Village of Thurston

Council Meeting Minutes

October 11, 2001

 

 

Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Hite.  Pledge was recited.

 

Roll call:  Bob Ortman – Present; Nona Buskirk – Present; Roger Aubery – Present; Mary Barber – Present; Warren Simpson – Present; Kim Duncan – Present; Jo-Ann Hite – Present; Aaron Reedy – Present.

 

Tara Logan from Trimble, Julian & Grube was present to go over the 1999-2000 fiscal audit she conducted earlier this year.  Council had requested a post audit review last month.  Tara went over the audit report and the management letter.  Everyone seemed satisfied with her review.  Tara mentioned in her review that she knew we were considering going to an annual audit instead of one every two years.  She said this would be better for us.  We could catch and address any improper procedures in a timelier manner.  This is especially helpful when there is a high turn-around of clerks in the Village.

 

JoAnn told Tara that Fairfield National Bank started a new policy of not mailing the cancelled checks back to the Village, but instead they send a copy of the front and back of the check on a multiple-page report.  She wanted to know if this was okay for auditing purposes.  Tara said it was fine as long as they send the front and back, and both are readable.  JoAnn and Lowell both expressed that they didn’t understand why the bank was doing this, and that it didn’t seem like it would save them money.  Tara said she wasn’t sure why, either, but it’s okay.  Since Council had no more questions, Tara thanked everyone and left.

 

JoAnn announced that we got something from the gas company, and anyone could look at it if they wanted.  We got something from Walnut Township Zoning, too.  There is a meeting on 10/24/01 at 7:00 about property on the north side of the firehouse.  They want to build, but the township won’t let them.  They may want to annex into the village.

 

Mary made a motion to approve the September 2001 minutes with a vote correction.  Nona second.  All yea.

 

Warren made a motion to approve the September 2001 financial statement.  Bob second.  All yea.

 

Chief Mike Jackson was present for the fire department.  He passed out a copy of his proposed budget for 2002.  He said there is a new line item on it – “ER New”.  He said we are hurting for equipment and have and aging fleet.  He would like to auction off the grass truck, rescue, and old Engine 622, and get one vehicle that would do all their jobs.  He said the Township Trustees were at their fire meeting last Monday night and were talking about all the new equipment they have been able to buy for the township with interest money from their investments.  Mike showed Paul Whittaker around the firehouse to show him how old the fleet is.  Mike wants to buy an engine/rescue so they don’t have to decide which truck, or both, to use on runs.  They could just take the “combined” vehicle.  Paul said that since the village no longer have a renewable contract with the township, they might be more likely to backup an additional truck payment.

 

As far as the rest of the proposed budget for 2002, there are very little changes from 2001.  Mike said they need new radios.  They currently have 8-channel radios, but need 14-channel radios.  Mike asked for Council’s approval of this budget.  Aaron said the numbers presented weren’t correct.  Aaron would prefer to have some more time to meet with Mike to get things straightened out.

 

JoAnn asked Roger about moving some cars off the road near him due to the Storm Sewer Phase II construction being done.  Roger said he would have them moved.  They are coming in on the 22nd of October.

 

The Township Trustees’ meeting is Nov. 13th.  Our next meeting is Nov. 8th.  The vote for the fire department budget for 2002 is tabled until our November meeting.

 

Mike asked when Trick-or-Treat would happen.  She said October 31, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  Mike said the guys from the department would be passing out candy as usual.

 

Roger made a motion to change appropriations to move $600 from 2901-120-432-0006 (Maintenance – Building) to 2901-120-432-0005 (Maintenance – Vehicles) to allow for vehicle repairs for the remainder of the fiscal year.  Kim second.  All yea.

 

Roger made a motion to change appropriations to move $79.36 from 2901-120-431-0000 (Repairs & Maintenance) to 2901-120-432-0005 (Maintenance – Vehicles) to allow for bill to be paid for vehicle repair.  Bob second.  All yea.

 

JoAnn announced that on 9/20/01 Liberty Homes had called.  D&B Paving are doing the Broad St. repair when they do Thurston Garden in about two or three weeks.  They are also getting us a quote to pave the sidewalk in front of the municipal building.

 

JoAnn said that on 9/19/01 M&E called and said we couldn’t do all the projects we voted on last meeting.  They said we cannot do paving, sidewalks AND drains, but can only be one thing for the grant.  She had contacted five of the six council people at home, and they all agreed to do the drains at 16%.  Kim wasn’t at home at the time.

 

Bob made a motion to have the Walnut Township Trustees do snow removal for us this winter.  Roger second.  All yea.

 

JoAnn said there was a pre-construction meeting 9:00 am 9/28/01.  Keith Doll from M&E and Kevin Steward from Darby Creek Excavating were there.  They will be starting 10/22/2001.

 

JoAnn said that on 9/29/01, Owen Keller from the trailer court was here about the street he is planning to put in.  Aaron explained the Owen wanted approval for the planning of the street, but Aaron said that had to be approved by Council.  Owen wasn’t even sure if he needed Council’s approval, so he will come to a future meeting if he does.

 

JoAnn announced that on October 2, Jeff Feyko, the Village Solicitor, called and told her that we need an ordinance or resolution to award Darby Creek the contract for their bid.  Roger moved to adopt Ordinance # 2001-10-11-1, authorizing the mayor and clerk-treasurer to enter into a contact with Darby Creek Excavating, Inc., for the storm sewer improvements, phase II, and declaring it an emergency.  Warren second.  All yea.

 

JoAnn announced that on 10/9/01, she picked up ordinance and a paper to sign for M&E.

 

JoAnn announced that we received a letter from the Village Solicitor stating that we need to watch what we approve as ordinances and resolutions.  He stated that everything should go through him first for appropriate wording and form.

 

JoAnn picked up a new ordinance from the Village Solicitor that would replace Ordinance 500 for setting bonds.  Council reviewed the ordinance, but was not happy with the additional “sidewalk” wording.  They also want it to state that the people doing the work must come to Council for approval before they do the work.

 

JoAnn asked if there was any new business, or anything from the committees.  There was not.  Bev Reese was present, and JoAnn asked if she wanted to talk about anything.  She asked why Aaron why he was making home videos of her property.  Aaron said that it really didn’t have anything to do with Village business.  She said she wanted to know why he was taking pictures of her car.  Aaron said he was trying to do something about getting rid of that junk car on her property.  She said he was taking pictures of her house.  Aaron said he wasn’t, only of the car and her motor home.  An argument ensued regarding the car.  Bev said it wasn’t junk.  Aaron said that according to the Ohio Revised Code, it met the definitions of a junk vehicle, and he was going to do what he could to make them get rid of it.  She continued to say it wasn’t junk, but that they “use it for storage.”  She told Aaron he had no business taking pictures of her property because what if she was in her nightgown and was next to the windows.  Aaron said he was not taking pictures of her house.  Nona piped in that Aaron wasn’t just taking pictures of their car, but we’ve taken pictures of lots of cars across town.  Roger said he would have nothing to do with taking action on any cars on private property. 

 

JoAnn asked Bev if she would be interested in filling the vacant seat on the Board of Public Affairs.  She seemed interested, but would have to verify if she could attend meetings on those dates due to scheduled chiropractor visits.

 

Roger made a motion to pay bills and adjourn.  Nona second.  All yea. 

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

_______________________________

Aaron L. Reedy, Clerk