Ashland City Council
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL
June 6, 2006
Council President Glen Stewart called the meeting to order at 7:00
p.m.
ROLL CALL
Ward 1: Robert L. Valentine Absent
Ward 2: Robert M. Valentine Present
Ward 3: Ruth Detrow
Present
Ward 4: Paul Wertz
Absent
At-large: Glen Stewart
Present
Note: Throughout the minutes, Robert L. Valentine and Robert M.
Valentine are designated as to their ward representation, W1 and W2.
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine W2 to excuse Mr. Wertz and
Mr. Valentine W1.
Ayes: Stewart, Valentine W2, Detrow
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES
May 16, 2006: Regular session
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Stewart to accept the minutes.
Ayes: Stewart, Valentine W2, Detrow
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM
THE AUDIENCE: None
LEGISLATION
Item (a) AN ORDINANCE DECLARING COUNCIL’S INTENTION TO CHANGE THE
NAME OF A PORTION OF ELMARNA AVENUE, FROM THOMAS DRIVE WEST, TO ELMARNA
COURT IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
(Second reading)
Moved by Stewart and seconded by Detrow to remove this ordinance and
replace it with one suggesting a name to the liking of the residents of
this street.
Ayes: Stewart, Valentine W2, Detrow
Comments:
With his motion to remove this ordinance, Stewart
gave other names for this street that he was given by some residents of
the street, names such as Williamsburg Court, Circle or Street.
He asked if there was anyone present from that area who would like to
speak to this, and Brian Rowe of 848 Elmarna Avenue came forward.
Rowe explained that he and another resident have
been working to get a letter together for the other residents in order
to put together something that they all agree on. The other
resident is out of town for a week or so, and when she returns they
will finish this up. They wanted Council to know they are working
on it though they still need a little time.
Stewart responded that there is no rush on it, and
if they get a consensus and bring it to Council, it will be put up for
consideration on the first meeting in July. If that time frame
doesn’t work, it would put up at a later meeting. Rowe told
him that shouldn’t be any problem.
WARD REPORTS
Ward 2: Bob Valentine
(a) High grass:
Valentine W2 thanked Street Director Jerry Mack for
taking care of high grass some residents had called him about.
Those residents again called Valentine W2 and asked him to thank Mack
and give him their appreciation.
(b) Patch on Valley Drive:
Valentine W2 reported two calls about this repair
being made. The people again wanted to be sure that thanks were
passed on to Jerry Mack.
(c) High weeds in a field next to Smith Road:
Valentine W2 reported a call from Mark Heydinger,
1280 Smith Road, as to the weeds in a field next to him being so high
he cannot see to get out of his driveway. Valentine W2 asked Mack
to check this out.
At-large: Glen Stewart
(a) Dumping trash in vacant lots:
Stewart indicated he’d like to address a
problem that belongs to more than a single ward. It is a problem
of dumping material, many times yard waste, on vacant lots, assuming it
is no problem dumping yard wastes on vacant lots. However, it is
a problem.
Dumping wastes, whether it be bricks, tree limbs, grass clippings or
whatever the case may be, on anyone else’s property other than
your own is just not appropriate. In many cases, after that
property has been abused and the weeds need cut, the owner has a
problem cutting because of the debris that is in the area. If the
area is wooded and not mowed, then the debris just builds up into piles
of rubbish.
This is not only inappropriate, it is also unlawful
to dump on another person’s property. There is a process
set up in the City for disposal of yard wastes by using City bags which
are then collected by the City on certain scheduled days, and taken to
a composting area.
Stewart emphasized that it is appropriate as a
community that we honor each other’s property and lots, and help
keep the community looking good.
OLD BUSINESS
(a) Update on the sidewalk program:
Stewart requested City Engineer Jim Cooper to give
an update on progress of the City sidewalk program at the next Council
session.
NEW BUSINESS
(a) Request for liquor permit hearing: New
To: Wal-Mart Stores East LP, dba Wal-Mart Supercenter 1448, 1996
East Main Street
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Stewart that no hearing be requested.
Ayes: Stewart, Valentine W2, Detrow
(b) Presentation of property with request for annexation:
Stewart introduced the petition for annexation
presented to Council on May 26th, and he read the County Commissioners
resolution releasing the property for annexation by the City. The
area contains approximately 185.3 acres owned by Loral Investments,
LLC, and which is located east of the City off U.S. Rt. 250.
Pursuant to the regulations for annexation per the Expedited Type 1,
the City must wait 60 days from the filing date before consideration of
an ordinance accepting the annexation.
(c) Gaming center business:
Valentine W2 asked if anyone knew of the new gaming
parlor at the East Main Commerce Center? No action or
discussion was entertained.
(d) Work session scheduled:
Police Chief Bill Miracle requested a work session
with Council with respect to a mobile computerization project the
department would like to do. A work session was scheduled to
follow the regular session on June 20th. Chief Miracle will
present information as to the project.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
None
PUBLIC HEARING:
7:10 p.m.
(a) Community Development Block Grant Program, Fiscal Year 2006;
Hearing #2
City Engineer Jim Cooper conducted this hearing and
outlined the project possibilities. He explained that several
possibilities were brought for Council’s consideration.
· Every year the City asks for $1,500 for
administration costs.
· 15% of the nearly $88,000 is being requested
for Ashland Transit as was done last year.
· Two other projects were submitted:
1. One from the Ashland County Council on Alcoholism
and Drug Abuse (ACCADA) was for parking lot paving ($9,200).
2. One from the dental clinic on Ninth Street for
sidewalk construction( $4,000 to $5,000).
The ACCADA location is in Area 5 Low to Moderate
Income (LMI) area (there are seven LMI areas in the City), and the
dental clinic is in Area 2. According to CDBG regulations,
multiple projects need to be in the same LMI area.
So, Cooper recommended the use of Area 1, the area where the water
treatment plant is located, in order to replace old water butterfly
valves that are malfunctioning, valves that have been in use about 30
years. In the last problem at the water treatment plant, those
valves malfunctioned and caused other problems. They need to be
replaced with gate valves.
Gate valves are expensive: the valves
themselves cost about $14,000 plus the construction/installation costs
which make the cost about $18,000 to $20,000 per valve. There are
at least a half a dozen valves to upgrade the infrastructure at the
plant. This particular project affects not just the LMI area #1
but also the entire City.
Detrow asked that if the valves are replaced, then
the other two projects are out, and Cooper affirmed that.
Stewart asked that since the butterfly valves serve all the areas, that
still negates some of those funds going into the other specific
areas? Cooper affirmed that but explained further that if there
were other projects in Area 1, the money could be split for two other
projects, providing they were both in Area 1. But there is such a
need for the valves, and that is why just the one project was chosen.
Detrow asked if the valves would use all the money,
and Cooper told her all that plus additional money the City would have
to come up with.
As there were no further comments, the public
hearing was closed, and Council returned to the regular session
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Stewart and seconded by Valentine W2 to adjourn.
Ayes: Stewart, Valentine W2, Detrow
Council adjourned the regular
session at 7:25 p.m.
Submitted by
Elaine
C. Hootman
Clerk of
Council