Village of Thurston

Council Meeting Minutes

June 8, 2006

Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm by Mayor Mary Barber. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Roll call: Robert Ortman – Present

Warren Simpson – Present

Ed Vanek – Present

Rita Leiendecker – Absent

Steve Reedy – Present

Laura Clark – Present

Mary Barber – Present

Aaron Reedy – Present

Mary asked if any visitors wished to speak. No one did.

Steve made a motion to approve the May 2006 minutes. Ed second. All yea.

Ed made a motion to approve the May 2006 financial statement. Robert second. All yea.

Robert made a motion to waive the three-reading rule and declare an emergency for Resolution 2006-12, A Resolution Authorizing the Transfer of Funds and the Declaration of an emergency. Laura second. All yea.

Warren made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2006-12, A Resolution Authorizing the Transfer of Funds and the Declaration of an emergency. Ed second. All yea.

Second Reading of Ordinance 2006-11, An Ordinance Creating the Position of Village Administrator in Accordance with the Provisions of Section 735.271 of the Revised Code.

Report from Fire Chief – Jim Hite submitted his report - see attached.

Ed made a motion to approve removing Becky Noble from the fire department roster due to lack of participation. Robert second. All yea.

He would like to hire Sheryl Geitz to the department. Council discussed. Warren made a motion to allow Sheryl Geitz to be hired. Laura second. All yea.

Jim said the department has brought in about $16,000 in grants this year and just had a bowl-a-thon that brought in about $4,000, for a total of around $20,000. Council congratulated Jim and the department on their efforts.

Aaron told Jim there were several uncashed payroll checks going back to June of 2005. Jim said most folks have been told to get them, but they haven’t picked them up or can’t be contacted. Jim and Aaron agreed to void the checks from 2005 and wait a few months on the others.

Report from the Service Committee: Robert said they met June 6, 2006. Present were Laura, Ed, Steve, Robert, and Mary. Ed said they counted the light poles along Main St. that they’d like to put flags on. They counted 10.

Michelle notified the committee that Pam Murphy of 8114 Maple St. said the catch basin in front of her house wasn’t working. Warren said he watched the basin last night while it rained and it looked like it was working okay, though it might need graded on one side. Laura said it’s too high. She said she’s watched it, too, and it just collects trash. She said it’s too far up in the grass. Warren said a few basins on Third Street need lowered.

Report from the Safety Committee: Ed said they met on June 5, 2006. Present were Warren, Jim Hite, Ed, Jamie Carroll, Robert, Mary, Josh Friesner, Pauline Ety, Walter Gabriel, Alan Dupler. They discussed who should sign off on fire code violations. They agreed Billy Phillips will sign off on those outside the Village. Jim Hite can sign off on those within the Village. They also discussed future equipment replacement (1 – Tanker, 2 – Grass Truck, 3 – Medic).

Report from the Finance Committee: Didn’t meet.

Report from the Rules Committee: Didn’t meet.

Report from the Regional Planning Representative: Robert said there was nothing of interest to the Village.

Old Business – Council discussed the $575 overage charge from the furnace installation. Steve said we shouldn’t pay till we find out who authorized the extra work. Ed made a motion to table the issue for further investigation. Steve second. All yea.

Aaron went over the audit for Fiscal Years 2004 & 2005. There was only one minor citation. The audit will be put on the Village website for the public to view.

New Business – Warren made a motion to have the Solicitor start the process of enacting a 1% income tax for the Village. Ed second. All yea. The comments were made that we need to raise more money to do more within the Village.

Mary said the catch basin at the corner of High St. & Second St. is in bad shape. She is going to get a quote to repair it.

Ed said something needs to be done about the sidewalks in front of the Municipal Building before winter comes this year. Water builds up and freezes – it’s a bad situation. Mary said she would get a bid.

Lowell Hite said the seal is going out in a pump at the pump station. He wants to know if it’s okay to repair it. It will probably cost between $1,000 and $3,000. Laura made a motion to allow the repair as long as it’s under $3500. Otherwise it would need to come to Council. Ed second. All yea.

Robert made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss contract negotiations. Steve second. All yea. The time is 8:33 p.m.

At 9:50 p.m., Robert made a motion to come out of Executive Session. Steve second. All yea.

Mary said she had a call from some parents in the Village that some kids were spray-painting the rear of the Municipal Building. Mary drive up and warned them. She also thanked the parents for the warning.

Steve made a motion to adjourn. Laura second. All yea. The time is 10:05 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

_______________________________

Aaron L. Reedy, Clerk