REGULAR MEETING
COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP
OCTOBER 17, 2022
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: JASON FRANKS, STEVE JORDAN, KENNY REINHART, DEAN RISTER, BRYAN SMITH, AND BRYCE STEINER.
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: SOLICITOR MELANIE FARR, ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN DAVIS, FISCAL OFFICER AIMEE LICHTY, AND POLICE CHIEF GEORGE CLEMENS. VISITORS: GOVERNMENT STUDENTS, ADAM PAPIN WITH THE PAULDING PROGRESS, EMS COORDINATOR ASHLEY MCDOUGALL AND BARRY HOOK.
MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING HELD SEPTEMBER 19, 2022, WERE REVIEWED.
• MOTION MADE BY STEINER, SECONDED BY REINHART, TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 19, 2022, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.
THE SEPTEMBER DISBURSEMENTS WERE REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED.
• MOTION MADE BY REINHART, SECONDED BY JORDAN, TO ACCEPT THE SEPTEMBER RECONCILIATION REPORT. 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED.
VISITORS
EMS COORDINATOR ASHLEY MCDOUGALL INFORMED COUNCIL THAT SHERIFF DEPUTIES ARE RESPONDING TO THE SCENE FOR EMS RUNS. AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, THEY ARE WORKING ON SOME DEPUTIES BEING CERTIFIED AS EMR’S. WHEN A SQUAD TEAM IS SHORT ON PERSONNEL, A DEPUTY CAN THEN DRIVE THE SQUAD. ASHLEY HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE VILLAGE’S INSURANCE PROVIDER TO CONFIRM INSURANCE COVERAGE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DEPUTY WOULD BE ON DUTY WITH THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME OF THE RUN SO THEY WOULD BE PAID BY THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS COVERED BY THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT’S WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE. PAULDING COUNTY PROSECUTOR JOE BURKHARD WILL PREPARE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND PROVIDE TO SOLICITOR FARR TO REVIEW.
POLICE REPORT
POLICE CHIEF CLEMENS PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT SHOWING 63 CALLS FOR SERVICE FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER WITH 1 OFFENSE.
EMS REPORT
EMS COORDINATOR-CLERK ASHLEY MCDOUGALL PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT.
FISCAL OFFICER’S REPORT
SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2022-22: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE FISCAL OFFICER TO TRANSFER $5,000.00 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE STREET LIGHTING FUND
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2022-23: AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE TIME AND PLACE OF REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP, PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO, FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2023
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2022-24: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2018-17, AN ORDINANCE INCREASING WATER RATES FOR THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP, COUNTY OF PAULDING, OHIO, SPECIFICALLY AMENDING SECTIONS 2 AND 5 OF ORDINANCE NO. 2018-17 TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM CHARGE FOR EACH TAP EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2023
DISCUSSION ON ORDINANCE NO. 2022-24 DURING COMMITTEE REPORTS.
RITA TAX COLLECTION FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, PAID IN OCTOBER, WAS $35,735.53.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
UTILITY COMMITTEE MET TO DISCUSS NEW HANDHELD DEVICE AND METERS. ADMINISTRATOR DAVIS TOLD COUNCIL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED BY THE COMPANY AND THE HANDHELD HAS BEEN TOUCH AND GO ON LAST COUPLE USES. THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT THROUGH ONE MORE READING BUT IT WILL NEED REPLACED. HE RECOMMENDED PURCHASING NEW HANDHELD AND METERS THROUGH FERGUSON. HE WOULD LIKE TO START OFF PURCHASING HANDHELD AND SOFTWARE. THE VILLAGE CURRENTLY HAS METERS IN PLACE THAT JUST NEED THE RADIO READ ATTACHMENT SO SOME OF THOSE COULD BE PURCHASED STARTING EARLY NEXT YEAR. THE VILLAGE WOULD THEN NEED TO REPLACE THOSE THAT ARE NOT COMPATIBLE OVER TIME. ADMINISTRATOR DAVIS ESTIMATED TOTAL COST FOR PROJECT TO BE APPROXIMATELY $165,000. THE NEW METERS WILL HAVE A 20 YEAR WARRANTY.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
UTILITY COMMITTEE MET TO DISCUSS NEW METER READER AND METERS (SEE ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT) AS WELL AS NEW WATER PLANT AND WATER RATES. UTILITY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE VILLAGE RAISE WATER RATES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2023. DISCUSSION ON NEW WATER PLANT AND RATES.
AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATOR DAVIS RESEARCHED THE COST AND PROCESS OF BUILDING A NEW WATER PLANT. THERE IS NO DENYING THE VILLAGE NEEDS A NEW WATER PLANT, BUT THE VILLAGE IS IN THE POSITION OF BEING UNDERCAPITALIZED IN MAINTAINING THE CURRENT SYSTEM, LET ALONE BUILD A NEW FACILITY. CURRENTLY, THE VILLAGE’S PROJECTED EXPENSES WILL EXCEED ITS ANTICIPATED REVENUE IN 2023. THIS CAN CHANGE, BUT IF IT HOLDS TRUE TO FORM, THE VILLAGE WILL BE FORCED TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM ITS GENERAL FUND TO COVER THIS SHORTAGE. THROUGH A STATE GRANT, COUNCIL COMMISSIONED A STUDY BY JONES AND HENRY ENGINEERING TO DETERMINE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE FACILITY, RECOMMEND CORRECTIVE ACTION, AS WELL AS PROJECTED COSTS TO ADDRESS THESE DEFICIENCIES. THE STUDY CONCLUDED, DUE TO AGE AND CONDITION, THE PLANT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE THE CURRENT WATER PLANT IS $5.3M. FURTHERMORE, JONES AND HENRY STATED, “WITHOUT ANY GRANTS OR PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS, THE CURRENT QUARTERLY WATER SURCHARGE WOULD NEED TO BE INCREASED BY ABOUT $72.00 PER QUARTER TO FUND THE PROJECT ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE”. THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING INCREASES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2023:
CUSTOMER TYPE CURRENT 2022 QUARTERLY RATES NEW QUARTERLY RATES
RESIDENTIAL – INSIDE $ 35.00 $ 105.00
RESIDENTIAL – OUT $ 45.00 $ 115.00
HOMESTEAD – OUTSIDE $ 35.00 $ 105.00
HOMESTEAD -INSIDE $ 25.00 $ 95.00
BECAUSE THE VILLAGE’S CURRENT RATES ARE SO LOW, COUPLED WITH THE VILLAGE’S LOW TO MODERATE INCOME SURVEY RATING BEING SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE STATE THRESHOLD, THE VILLAGE WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SECURE GRANT FUNDING. IF THE VILLAGE IS FORTUNATE TO SECURE A LOAN THROUGH THE OHIO EPA OR OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION AT 0% INTEREST, ITS PAYMENT WOULD AVERAGE $212,000 OVER A 25-YEAR PERIOD. ADMINISTRATOR DAVIS IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING A GRANT APPLICATION FOR PRESENTATION TO THE SCEIG (SMALL COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP). THIS PRESENTATION WILL AFFORD THE ABILITY TO PRESENT THE VILLAGE’S FUNDING REQUEST TO ALL STATE AGENCIES WHO TYPICALLY PROVIDE GRANTS, DEBT FORGIVENESS, OR ZERO PERCENT INTEREST LOANS ALL AT ONE TIME. IN THE MEANTIME, ADMINISTRATOR DAVIS RESPECTFULLY RECOMMENDS COUNCIL IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED INCREASES.
OLD BUSINESS
NONE
NEW BUSINESS
COUNCIL MEMBER JORDAN ADDRESSED THE COMPOST SITE. HE INFORMED COUNCIL THAT IT IS BEING ABUSED. SOMEONE DUMPED MATERIALS ON TOP OF THE GATE AND BROKE THE GATE ARM. PEOPLE ARE DROPPING OFF HUGE PIECES OF WOOD AND THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO THE SIZE OF THE WOOD ALLOWED TO BE DUMPED. THE COMPOST SITE IS BEING USED FOR COMMERCIAL DUMPING AS WELL NON-RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT PAY FOR THE SERVICE. COUNCIL MEMBER JORDAN SUGGESTED PUTTING A GATE UP AND HAVING SET HOURS OF BEING OPEN. HE ASKED ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR IDEAS ON HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE. A BETTER CAMERA SYSTEM IS ALSO BEING LOOKED INTO.
MAYOR REEB SAID SHE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A FARMER THAT FARMS GROUND NEAR THE RECYCLE CENTER AND COMPLAINED OF TRASH BLOWING ONTO HIS GROUND. HE ASKED COUNCIL TO CONSIDER PUTTING A FENCE IN PLACE. COUNCIL MEMBER RISTER ASKED ADMINISTRATOR DAVIS TO GET A QUOTE ON A FENCE TO CONTAIN THE MESS. ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO STOP HAVING THE RECYCLE CENTER.
MAYOR’S REPORT
MAYOR’S COURT BROUGHT IN A TOTAL OF $1885.00 IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2022 WITH $1602.00 GOING TO THE VILLAGE, $242.00 GOING TO THE STATE, AND $10.50 GOING TO THE INDIGENT DRIVER’S FUND.
TRICK OR TREAT IN THE VILLAGE WILL BE ON OCTOBER 29TH FROM 5:00-6:30 P.M. WITH THE PARADE STARTING AT THE MANOR HOUSE AT 3:30 P.M. AND COSTUME JUDGING BEING AT THE FIRE STATION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PARADE.
• MOTION MADE BY STEINER, SECONDED BY FRANKS, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. 6 YEAS, 0 NAYS. MOTION CARRIED AND APPROVED. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:11 P.M.
MAYOR_________________________________________
FISCAL OFFICER___________________________________ DATE________________