September 2015 Administrator’s Report

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

September, 2015

 

W. WOODCOX WATERLINE REPLACEMENT:

Waterline replacement project is to start on 9/21/15, weather permitting.  The project is to be completed and closed out by December 31, 2015.

 

RENTAL WATER DEPOSIT NOT ENOUGH:

Renters that don’t own the home they are moving into must pay a $100.00 water/sewer/trash deposit when they move in.  This office is finding that the current $100 deposit is not been enough to cover a normal quarterly water bill let alone with the addition of trash pickup.  The average quarterly bill without any water usage and just billed for the minimums is $90.74.  I would like council to consider increasing the deposit from $100.00 to $150.00 at this time and that we annually review to see if this deposit amount is enough to offset the cost if a renter leaves the property owner with an unpaid water bill.

 

BUILDING/RENTAL STANDARDS:

Building/rental standards that were from the Village of Montpelier were forwarded to Maumee Valley planning Organization for their housing inspectors to review.  I am waiting for their comments and have asked them to attend our next Public Service Committee to review their suggestions for establishing a rental inspection program in the village.

 

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL/VALUE ANALYSIS & APPRAISAL:

Negotiations are on-going between O.R. Colan and the property owner on additional right-of-way needed for the Safe Routes to School sidewalk program.  It is my understanding that the property owner is concerned as to why such a larger than usual amount of right-of-way is needed on Harrmann Road.  He has checked other areas of the village that has sidewalks and it appears that other sidewalks aren’t encroaching as far onto those properties as what is needed from his.  It is my understanding that in order for it to be safe that the additional right-of-way is needed to keep cars from coming off of the roadway and possibly striking kids on the sidewalk.  This area is very flat and has no curbing.  It is my feeling that the Village will have to proceed with appropriation of this right-of-way in order to get the sidewalk project completed next year.  Melanie can inform council what the procedure will be.  In talking to ODOT they informed me that as soon as the appropriation is filed the property is the villages.  The appraised amount which has been already determined ($2,219.00) is what the property owner would receive.

 

RESULTS OF BIDS OFFERED FOR THE 1989 FIRE TRUCK:

Sealed bids were received on Friday, September 11, 2015 at town hall.  Three bids were received as follows:

Blake Baughman    $810.00

Nick Longardner      $1,355.00

Barker Farms                          $2,025.00

 

No minimum bid was required in the advertising.  The appraisal of the truck given by Pierce Automotive was $3,500 to $4,000.  Council will need to decide whether they will award the bid to Barker Farms, which was the highest bid, or reject all the bids.    As no minimum was set, you would need a good reason to reject the highest bid.  It should be noted that this truck had been advertised twice, each time for a two week period.  The cost of advertising to-date is $206.00.  It also should be noted that we received no bids on the Oswalt lots and we had set minimum bids on that.

 

2nd ROUND OF CONFIDENTIAL INCOME SURVEY HAS BEEN MAILED:

A second round of mailing of the confidential income survey was completed and as of today, 9/14/15, 178 surveys have been returned.  A total of 300 returned surveys are required for a qualified survey.  Of the 178  returned, 79 were non-LMI and 99 were LMI (Low to Moderate Income), which is 55% LMI.  The threshold to meet is 51% which we are surpassing.    A third mailing is scheduled to go out this week.  After the final mailing if additional surveys are needed, a door to door canvassing will be undertaken.  Residents with questions on the need for this survey should contact the village administrator.

 

MERCER LANDMARK CRA ABATEMENT:

The Village was informed by the Paulding County Economic Development Office that a recent Ohio Supreme Court decision dated July 15, 2015, has determined that metal storage bins (grain bins) are now considered personal property.  (Please note that Mercer Landmark did not file the litigation but is effected by the decision.)  Due to this new decision, all metal corrugated modular units which can be disassembled/reassembled, moved/sold are not personal property and will not carry a value as real property.  This will be adjusted for tax year 2015 payable in 2016.

The Village currently has two community reinvestment Area Agreements with Mercer Landmark for grain storage bins, one established in August of 2006 with an expiration date of 7/15/15.  And the other established in June of 2007 with an expiration date of June 10, 2016.

The Landmark has been paying each year to the village approximately $4,571.20 due the grain bins being classified as real property.  Now with this court decision, the CRA’s won’t generate any more re-directed taxes to the village after the payment this year.

 

OSWALT LOTS:

The two lots on Oswalt bid opening was September 1, 2015.  No bids were received.  The advertisement for the lots listed a price minimum of $11,500 for 188 Oswalt and $9.200 for 120 Oswalt.  The Village could re-advertised these lots and remove the minimums if it chooses.  A motion would be required to be made by council to proceed with re-advertising these two lots for sale.

 

DR. SARAH MOWERY’S NEW DENTAL BUILDING:

Dr. Mowery’s architect submitted her zoning application this week for her new building.  Their state building permit was included in their application.  Total new project cost is estimated at $600,000.  I have forwarded her application to Gabe Oberlin for review.

I will contact Jerry Zielke to get the CRA paperwork to us.  If we are to grant an abatement on this project it must be in place before actual construction starts.

 

NEW LIGHTED CHRISTMAS POLE MOUNT DISPLAYS:

New Christmas pole decorations will be ordered before the end of September.  20 pole mounted led lighted decorations will be ordered from GP Designs of Marion, Indiana.  They will arrive in time to be put up in November.  ACDC, Antwerp Chamber and the VFW will be assisting in paying for the new lights. The Village will receive a 30% discount on the lights if ordered before September 30th.  I will pictures of the displays Monday night to show the type of displays that will go up on our historic poles in Main Street.  The Village would like to thank ACDC and the VFW for their donation.

 

GOLF CART:

The golf cart is acting up again and has left Bill stranded several time while he is reading meters.  If the golf cart completely quits I do not want to put any more money into this cart.  We have put over $1,200 in it over the years and it is not worth fixing.  Council needs to make a decision now on purchasing another golf cart or gator type of ATV for the employees to use.  The money has been budgeted.

 

TREAT OR TREAT:

Treat or Treat will be on Saturday, October 31, 2015 between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

 

VACATION:

I will be off the week of October 5th through October 13th, 2015 for vacation.