Mayor Nathan Frisch called the March 9, 2023 Village of Attica Council regular meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
Roll Call: Ed Beamer, Louis Sanders, Kirk Stanfield
Others Present: Jaime Mendoza, potential contract Operator of Record Water Treatment. Dylan Wyatt of Makeever and Associates.
Approval of Warrants: Motion by Councilman Beamer, seconded by Council Sanders to approve the warrants for payment. Vote: 3-0. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by Councilman Beamer, seconded by Councilman Sanders to approve the minutes. Vote: 3-0. Motion carried.
Written & Oral Communication: None.
Public Safety: None.
Streets & Properties: The Mayor shared a “Thank You” note from the Legion for the flags the Village purchased.
Parks: None.
Trees: None.
Fire: Meeting next week.
EMS: None.
Cemetery: None.
Personnel: Mayor Frisch introduced Jaime Mendoza as a potential contract Water Operator of Record. Jaime Mendoza explained has had been the superintendent of a few of different Water Treatment operations. He is currently in contract with Kelley’s Island as the backup operator of record and stated they don’t need him for as many hours as we do. He would be hired as a 1099 employee at 40 hours per week. The Mayor would like to keep Gary and Jeret on the payroll to fill in if Jaime needed time off. Jaime is aware of the Village’s current situation with the Water Treatment Plant. Jaime would work for $35 an hour for the first 90 days after that it would be $40. He wouldn’t charge overtime for hours over 40 hours. Jaime would only charge mileage for traveling to meetings after hours outside of the village. Councilman Stanfield asked if the contract had been cleared by Heather. Mayor Frisch stated he plans to meet with Heather in the morning.
At 7:47 Councilman Stanfield made a motion to enter executive session to discuss personnel, Councilman Sanders seconded. Vote: 3-0. Motion carried.
At 7:52 Councilman Beamer made a motion to exit executive session, Councilman Sanders seconded. Vote: 3-0. Motion carried.
Councilman Beamer made a motion to enter into the contract with Jaime provided Heather approves the contract. Councilman Sanders seconded the motion. Vote: 3-0. Motion carried.
Zoning Commission: None.
Finance and rule: Cash balance: $1,584,967.20. All funds includes CDs and reserved or restricted funds, and debt reserve funds. FO Hatfield presented February’s bank reconciliation for review.
Water & Sewer: Mayor Frisch has been working with RCAP to come up with financing/grant options to fund the installation of a potential waterline from Willard. RCAP representatives told the Mayor they need the resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for said funds back by the beginning of April to have a shot at the pot of funds they have in mind.
Resolution 2023-4 Authorizing the Mayor to Accept and Enter into a Water Supply Revolving Loan account. Councilman Sanders made a motion to suspend the three-read rule, Councilman Beamer seconded. Vote: 2-1 with Councilman Stanfield voting no. Motion failed.
Councilman Stanfield didn’t agree with the resolution stating repayment would be made from the water improvement fund. He believes there is no more room to borrow. Councilman Beamer asked Councilman Stanfield to consider what is in the best interest of the village citizens. Stanfield said lower rates and quality water are in the best interest of the citizens. Councilman Beamer requested Councilman Stanfield come to the next meeting with a proposal to lower the water rates with quality water and a plan for funding. Councilman Stanfield then stated, “Cut interest rates, cut operating costs, and find the leaks, that plant is inefficient as it is!”
Mayor Frisch explained to Council that Aqua asked that the bid deadline for selling the water treatment plant/operation be pushed back to allow them more time to gather better financial information. Dylan stated he would issue an addendum stating the bids would be received on April 21st. The Village would have 60 days to respond from the bid opening date. The Mayor asked if everyone was okay with moving the bid opening date back, to which Council agreed.
Councilman Stanfield asked for an update on the lead line project. Mayor Frisch said there were two lines that didn’t need replaced because they were not lead leaving money to replace other lead lines. Councilman Stanfield asked why don’t we check some other lines and why do we keep testing the same set of lines every month? Mayor Frisch stated we are following protocol, we will have to start sampling new lines though, because the last set were the ones that were replaced.
Village Website & IT: none
Unfinished, Old Business and New Business:
Unfinished Business: 3rd 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 Beamer moved to approve, Councilman Sanders seconded. Vote: 2-1 with Councilman Stanfield voting no. Motion failed.
Next meeting: Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 7:30 PM.
Motion by Councilman Beamer, seconded by Councilman Sanders to adjourn the meeting. Time: 8:20 PM. Vote: 3-0. Motion carried.
