March 2017 Administrator’s Report

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

March 2017

 

PLANNING COMMISSIONS MET TO REVIEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES PROHIBITION:

Planning Commission met on March 9, 2017 to review council’s request to amend the Village’s zoning ordinance to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries as outlined in House Bill 523 passed in September of 2016.  I have attached planning commission’s meeting minutes.  Planning Commission is recommending that council amend the zoning ordinance to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries along with prohibiting the cultivation and processing as required.  The next step after this is presented to council Monday night will be to set a public hearing within 40 days of March 20, 2017.  This writer will scheduled a public hearing and advertise the same.  At the public hearing council can proceed with an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance at the April council meeting.

 

PERSONNEL HAND BOOK  AMENDED TO INCLUDE SENATE BILL 199 CONCEAL CARRY AMENDMENTS/MEDICAL MARIJUANA, ETC.

The personnel committee met on March 8th to review and discuss several items that have been brought to our attention due to two new pieces of state legislation.  An ordinance will be included in your packet along with the sections of the personnel handbook that will be changed to meet the new laws.  The first we discussed last council meeting on carry conceal as it pertains to employees only.  If an employee has a valid carry conceal permit, they can keep the gun in their vehicle provided it is in a locked box, trunk or glove box.  This will change several sections of the handbook which are attached.

The second is on medical marijuana and how this effects employees., i.e. that it is grounds for dismissal if an employee is found to be under the influence of medical marijuana.  This will affect the village’s drug free workplace policy and the substance abuse policy sections of the personnel handbook.

Finally, sick leave was clarified to be a benefit that only full time employees are entitled too.

 

COUNTY-WIDE DEMOLITION PROGRAM:

The undersigned did submit the dilapidated property on E. Woodcox to the Paulding County Commissioners to be considered for demolition dollars. Under their program the submitted structure could be demolished with county funds.  The property owner would continue to own the lot after demo and clean up.   I am hoping to hear on the submittal soon.

 

COMPOST SITE INSPECTED BY EPA:

EPA recently visited the proposed new compost site at the sanitary sewer plant and approved the site.  We have received the certification letter from EPA along with a letter stating we have corrected all violations noted by EPA in June of 2016 on the unregistered compost site.  It is anticipated that the site will be ready to accept limbs, leaves and vegetation type materials by April 1, 2017.  Attached is a public notice that will be placed on the village’s website, facebook and in the West Bend News to notify village residents of the times the site will be open and the type of material that will be accepted.  Again this site is for Village residents only.  Cameras have been installed on site and any violation caught on camera will be forwarded to county court for prosecution and the offending person or persons will be banned from the site.

 

BOAT LAUNCH SITE VISITED BY EPA AND ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS:

On February 23, 2017 EPA and the Army Corp of Engineers met with the village and representatives from the Park Board and ACDC.  As reported earlier the Village had received a violation from EPA on placing fill below the ordinary high water mark of the Maumee River.  ACDC had been working on the riverbank area to assist in making the river more accessible to canoes and kayaks.  The Village is participating in assisting in establishing the Maumee River as a State Water Trail from Toledo to the Indiana State line.

After the violation was received, the Village asked the EPA and Army Corp to come to the park and witness what work have actually been done and felt a violation was not warranted.  On February 23, 2017, the Army Corp determined that with the exception of a small area of stone that was just inside the water, no violation had occurred.  EPA also agreed that is the stone was removed from the edge she would recommend the violation would be abated.  Dan Bowers of ACDC stated they would remove the stone and would submit video showing such.

On March 7, 2017 correspondence was received from EPA stating that the violation would be rescinded once verification was received that the stone had been removed.  This is set to occur shortly.  ACDC will also work to complete the driveway area and will also work to amend erosion of the river bank as noted in the meeting with EPA and the Army Corp.  No permit will be required for these items.

 

GOLF CART LEGISLATION AND CHECKLIST:

An ordinance and check list is attached to address the new regulations on street ready golf carts and the inspection process.

 

RESOLUTION AGAINST CENTRALIZED INCOME TAX COLLECTION:

It has been brought to our attention by the Ohio Municipal League that a proposal by the governor who institute a state-operated program for centralized collection of Ohio Municipal Tax.  The state would collect our tax, only release it back to us on a quarterly basis, charge a fee to do this and generally take away our control over our municipal tax.  OML has encouraged all communities with a local tax to pass this type of legislation demanding that this program be removed from consideration.  This is just another way of reducing our revenue.

As a part of this program, our local government funds released to us by the State will be impacted by how much we collect from our local income tax.  The state has already cut of LGF and this is just another way to reduce that plus take away our local control on our municipal tax.  We have enclosed explanation on the LGF funding and how it could be affected.  Many entities have contacted their local legislators and passed this resolution to demand this program not go forward.

 

OSWALT LOTS ADVERTISED:

The two lots, 118 and 120 Oswalt will be advertised for 5 consecutive weeks starting March 21st.  Bid opening for the lots will be April 25, 2017 at Noon.  Sealed bids should be taken to the Fiscal Officer’s Office in town hall.