Pemberville Village Council Minutes
of 2/5/02

Mayor Oberhouse called the regular meeting of Council to order on Tuesday, February 5^th, 2002 at 7:30 p.m.  A prayer was offered by Douglas Wegman followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.   

Present for roll call were Panning, Wegman, Mazur, Brann, and Sharp.  Vandersall was absent.  Also attending the meeting were Police Chief, Dan O’Connor; BPA Member, Charles Aring; Polly Weitzel from the Sentinel-Tribune; and residents—Heather Schmeltz and Lisa Boyer.

The minutes from January 15^th, 2002 were reviewed and as there were no additions or corrections, the minutes stand approved as submitted.

Bills in the amount of $47,684.07 were presented for approval of payment.  Sharp moved, seconded by Brann, to approve payment of the bills.  The motion carried unanimously.

BPA—Everything is set to go on the sludge holding tank and it should be up and running by July 1^st.

There is a lot of water coming from the south side of town and hitting the lift station on Bierley Avenue.  The Board will have the lines on Forrest Avenue and East Street TV’d as soon as they can but asked if Council will help pay for any problems they may find.

They would like to replace the sanitary manhole covers with solid lids to eliminate the infiltration of water.  The cost would be approximately $75.00 per lid.  Brian will tally up a total cost.

Chief O’Connor would like a check valve with duck valve put on the 33 to keep the river from backing up in the valley.

The BPA is considering raising water rates to pay for future repair and replacement of waterlines.

John Lockard and Brian Heestand went to Montpelier to help restore electricity after the ice storm.

The Mayor met with James Seney, Executive Director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission, and State Representative, Robert Latta, regarding the three railroad crossings in the Village that do not have gates and lights.  She was told if the Village would make application to the PUCO and agree to share the cost of light and gate installation on Forrest Avenue, the Ohio Rail Development Commission will use Federal dollars to fund at100% light and gate installation at South Street and Elmore Road.  The cost to the Village could be $70,000.00 to $100,000.00 but there is grant money that could be applied for.  Sharp moved that we start the procedure for acceptance of the proposal of the Ohio Rail Development Commission with the opportunity to look into grants and other ways to fund our share.  Seconded by Wegman, the motion carried unanimously.    

Resolution #646, Resolution Accepting Bid for Depository, had its third reading.  Sharp moved to pass Resolution #646.  Seconded by Mazur, the motion carried unanimously.

Sharp moved to increase the appreciation amount for a police cruiser to $9,000.00 per year.  Seconded by Mazur, the motion carried unanimously.

MAYOR: Had a complaint regarding parking on the main street in town on the night the Masons and Eastern Stars meet and use up most parking spaces.  Chief O’Connor said parking is on a first come first served basis and he doesn’t know of any way to regulate it.

Has had a verbal confirmation that Pemberville has been chosen for casting the Bicentennial Bell for Wood County.  This would be done during the 2003 Pemberville Fair.

Attended a Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s Public Employee Summit session that will result in a 25% savings on the Village 2002 bill.

Questioned Solicitor Marsh about liability concerns regarding the installation of stop signs at three railroad crossings.  He said there would be more liability if we don’t put them in and James Seney from the Ohio Rail Development Commission also suggested we put them in until the gates and lights are installed.

The old Village records that do not have to be kept have been approved for disposal by the Ohio Historical Society.  Lott Industries will destroy them for $.10 per pound.  Wegman moved to have Lott Industries dispose of the old Village records.  Seconded by Sharp, the motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

PANNING: The Personnel Committee is talking about revising the Employee Handbook.

The South Water Plant is installing two new softeners and replacing valves and pipes.

WEGMAN: Will have the Street Department employees take care of changing the information on the Town Hall sign.

Would like to have an area closed off in the police office for privacy.  It will be discussed at the next Lands and Buildings Committee meeting.

SHARP: $175,000 has been cashed in to pay bills leaving CD’s in the mount of $165,000 still in CD investments.  We have only $300,000 left in Sky Bank because of their low interest rates.  The remainder is at Citizens Savings Bank.  Two CD’s are up for renewal this month.

The Public Lands & Buildings Committee recommends change order items in the amount of $9,504.25 for the Utility Building making the total cost approximately $140,000.  Some Council members and the Police Chief felt the window should be eliminated for security reasons.  Panning moved to go with the change orders except the window.  Seconded by Brann, the motion carried unanimously.

As there was no further business to be brought before Council at this time, Wegman moved, seconded by Sharp, to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m.