REGULAR MEETING
COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP
MARCH 15, 2021
THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP COUNCIL WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:30 P.M. BY MAYOR JAN REEB. COUNCIL PERSONS PRESENT: DEAN RISTER, RUDIE REEB, KENNETH REINHART, MIKE ROHRS, AND KEITH WEST.
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: SOLICITOR MELANIE FARR, ADMINISTRATOR SARA KEERAN, FISCAL OFFICER AIMEE LICHTY, EMS COORDINATOR-CLERK ASHLEY MCDOUGALL AND POLICE CHIEF GEORGE CLEMENS. VISITORS: BARRY HOOK, MICHELLE WALKER, BILL BOYLAN, BRYCE STEINER, ANDREW ELBRECHT, MARY LEINARD AND JOHN HILTON.
MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 17, 2021, WERE REVIEWED.
- MOTION MADE BY REINHART, SECONDED BY WEST, TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 17, 2021, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. 5 YEAS, 0 NAYS. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.
THE FEBRUARY DISBURSEMENTS WERE REVIEWED. DISCUSSION ON EXPENSES.
- MOTION MADE BY RISTER, SECONDED BY ROHRS, TO ACCEPT THE FEBRUARY RECONCILIATION REPORT. 5 YEAS, 0 NAYS. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.
VISITORS
MARY LEINARD WAS PRESENT TO INTRODUCE ANDREW ELBRECHT WITH GATESIDE PROPERTIES LLC, WHO IS THE NEW OWNER OF THE MOBILE HOME PARK. ANDREW STATED THAT THE PARK WILL REMAIN A MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY.
BARRY HOOK WAS IN ATTENDANCE AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THE VILLAGE HAS A GENERATOR AND USES IT WHEN WATER IS OFF. ADMINISTRATOR KEERAN TOLD BARRY THAT THE VILLAGE DOES HAVE A GENERATOR BUT HAS NOT HAD TO USE IT. BARRY ALSO ASKED ABOUT MEETING TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER RISTER SAID THE MEETING TIME CAN BE REVIEWED WHEN COUNCIL DISCUSSES FOR 2022.
MICHELLE WALKER WAS IN ATTENDANCE TO OBSERVE.
BILL BOYLAN ADDRESSED COUNCIL ABOUT A PROPERTY HE OWNS AT 610 S. ERIE STREET. HE HEARD THAT THE CIC WANTS TO PUT A DRIVEWAY IN THE LOT SOUTH OF HIS PROPERTY (612 S. ERIE STREET) TO GO BACK TO AN UNDEVELOPED AREA FOR WHEN IT IS DEVELOPED. HE HAS CONCERNS THAT THIS WILL LOWER HIS PROPERTY’S VALUE AND THAT HIS SON WILL HAVE NO PRIVACY ON HIS PROPERTY AT ALL. HE STATED THAT CURRENTLY THERE ARE SECURITY CAMERAS FROM THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PROPERTY AND THEY HAD TO HAVE A FENCE PUT UP FOR PRIVACY. MR BOYLAN SUGGESTS USING WATERPLANT DRIVE FOR ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY. ADMINISTRATOR KEERAN WILL TALK TO CIC ABOUT HIS CONCERNS.
BRYCE STEINER WAS IN ATTENDANCE TO DISCUSS THE ZONING MAP. HE WANTED TO INFORM COUNCIL THAT THE MAP HAD NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2012 OTHER THAN THE ADMINISTRATOR WRITING CHANGES ON IT FOR THE LAST 9 YEARS. HE WANTED TO KNOW THE CHECKS AND BALANCES OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THIS MAP AND HOW COUNCIL KNOWS THE CHANGES ARE CORRECT AND CURRENT. HE ASKED THAT THE ZONING MAP BE UPDATED CONTINUALLY AND BE AVAILABLE ON THE VILLAGE’S WEBSITE.
JOHN HILTON WAS PRESENT AT THE MEETING AND ASKED THAT HIS NAME BE RESCINDED ON THE PETITION HE SUBMITTED ASKING FOR THE VACATION OF BUFFALO STREET EXTENDED ADJACENT TO HIS PROPERTY. HE IS NO LONGER INTERESTED IN HAVING BUFFALO STREET EXTENDED VACATED. SOLICITOR FARR WILL LOOK INTO HOW TO PROCEED WITH ORDINANCE NO. 2021-06 PRIOR TO THE FINAL READING.
POLICE REPORT
POLICE CHIEF CLEMENS PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT SHOWING 97 CALLS FOR SERVICE FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WITH 24 OFFENSES.
EMS REPORT
EMS COORDINATOR-CLERK ASHLEY MCDOUGALL PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT SHOWING 142 OUTSTANDING RUNS.
EMS HAD 27 RUNS IN NOVEMEBER AND 22 RUNS IN DECEMEBER, FINISHING WITH 302 RUNS IN 2020. COLLECTIONS IN NOVEMBER WERE $6,935.12 AND $4,668.03 IN DECEMBER. IN DECEMBER, A TRANSFER OF $6,450.00 WENT INTO THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT FUND.
THERE WERE 18 RUNS IN JANUARY AND 15 RUNS IN FEBRUARY, WHICH BRINGS TOTAL TO 33 RUNS AS OF THE END OF FEBRUARY 2021. $4,288.66 WAS COLLECTED IN JANUARY AND $12,508.87 IN FEBRUARY.
MAYOR REEB ASKED ASHLEY TO PROVIDE EMS REPORT EARLIER IN ORDER TO INCLUDE IN COUNCIL PACKET SO COUNCIL HAS TIME TO REVIEW PRIOR TO MEETING.
FISCAL OFFICER’S REPORT
FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2021-04: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO AN ADDENDUM TO THE AGREEMENT FOR COLLECTION, TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL OF RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP, OHIO
- MOTION MADE BY WEST, SECONDED BY REINHART, TO ACCEPT ORDINANCE NO. 2021-04. 5 YEAS, 0 NAYS. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.
SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2021-06: AN ORDINANCE VACATING THAT PORTION OF BUFFALO STREET EXTENDED, WHICH RUNS EAST AND WEST PARALLEL TO EAST CANAL STREET BETWEEN LOTS LOCATED AT 406 SOUTH ERIE STREET, ERIE STREET, W. BUFFALO STREET (PARCEL NOS. 12-17S-008-00, 12-26S-049-00, AND 12-26S-050-00) AND 502 SOUTH ERIE STREET (PARCEL NO. 12-17S-009-00) IN ANTWERP, OHIO, AND RESERVING AN EASEMENT
RITA TAX COLLECTION FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, PAID IN MARCH, WAS $20,413.31, DOWN $18,732.04 FROM LAST YEAR AT THIS SAME TIME.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON REZONING OF S. ERIE STREET RESCHEDULED:
THE PLANNING COMMISSION MET ON TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 AT 5:00 P.M. IN TOWN HALL TO REVIEW THE RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY COUNCIL ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP. DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT ATTENDED AND WITH NOWHERE TO SAFELY SOCIAL DISTANCE AT TOWN HALL, THE MEETING WAS NOT HELD AND WAS RE-SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE COMMUNITY CHURCH AT 704 S. ERIE STREET, ANTWERP. NOTICES OF THE MEETING WILL BE MAILED AND/OR DELIVERED TO S. ERIE STREET RESIDENTS AND ALL WHO SIGNED THE ATTENDANCE SHEET. ALSO, THE MEETING WILL BE ADVERTISED AND PLACED ON THE VILLAGE’S WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE.
PROPOSAL FOR INCOME SURVEY TO BE CONDUCTED:
THE ADMINISTRATOR CONTACTED MAUMEE VALLEY PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MVPO) ABOUT CONDUCTING A VILLAGE WIDE INCOME SURVEY. THE VILLAGE’S LAST INCOME SURVEY WAS GOOD FOR 5 YEARS AND EXPIRED IN OCTOBER OF 2020. AN INCOME SURVEY IS HELPFUL IN GETTING LOW INTEREST, ZERO INTEREST AND GRANT FUNDING FROM THE DIFFERENT FUNDING AGENCIES USED FOR WATER, SEWER, STORM AND ROAD PROJECTS. THE PROCEDURE FOLLOWED WOULD BE FOR MVPO TO SEND OUT SURVEYS TO RESIDENTS AND HAVE THE RESIDENTS EITHER FILL OUT THEIR INFORMATION ONLINE OR BY MAILING IN A POSTAGE PAID RETURN ENVELOPE. THE SURVEYS ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND NAMES ARE NOT REQUIRED ON THE FORM. TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS MARKED ALONG WITH THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN THE HOUSE. ACCORDING TO MVPO, 400 SURVEYS/POST CARDS WOULD BE MAILED OUT AND IN ORDER TO HAVE A QUALIFIED SURVEY, 350 WOULD NEED RETURNED. THE VILLAGE WOULD HAVE 6 MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY FROM START TO FINISH. SECOND MAILINGS ARE USUALLY REQUIRED AND OFTEN DOOR TO DOOR FOLLOW-UP MAY BE REQUIRED. MVPO STATED THE COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1,000.00 FOR COST OF MAILINGS, RETURN POSTAGE, ENVELOPES. THIS IS A REASONABLE FEE AND IT REMOVES THE VILLAGE FROM CONDUCTING THE ACTUAL INCOME SURVEY. THE TOTAL RETURNED SURVEYS NEED TO REVEAL THAT THE VILLAGE IS AT 51% BELOW MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR OUR VILLAGE TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR ZERO INTEREST LOANS AND GRANTS. THE ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDED THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THIS SO THE VILLAGE CAN FIND FUNDING FOR ANY NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WATER PLANT.
- MOTION MADE BY RISTER, SECONDED BY WEST, TO APPROVE RETAINING MAUMEE VALLEY PLANNING ORGANIZATION TO COMPLETE INCOME SURVEY FOR VILLAGE OF ANTWERP. 5 YEAS, 0 NAYS. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.
HOMETOWN PANTRY BUILDING REHAB CONTINUING:
JEFF COOK, FUTURE OWNER OF THE HOMETOWN PANTRY BUILDINGS, IS APPLYING FOR COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREA TAX ABATEMENT THROUGH THE PAULDING COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE. ONCE ALL PAPERWORK HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AND THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT IS DETERMINED, DIRECTOR COPSEY WILL APPROACH THE VILLAGE ON THE PROPOSED ABATEMENT. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE VILLAGE GRANTED DR. MOWERY A CRA ABATEMENT WHEN SHE BUILT THE NEW DENTAL OFFICE IN THE DOWNTOWN. THE ABATEMENT ONLY ADDRESSES REAL PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE BUILDING. MR. COOK HAS APPROACHED THE ADMINISTRATOR AND ASKED IF HE COULD PLACE A ROLL OFF CONTAINER FOR HIS BUSINESS ON MERCER LANDMARKS PROPERTY, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM HIS BUILDINGS ON RAILROAD STREET. THERE IS NO AREA BEHIND HIS BUILDINGS THAT A DUMPSTER CAN BE PUT. MERCER LANDMARK WOULD ALLOW HIM TO PLACE HIS DUMPSTER ON THEIR PROPERTY AND MR. COOK HAS OFFERED TO CONSTRUCT AN ENCLOSURE AROUND THE CONTAINER. COUNCIL DID NOT SEE A PROBLEM WITH THIS AS LONG AS AN ENCLOSURE WAS MADE AND IT LOOKED NICE.
INSPECTION COMPLETED OF HOUSE ON 107 E. RIVER:
THE HOME LOCATED AT 107 E. RIVER STREET WAS INSPECTED BY THE VILLAGE’S HOUSING INSPECTOR ON MONDAY, MARCH 8TH. THE INSPECTOR MET WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER FROM FORT WAYNE, SEVERAL CONTRACTORS THAT HE BROUGHT WITH HIM AND COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE ROHRS. ROHRS GAVE A REPORT ON WHAT WAS DETERMINED FROM THE INSPECTION. MRS. BEREGSZAZI WILL BE KEPT UP TO DATE ON THE PROCESS OF BRINGING THIS HOME INTO COMPLIANCE.
DISCUSSION ON INSPECTION. ANOTHER INSPECTION IS TO BE DONE MARCH 31ST AND THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS UNTIL APRIL 12TH TO MAKE PROPERTY COMPLIANT OR FINES MAY BE IMPOSED STARTING APRIL 13TH. SOLICITOR FARR WILL REVIEW ORDINANCE AND ADVISE OF NEXT STEPS, AND ADMINISTRATOR KEERAN WILL CONTACT OWNER TO SEE IF PROPERTY SOLD.
2 HOMES ON MERVIN STREET DEMOLISHED:
TWO HOMES OWNED BY FRITZ EHRHART, 104 AND 105 MERVIN HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED THIS WEEK. THE ADMINISTRATOR SPOKE TO THE CONTRACTOR ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021, AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE SITE MUST BE CLEANED UP EACH NIGHT AND THE DEPRESSIONS LEFT FROM CRAWL SPACE MUST BE FILLED IN. COMPLAINTS WERE NOTED FROM ADJACENT NEIGHBORS ABOUT PIECES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS BEING LEFT ON THE GROUND AND THE CRAWL SPACE LEFT OPEN. THE CONTRACTOR ASSURED THE ADMINISTRATOR THAT THE SITE WOULD BE FINISHED TODAY AND BACK FILL WOULD BE PLACED IN THE CRAWL SPACES.
103 MERVIN STREET IS OWNED BY THE LANDBANK AND IS BEING CHECKED FOR ASBESTOS. NEXT STEPS WILL BE TO DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURE AND SELL THE PROPERTY.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
UTILITY COMMITTEE MET TO DISCUSS ENGINEERS. AT THIS TIME, THEY WOULD LIKE JONES AND HENRY TO ATTEND THE APRIL COUNCIL MEETING AND WESTLER TO ATTEND THE MAY COUNCIL MEETING AND BOTH TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO COUNCIL. ADMINISTRATIOR KEEREN WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH BOTH COMPANIES AND SCHEDULE THEM TO ATTEND. COUNCIL MEMBER WEST ALSO ASKED THAT CURTIS NESTLEROAD ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS SO THAT HE CAN ASK AND ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT WILL PERTAIN TO ANTWERP.
NEW BUSINESS
ROHRS ASKED ABOUT MANHOLE COVER ON S CURVE. KEERAN STATED SHE WOULD CONTACT THE STATE AND GET IT REPAIRED AGAIN. RORHS RECEIVED COMPLAINT ABOUT ERIE RECYCLING TRASH FYLING ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT IT NEEDED TO GET TAKEN CARE OF. KEERAN WILL CONTACT BUSINESS OWNER.
RORHS ASKED KEERAN IF GENERATOR AND SEWER JET WERE IN WORKING CONDITION. KEERAN STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT. ROHRS ASKED THAT THEY BE SCRAPPED IF THEY DO NOT WORK.
OLD BUSINESS
WEST ASKED STATUS OF PURCHASING DUMP TRUCK THROUGH STATE PURCHASE PROGRAM. RORHS SAID THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD MEET TO DISCUSS. IN MEANTIME, KEERAN WILL LOOK INTO PROCESS WITH STATE PURCHASE PROGRAM.
UPDATE ON COUNTY COURT MATTER ON VIOLATION OF JUNK MOTOR VEHICLE AND LITTER ORDINANCES. PROPERTY HAS BEEN CLEANED UP EXCEPT FOR A FEW ITEMS THAT PROPERTY OWNER SAID HE WOULD REMOVE BY END OF THIS MONTH. COURT IMPOSED SENTENCE OF FINE AND COURT COSTS WITH FINE BEING SUSPENDED. THE CASE IS CONCLUDED.
MAYOR’S REPORT
MAYOR’S COURT BROUGHT IN A TOTAL OF $1,450.00 IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2021 WITH $1,060.00 GOING TO THE VILLAGE, $375.00 GOING TO THE STATE, AND $15.00 GOING TO THE INDIGENT DRIVER’S FUND.
- MOTION MADE BY RUDIE REEB, SECONDED BY REINHART, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. 4 YEAS, 1 NAY. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:24 P.M.
MAYOR_________________________________________
FISCAL OFFICER___________________________________ DATE________________