DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.  CHIEF CLEMENS STATED THAT HE HAS MOVED TO THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP AND HIS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE ARE UP TO DATE.  THE MAYOR MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL THAT JESSY MAY BE HIRED AS A FULL TIME POLICE OFFICER EFFECTIVE JUNE 10, 2019.

 

  • MOTION MADE BY WEST, SECONDED BY JAN REEB, TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATION FROM MAYOR DELONG OF HIRING JESSY MAY AS NEW FULL TIME POLICE OFFICER EFFECTIVE JUNE 10, 2019. 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS.  MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.

 

EMS REPORT

EMS CLERK ASHLEY MCDOUGAL PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT SHOWING COLLECTIONS OF $5,995.91 FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, WITH A YEAR-TO-DATE TOTAL COLLECTED OF $22,721.56.  THERE WERE 23 EMS RUNS FOR APRIL. MCDOUGAL REPORTED THAT SHE STILL HAS OUTSTANDING RUNS FOR WHICH SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED COMPLETED REPORTS TO SUBMIT FOR PAYMENT: ONE FOR DECEMBER, FOUR FOR JANUARY, EIGHT FOR MARCH, AND SEVEN FOR APRIL.  MCDOUGAL IS UNABLE TO BILL THESE RUNS DUE TO BILLING REQUIREMENTS NOT BEING MET BY EMS COORDINATOR SHAFFER.  MCDOUGAL INFORMED COUNCIL THAT AFTER ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF SERVICE, SHE CAN NO LONGER BILL FOR SERVICE.

 

FISCAL OFFICER’S REPORT

FIRST READING OF RESOLUTION NO. 2019-06: A RESOLUTION TO PROCEED WITH SUBMISSION OF THE QUESTION OF LEVYING A TAX THAT IS A RENEWAL OF AN EXISTING LEVY IN EXCESS OF THE TEN-MILL LIMITATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CURRENT EXPENSES, INCLUDING STREET LIGHTING EXPENSES (R.C. §§ 5705.03, 5705.19(A), 5705.191, 5705.192, and 5705.25)

 

FIRST READING OF RESOLUTION NO. 2019-07: A RESOLUTION TO PROCEED WITH SUBMISSION OF THE QUESTION OF LEVYING A TAX THAT IS A RENEWAL OF AN EXISTING LEVY IN EXCESS OF THE TEN-MILL LIMITATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING FIRE APPARATUS, APPLIANCES, AND EQUIPMENT INCLUDING PUMPER/TANKER FIRE ENGINE AND FIRE GEAR FOR FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL (R.C. §§ 5705.03, 5705.19(I), 5705.191, 5705.192, and 5705.25)

 

RITA REPORT REVIEWED.  THERE WAS $45,514.64 COLLECTED IN MAY WITH AN INCREASE OVER MAY OF LAST YEAR OF $6,599.72 AND AN INCREASE YEAR-TO-DATE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR OF $19,844.69.

 

INVOICE FROM PEP REVIEWED IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,493.00.  THIS INVOICE IS FOR THE RENEWAL OF PROPERTY AND GENERAL LIABILITY COVERAGE FOR THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP FOR 2019-2020 ANNIVERSARY CONTRIBUTION, COMMENCING ON MAY 22, 2019.  THE INVOICE AMOUNT DUE HAS DECREASED FROM LAST YEAR’S INVOICE AMOUNT, WHICH WAS $29,974.00.

 

  • MOTION MADE BY REINHART, SECONDED BY ROHRS, TO AUTHORIZE FISCAL OFFICER LICHTY TO PAY PEP INVOICE FOR $29,493.00 FOR 2019-2020 CONTRIBUTION. 6 YEAS, 0 MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.

 

FISCAL OFFICER LICHTY NOTIFIED COUNCIL THE STATE AUDIT IS COMPLETE FOR YEARS 2017 AND 2018.  LICHTY ASKED COUNCIL, FINANCE COMMITTEE, ADMINISTRATOR, AND MAYOR IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH STATE AUDITORS FOR A POST AUDIT INTERVIEW ON THEIR FINDINGS.  ALL OF THOSE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED DECLINED A POST AUDIT INTERVIEW NOTING THAT THE DOCUMENTS PROVIDED BY THE AUDITORS AND FISCAL OFFICER LICHTY WERE DETAILED AND EXPLAINED THE AUDIT AND FINDINGS SUFFICIENTLY.

 

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

SANITARY SEWER PLANT AND LIFT STATION PROJECT CLOSED OUT:

THE SANITARY SEWER PLANT PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND CLOSED OUR  THE FINAL PROJECT COST IS $784,760.30.  A ZERO INTEREST 20 YEAR LOAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $424,650.40 WILL RESULT IN SEMI-ANNUAL PAYMENTS OF $10,616.26 TO OWDA.  THE PROJECT CAME IN UNDER THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE AND THE VILLAGE RECIEVED PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS (GRANT) IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000.00 FROM OWDA.  OTHER GRANT FUNDING USED ON THIS PROJECT INCLUDES $123,100.00 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS AND OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION GRANT FUNDS OF $199,999.00.

 

WATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT COMPLETED:

THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND IS IN PROCESS OF CLOSE OUT WITH FINAL PAYMENT TO THE CONTRACTOR CURRENTLY BEING PROCESSED.  THE FINAL PROJECT COST IS $230,608.00.  A ZERO INTEREST 20 YEAR LOAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $87,725.00 REPAYMENT TO OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION WILL RESULT IN SEMI-ANNUAL PAYMENTS OF $2,193.12.  A GRANT WAS RECEIVED FROM OHIO PUBLIC WORKS FOR $87,725.00.  OWDA FUNDED THE BALANCE OF THE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,158.00, WHICH IS A 30 year, 3.020% LOAN WITH *REPAYMENT TO START IN JULY, 2019.  (*LOAN PAYMENT AMOUNT TO BE DETERMINED BY OWDA).

 

PROBLEMS WITH JUVENILES AT RIVERSIDE VETERAN’S MEMORIAL PARK:

THE ANTWERP POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ADMINISTRATOR HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO STEM FIGHTING BETWEEN JUVENILES, HARASSMENT OF VISITORS TO THE PARK, AND DISRESPECTFUL USE OF PICNIC TABLES.  COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE AWARE THAT DUE TO ALL OF THE INCIDENTS OCCURRING BY CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AT THE PARK THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ADMINISTRATOR HAVE HAD TO INFORM THE PARENTS OF THESE JUVENILES THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER BE AT THE PARK WITHOUT A PARENT ACCOMPANYING THEM.  SCHOOL ISN’T OUT FOR THE SUMMER YET AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN THE PARK DEALING WITH THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS.  THE PARK BOARD WILL MEET TO REVIEW THE CURRENT PARK RULES TO DETERMINE IF THE AGE OF CHILDREN ALLOWED TO BE IN THE PARK UNACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT NEEDS TO BE RAISED.  THE CURRENT RULES WERE ESTABLISHED BY AN ORDINANCE PASSED IN 2006 AND NEED REVIEWED.  A PARK BOARD MEETING WILL BE SCHEDULED.

 

KROOS DRIVE STORM WATER PROJECT COMPLETED:

DUE TO FLODDING ISSUES THAT HAVE PLAGUED KROOS DRIVE IN THE PAST AND DUE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE HOUSING, A STORM WATER PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN BY THE VILLAGE.  CONSTRUCTION INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET OF STORM DRAIN LINE AND 6 CATCH BASINS.  AN EASEMENT WILL BE REQUIRED FROM KAREN BANKS AS THE STORM LINE NEEDED TO CROSS HER PROPERTY ON KROOS DRIVE TO GET TO THE VILLAGE’S MAIN STORM LINE ON STONE STREET.  SHE HAS AGREED TO CONVEY AN EASEMENT TO THE VILLAGE AND A SURVEY IS BEING COMPLETED.  THE PROJECT FINAL COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $27,800.00.  STORM DRAIN FEES WILL PAY FOR THIS IMPROVEMENT.

 

RIVERSIDE PARK DRAINAGE BIDS TO BE TAKEN:

STORM LINE AND CATCH BASINS AROUND THE PLAYGROUND AND MAIN PAVILION WILL BE INSTALLED WITH A CDBG GRANT FROM PAULDING COUNTY.  AS THE ESTIMATE FOR THE PROJECT IS UNDER $50,000.00, REQUESTS FOR BIDS ARE BEING MAILED TO CONTRACTORS.  THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT IS $29,411.25 WITH $25,575.00 BEING FUNDED BY A GRANT.  IN ORDER NOT TO INTERFERE WITH DAY IN THE PARK, THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL RIGHT AFTER DAY IN THE PARK.  IT ALSO WILL ALLOW MORE THAN ONE BID AS CONTRACTORS ARE BUSY AND THIS IS A RELATIVELY SMALL PROJECT.

 

ADMINISTRATOR KEERAN INFORMED COUNCIL THAT LIGHTNING HIT THE WATER TOWER LAST THURSDAY EVENING AND HAS CAUSED DAMAGE.  A CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE VILLAGE’S INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE VILLAGE HAS A $500.00 DEDUCTIBLE.  KEERAN WILL CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO SEE IF THE VILLAGE CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR WAGES PAID FOR THE OVERTIME REQUIRED TO BE WORKED BY VILLAGE EMPLOYEES AS A RESULT OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE LIGHTNING STRIKE.

 

KEERAN ALSO LET COUNCIL KNOW THAT REAL WASTE DISPOSAL HIT ONE OF THE VILLAGE’S BUILDINGS AT THE WATER PLANT.  KEERAN CONTACTED SCHWELLER ELECTRIC TO FIX THE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE ON THIS BUILDING AND REAL WASTE IS SENDING HARTZOG OVER TO GIVE AN ESTIMATE ON STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.  REAL WASTE WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL EXPENSES RESULTING FROM THIS ACCIDENT.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER ROHRS ASKED KEERAN THE STATUS OF INSTALLING A BACKFLOW PREVENTER ON METER AT WATER PLANT FOR TREATED BULK WATER SALES.  DUE TO ONGOING COSTS RELATED TO OTHER PROJECTS, KEERAN HAS NOT MOVED FORWARD ON THIS.  SINCE THE COST FOR INSTALLING THIS WOULD BE HIGH, KEERAN ASKED COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE CONTINUED SALE OF TREATED BULK WATER.  THE VILLAGE HAS CURRENTLY STOPPED SALES OF TREATED BULK WATER DUE TO PROJECT CONSTRUCTION ON SCHOOL PROPERTY AT WATER PLANT DRIVE.  DUE TO HAVING ONLY A COUPLE OF CUSTOMERS PURCHASING TREATED BULK WATER AND THE CONGESTION ON THIS ALREADY HEAVILY TRAVELED ROAD, KEERAN IS WONDERING IF THE VILLAGE SHOULD CONTINUE TO SELL TREATED BULK WATER.  COUNCIL ASKED SOLICITOR FARR TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CURRENT WATER ORDINANCE TO STOP THE SELLING OF TREATED BULK WATER AND TO HAVE THE ORDINANCE DOING SO BE AN EMERGENCY MEASURE.

 

ROHRS ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE OPERABILITY OF THE VILLAGE’S GENERATOR.  KEERAN STATED THAT SHE WOULD CHECK INTO THAT AND AT ONE TIME SHE KNEW THEY WERE STARTING IT EVERY QUARTER.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

FINANCE COMMITTEE MET APRIL 25TH WITH FIRST INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS VILLAGE EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE.  SINCE THE MEETING, FIRST INSURANCE HAS PROVIDED THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WITH OPTIONS THAT THEY REQUESTED.  FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL MEET MAY 29, 2019, AT 8:00 A.M. TO DISCUSS OPTIONS PROVIDED BY FIRST INSURANCE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL AT JUNE COUNCIL MEETING.

 

MAYOR’S REPORT

MAYOR’S COURT BROUGHT IN A TOTAL OF $1,840.00 IN THE MONTH OF APRIL WITH $1,411.00 GOING TO THE VILLAGE, $412.50 GOING TO THE STATE, AND $16.50 GOING TO THE INDIGENT DRIVER’S FUND.

 

MAYOR ANNOUNCED TO COUNCIL THAT HE WILL BE SEEKING RE-ELECTION FOR MAYOR IN THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTION.  MAYOR ALSO NOTED THAT TWO SEATS FOR COUNCIL WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

 

NEW BUSINESS

ADMINISTRATOR KEERAN WANTED TO REMIND RESIDENTS AND OTHERS OF THE RIB FEST ON JUNE 1ST.

 

  • MOTION MADE BY JAN REEB, SECONDED BY WEST, TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL, SPECIFICALLY PERFORMANCE ISSUES OF A MEMBER OF THE EMS DEPARTMENT, AND THE DISCIPLINE OF SUCH MEMBER, UP TO AND INCLUDING TERMINATION. 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.  ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:32 P.M.

 

BACK ON THE RECORD AT 7:02 p.m.  NO ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

 

  • MOTION MADE BY JAN REEB, SECONDED BY WEST, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.  MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:03 P.M.

 

 

 

MAYOR_________________________________________

 

FISCAL OFFICER___________________________________                            DATE________________