Mayor Nathan Frisch called the February 23, 2023 Village of Attica Council regular meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
Roll Call: Ed Beamer, Lynn Love, Louis Sanders, Kirk Stanfield
Others Present: Heather Heyman Niedermeier Solicitor, Alyssa Mason Billing Clerk
Approval of Warrants: Motion by Councilman Beamer, seconded by Councilwoman Love to approve the warrants for payment. Vote: 4-0. Motion carried. Councilman Beamer did ask what the $640 to Seneca County Regional Planning is for. Essentially, that money is for economic development and also Regional Planning did award the funds for the installation of the veteran’s memorial last year. Councilman Beamer was satisfied with that explanation.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by Councilman Beamer, seconded by Councilman Sanders to amend the minutes. Vote: 3-0 with Councilwoman Love abstaining. Motion carried.
Motion by Councilman Beamer to approve the minutes with amendments, seconded by Councilman Sanders. Vote: 3-0 with Councilwoman Love abstaining. Motion carried.
Written & Oral Communication: None.
Public Safety: None.
Streets & Properties: Mayor Frisch reported the American Legion will be purchasing replacement flags for uptown. He said the Village has not contributed in the past. He asked Council if they would be in favor of helping with the purchase of 20 flags at $20 apiece. Councilwoman Love moved to purchase 20 flags, Councilman Sanders seconded. Vote: 2-2 with Councilman Beamer and Councilman Stanfield voting “no”. The Mayor broke the tie with a “yes” vote. Motion carried.
Parks: None.
Trees: None.
Fire: Councilman Sanders reported the committee met last week. They had 20 calls last month; 2 fire calls, 18 rescue calls. Councilman Sanders also stated he has the budget and year-end report if anyone would like to review them.
EMS: Councilwoman Love stated EMS had a short meeting where they met with the new director. Mayor Frisch asked if they had received any bids on the building, Councilwoman Love stated as far as she knew the architect had been hired. She said she would follow up with Tony when they meet on Tuesday.
Cemetery: Councilman Sanders reported they had a quick meeting.
Personnel: Councilwoman Lynn asked how the new employee was doing. Mayor Frisch reported he is doing very well. Councilman Stanfield asked how the Operators of Record are doing at staying under 30 hours per week to keep within health insurance standards, the Mayor reported they are doing well.
Zoning Commission: None.
Finance and rule: Cash balance: $1,533,474.35. All funds includes CDs and reserved or restricted funds, and debt reserve funds. FO Hatfield reported that there were not enough votes to pass the permanent appropriations at the last meeting, so she asked Council to vote on them again as an emergency because some of the final appropriations were needed to pay some invoices.
RES 2023-3 Permanent Appropriations Councilman Beamer moved to suspend the three-read rule, Councilman Sanders seconded. Vote: 3-1 with Councilman Stanfield voting no. Motion carried.
RES 2023-3 Permanent appropriations Councilman Beamer moved to declare an emergency, Councilman sanders seconded. Vote: 3-1 with Councilman Stanfield voting no. Motion carried.
RES 2023-3 Permanent appropriations Councilman Beamer moved to adopt RES 2023-3, Councilman Sanders seconded. Vote: 3-1 with Councilman Stanfield voting no. Motion carried.
Water & Sewer: Billing Clerk Alyssa Mason was present following up on the water leak at 111 Lemmon St. that was discussed in January and agreed upon then to forgive the sewer portion of the current bill. Unfortunately, leak expense carried into the next bill resulting in another $515 bill from the pipe that broke December. The owner was hoping to get the sewer credited from this portion as well. Councilman Beamer asked if she has made any payments yet or set up a payment arrangement. Alyssa reported they have made a $50 payment but are hoping to pay the bill when the house sells. Councilman Beamer asked the Solicitor what the steps would be to assess a lien on the property. Heather stated she knows the assessments take place at a specific time of the year. Councilman Beamer moved to request $100 a month payment plan, assess a tax lien to ensure the Village’s position when the house sells, and also forgiving this bills sewer portion as well, Councilwoman Love seconded. Vote: 3-1 with Councilman Stanfield voting no. Motion carried. Alyssa reported the total bill with the sewer forgiven would be $2150.60.
Councilman Beamer reported he and the Mayor met with Willard today. He received their current rate structures for inside city limits, outside city limits, and Plymouth. Dylan with Makeever’s is working on coming up with estimated costs to work with Willard based on Willard’s rates, our debt service, the installation of the waterline from Willard west to Attica. Councilman Beamer also reported the bid package for the water distribution system has been advertised. Councilwoman Love asked if this preliminary work by Makeever’s office, in relation to purchasing water from Willard, would be invoiced to the Village. Councilman Beamer reported only if the project moves forward. Councilwoman Love then asked if we would be responsible financially for installing the line. Councilman Beamer stated yes, either through rates or a loan, the village would be responsible. Mayor Frisch reported the loan they are reviewing now would be at about a 2% interest rate. RCAP is looking into all financing/ grant options as well. Councilwoman Love asked if Gary is planning to stick around. Mayor Frisch said they are working with Gary, but they didn’t know yet. Councilman Beamer stated we have until June to respond on the bid package, which allows a little time to gather preliminary estimates on purchasing water from Willard. Mayor Frisch also reported RCAP is going to set listening devices to check for leaks and also auditing various meters to ensure our infrastructure is operating as it should be. Councilman Beamer reported he found out through Dakota that some of our lost water is due to flushing the hydrants for 45 minutes at a time, some of them twice a month, specifically the hydrant out by the school. Councilman Stanfield was wondering why twice a month. Mayor Frisch stated the size of the line, the fact that that line ends after the school, also to prevent TTHMS is why the flushing happens as it does.
Village Website & IT: none
Unfinished, Old Business and New Business:
Unfinished Business: Councilman Stanfield wanted to discuss lead lines again. He wants to know why we need to replace lead lines when they water is not testing positive for lead. Mayor Frisch stated because the EPA said so.
Business 2nd Read ORD. 2023-2 Adopting and Enacting American Legal Publishing’s Ohio Basic Code, 2023 Edition, as the code of Ordinances for the Village of Attica, Ohio. Councilman Stanfield stated purchasing the book is a waste of money. FO Hatfield agreed to not purchase the book next year.
Next meeting: Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 7:30 PM.
Motion by Councilman Beamer, seconded by Councilman Sanders to adjourn the meeting. Time: 8:20 PM. Vote: 4-0. Motion carried.
