Mayor Pro Tempore Owen Best called the July 11, 2024, Village of Attica Council regular meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
Roll Call: Owen Best, Keith Hopple, Nicole Lenhart, Kirk Stanfield, (Councilman Best/ Mayor Pro Tem voted after receiving direction from Solicitor)
Others Present: Superintendent Tom Scott, Administrator Bryan Shock, Maintenance Employee, Will Gates, Commissioner Paradiso
Absent: Ed Beamer & Louis Sanders
Approval of Warrants: Council forgot to approve warrants, they were signed by three council members.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by Councilwoman Lenhart to approve the 6/27/24 minutes, seconded by Councilman Hopple. Vote: 4-0. Motion carried.
Written & Oral Communication: Mary Drown was in attendance to share with Council that she did not receive her water bill. She wanted to make sure Council was aware and didn’t charge late fees when customers didn’t receive their bills. She indicated the issue was with the Post Office. Commissioner Tony Paradiso was in attendance to update council on the status of countywide EMS. He shared they will have a grand opening celebration on September 14th for the new EMS location. He indicated they are fully staffed and operating out of the new location. Supt. Tom Scott reported on the last two weeks. He indicated they are having issues with the backhoe, reporting they must hit to get it to start. He also shared they have been marking curb boxes for the RCAP. Councilman Stanfield asked if Supt. Scott had a list of items to dispose of. Supt. Scott indicated he did.
Public Safety: None
Streets & Properties: Councilwoman Lenhart indicated she was approached about tree trimming for trees that are growing over the sidewalk. She wondered if the Village had authority to require residents to trim their trees. Councilwoman Lenhart shared there is a pile of brush that is excessive. She reported she is going to copy the brush pickup flyers for employees to hand out when they encounter such a pile. She argued that the Village is paying 2 employees for a full day to pick up brush. Council didn’t object to the maintenance employees dropping a flyer in the door of residences with unreasonable brush piles.
Parks: Councilwoman Lenhart shared the July Farmers Market only had 3 vendors. The next market is August 4th. She requested vendors contact her. The Attica Events Committee announced Attica’s Autumn Village Day on September 28th. The are reworking the layout for this year. The maintenance employees are removing the asphalt at Legion Park. Councilwoman Lenhart reported reaching out to the American Legion to see if they would be interested in installing another ballfield. She reported they have considered it, but no plans were made. She shared she used Facebook to poll the community on upgrades citizens would like to see in the parks, she indicated responses ranged from pickle ball courts to fencing in the playground. She reported she received information on Ohio Department of Natural Resources Nature Works grant. She is considering applying to apply for help with filling in the pool. There was discussion on whether the Village could fill in the pool at a minimal cost. Councilwoman Lenhart reported the travel softball team is having a tournament the weekend of July 26-28, they reached out reporting they may need to use a field that weekend based on the turn out.
Trees: Councilwoman Lenhart shared information on the Arbor Day Foundation. She shared they will send 10 trees based on a one-time donation. Mayor Pro Tem Best asked if they are looking at the trees for Myers Park along the fence line, she stated yes. She reported the trees wouldn’t be shipped until November sometime.
Fire: None.
EMS: None.
Cemetery: Councilman Hopple shared the Cemetery is waiting to hear back on the grant for repairing the mausoleum.
Personnel: None.
Zoning Commission: None.
Finance and rule: Cash balance: $1,445,802.31 All funds include CDs and reserved or restricted funds, and debt reserve funds.
RES 2024-15 2024-15 A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE NECESSITY FOR A RENEWAL LEVY AND DETERMINING TO PROCEED TO LEVY A TAX IN EXCESS OF THE TEN MILL LIMITATION FOR PROVIDING PARK OPERATION (A RENEWAL LEVY) AND CERTIFYING THE SAME TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF SENECA COUNTY, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Councilwoman Lenhart moved to suspend the three-read rule on Resolution 2024-15, Councilman Hopple seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0. Motion Carried.
Councilwoman Lenhart moved to declare an emergency on Resolution 2024-15, Councilman Hopple seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0. Motion carried.
Councilwoman Lenhart moved to adopt Resolution 2024-15; Councilman Hopple seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0. Motion carried
Fiscal Officer Hatfield also shared she had RES 2024-16 Amending Appropriations to supplementally appropriate street funds, park funds, and water funds. The overall appropriations will remain the same.
Councilwoman Lenhart moved to suspend the three-read rule on Resolution 2024-16, Councilman Hopple seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0. Motion Carried.
Councilwoman Lenhart moved to declare an emergency on Resolution 2024-16, Councilman Hopple seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0. Motion carried.
Councilwoman Lenhart moved to adopt Resolution 2024-16, Councilman Hopple seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0. Motion carried
Fiscal Officer Hatfield shared that there is a bulletin from the State Auditor indicating all government employees and elected officials are required to complete a fraud training prior to September 28th, 2024. She asked Council and the present employees to let her know when they complete the training so she can track it.
Water & Sewer: Mayor Pro Tempore Best shared he was going to follow up with Matt Dooley on scheduling a meeting with Willard to discuss a rate. He also shared he believes the Village is going to meet with Bloomville next week regarding sewer. Admin Shock reported there is some confusion on the $25.25 minimum use charge. Admin Shock asked if a tenant moves out of a rental, will the $25.25 be charged? Mayor Pro Tempore Best explained he believed the landlord would be charged for the ability to have access to the water via the connection. Councilman Stanfield asked to clarify who would be responsible. Mayor Pro Tem Best indicated the landlord. Councilman Stanfield made it clear he doesn’t agree with the $25.25 charge. He stated it should be fair and equitable.
Village Website & IT: None
Unfinished, Old Business and New Business: Admin Shock shared the bank will be resealing and striping the village hall parking lot on July 27th, with a rain date of July 28th.
Executive Session: None.
Next meeting: Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 7:30 PM.
Motion by Councilwoman Lenhart, seconded by Councilman Hopple to adjourn the meeting. Time: 8:30 PM. Vote: 4-0. Motion carried.
