Minutes:
Mayor Louis Sanderscalled theMarch 27,2025, Village of Attica Council regularmeeting to order at 7:30PM.
Roll Call:Owen Best, Ed Beamer, Nicole Lenhart,Jim Gray,Keith Hopple, Kirk Stanfield
Others Present:Administrator Shock,Maintenance Supervisor Scott, Nick Reiter – Seneca East Baseball Club, Bob Bores – RA Bores
Absent:
Approval of Warrants:Motion by Councilman Best to approve the warrants for payment, seconded by Councilwoman Lenhart. Vote: 6-0 Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes:Motion by Councilman Bestto approve 3/13/25 minutes, seconded by Councilwoman Lenhart. Vote: 6-0, Motion carried.
Written & Oral Communication:
Bob Bores of RA Bores inquired on the status of the invoices regarding the work done to repair and isolate water lines impacted by the train derailment. Councilman Best noted the Village has been working with its legal representation, Matt Dooley, to prepare a bill for Norfolk & Southern. Norfolk & Southern has expressed they would like to make one payment with a conditional release waiver. The Village has asked if RA Bores is willing to allow these invoices to age as the railroad finishes cleaning up the area. Administrator Shock stated Norfolk & Southern verbally agreed to pay RA Bores directly. Councilman Beamer advised against moving forward with that notion unless the Village received in writing that they would pay RA Bores directly. Administrator Shock asked if he receives that in writing if they can mobilize RA Bores for further repairs. Councilman Beamer agreed, as long as no waiver is signed.
Nick Reiter of the Seneca East Baseball Club provided a Code of Conduct the county organization has mandated. Nick asked permission to install a sign at the Myers Park ballfield. Council had no opposition.
Administrator Shock made Council aware of roof damage to the hall, notably over the old police station section. He will start obtaining quotes to repair and replace the roof.
Public Safety: None
Streets & Properties:Councilman Beamer has obtained 3 quotes for road repairs throughout the Village, noting streets such as Lemon, Venice, Seneca, Cook, Buckeye, Chestnut, and Miller.
Parks:Councilwoman Lenhart provided updates on the egg scavenger hunt, as well as noting 2 of the 4 new signs have been installed on the edges of town.
Trees:None
Fire:None
EMS:None
Cemetery:None
Personnel:Councilman Best provided an update on the water operator search, noting one applicant has been offered the role and he has accepted the position and will be operator of record as of April 1st.
Zoning Commission:None
Finance and rule:Cash balance: $1.2MAll funds inclusive ofreserved or restricted funds, and debt reserve funds.
Water & Sewer:Councilman Best provided an update on the Water Regionalization Project, notably negotiations with Willard have stalled due to the lack of transparency behind rates and the uncertainty with future rates. Meanwhile, Northern Ohio Rural Water has approached the Village providing a proposal. This proposal included a much shorter project scope being able to connect within 2 miles, rather than 6 miles in the scenario with Willard. The estimated proposal is to be within a rate range of $3 to $3.25 per 1000 gallons, there would also be a cap on rate increases of 3% annually. NORW would also treat water before it comes into the village alleviating the need of an operator to feed chemicals into the system.
Councilman Beamer stated in the Willard project scenario we would be responsible for the 6-mile line whereas with NORW we would only be responsible for the 2-mile line until the line was paid off at which time would be transferred to NORW to maintain. This proposal would also lower the connection cost an estimated $1.3M compared to the Willard connection.
Councilman Best hopes to provide a draft agreement with NORW at the next meeting.
Councilman Best provided a disclosure of conflict of interest and consent to move forward from our legal representation Matt Dooley who also represents NORW. Councilman Beamer noted the agreement states if concerns are raised the attorney will remove himself from the transaction. Councilman Best made motion to move forward with Matt Dooley, Councilman Hopple seconded the motion, vote 6-0.
Councilman Stanfield raised concerns with the sewer capital fund being over-funded. He suggested investing the fund in STAR and suspending the accumulation of revenue into sewer capital improvement. Councilman Stanfield made motion to suspend the sewer cap rate. Councilman Beamer seconded the motion. Vote 1-5 with Councilman Stanfield in favor, motion failed.
Village Website & IT:None
Unfinished, Old Business and New Business:None
Next meeting:Regular meeting on Thursday,April10that 7:30PM.
Motion byCouncilman Best, seconded byCouncilwoman Lenhartto adjourn the meeting. Time: 9:27PM. Vote: 6-0, Motion carried.
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Mayor Louis Sanders- Fiscal Officer Isaac Phillips
