Ashland City Council


MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL
March 20, 2007



Councilwoman,  Ruth Detrow, Ward 3 called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.   

ROLL CALL

Ward 1:    Robert L. Valentine   Present
Ward 2:    Robert M. Valentine  Present
Ward 3:    Ruth Detrow           Present
Ward 4:    Paul Wertz          Present
At-large: Glen Stewart          Absent

Motion to Excuse Glen Stewart, Moved by Paul Wertz, seconded by Valentine Ward 2.
    Ayes:  Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Paul Wertz, Ruth Detrow.

Move to nominate Ruth Detrow as temporary President, by Paul Wertz, seconded by  Valentine 1.

    Ayes: Robert L. Valentine 1, Valentine 2,  Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz

Boy Scouts are present at the meeting, asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.


PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Boy Scouts:  Philip Metcalf, Troupe 586, Working on the Communications Merit Badge and the Citizenship in the Community; Bryant Leon, Troupe 586, Working on the Citizenship in the Community Badge and Communications; Caleb Stutz, Troupe 513, Working on the Citizenship in the Community Badge.

PRESENTATION OF MINUTES
March 6, 2007 Regular session
No additions or corrections:
 
Moved by Wertz to be accepted,  and seconded by Valentine W1 to approve the minutes as received.

Ayes:  Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE:  (Items not Included on the Agenda).    NONE.


For the benefit of the Boy Scouts, Our Legislation, we have 4 items of Legislation that we will pass or not tonight.  Each one of these will not be read in full and that is because we have received the Legislation a few days ahead of time, Friday as a rule, before the Tuesday meeting.  We have time to read it and study it, talk to Department Heads if needed for discussion. We save time in our meeting by passing a motion to do away with the complete reading of the Ordinance and we just read the headline for the Ordinance.  Behind us are the Department Heads.
    Jim Cooper- City Engineer
    Dave Rakestraw – Technical Services, IT
    Tim Clingan – Parks and Recreation
    Ellie Grubb – Assistant to the Mayor
    Jerry Mack – Director of Streets
    Anna Tomasek – Finance Director
    Cherie Helterbridle – Director of Human Resources and Safety
    Bill Miracle – Chief of Police
    Evan Scurti – Director of Ashland Area Council for Economic Development
 All Present:

LEGISLATION

Ord. 19-07
Item (a)  AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND
                 OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, STATE OF OHIO, DURING
                 THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2007.

Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine 1, to invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes:  Valentine W1,  Valentine W2,  Detrow, Wertz.

Comments:

There are 3 readings to pass something.  This has been passed once. We can combine reading 2 and reading 3 tonight and we may do that.

Anna Tomasek :  2007 Appropriations for the City of Ashland, with the cooperation of the Mayor and Division Directors.

Mayor Strine:  I would like to thank Council and the Division Directors for all the work they have done on the Appropriations 2007.  A lot of time has been spent in communicating with all Division Directors and getting answers to all questions and making changes, appreciate the input.

Valentine 1: Questions for the Scotts at last meeting 2 weeks ago.  

Ruth Detrow:  Our White Appropriations Book contains every expense for the City.  

Moved to Ordinance to be passed on the second reading, by Wertz, seconded by Valentine 2.
Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz

Move to suspend the rules, 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights, by Wertz, seconded by Detrow. To invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.

Move to suspend the rules 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights Wertz, seconded by Detrow.
To invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes:      Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow 3, Wertz 4.

Ruth Detrow:  The motion that Mr. Wertz made says that we are doing the 2nd and 3rd readings tonight without reading either one of them.  Otherwise, we would have to come back at the next meeting and actually pass the Ordinance.

Ord. 20-07
Item B) AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 15-07 AUTHORIZING AND DI-
               RECTING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH ASHLAND COUNTY
               HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, INC.  FOR FY 2007 COMMUNITY HOUSING IM-
               PROVEMENT PROGRAM (CHIP) WITH THE STATE OF OHIO TO CONSTRUCT
               ONE (1) SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, AND DE-
               CLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Move to nonreading in full by Wertz, seconded by Valentine 1.

To invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes:  Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow 3, Wertz.

Comments:  
Anna Tomasek:  This is an ordinance that was brought before Council last meeting.  This is an amendment due to the City of Ashland, Habitat for Humanity construct 1 single dwelling for 20,000.00; we actually had in the last ordinance that stated 2 houses.  It is 1 in the City and 1 in the County.  This ordinance is just an amendment to make that correction that is just 1 house inside the City limits for the CHIP Grant.

Motion to pass Ordinance by Detrow,  moved by Valentine 1, seconded by Valentine 2.
To invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow 3, Wertz.

Move to suspend the rules, 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights, by Paul Wertz, seconded by Valentine 1.
     Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow,  Wertz.

Motion for Ordinance to be passed by Detrow, seconded by Valentine 1.

To invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes:  Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.

Ord. 21-07
Item (c)  AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO FILE A
                 GRANT APPLICATION AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE OHIO RE-
                 GIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF
                 DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CHIP);
                 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Move for non-reading in full by Paul Wertz, seconded by Detrow. To invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes:  Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.

Comments :
Anna Tomasek:  This is an Ordinance allowing and directing the Mayor to enter into contract with Ohio Regional Development Corporation to administer our CHIP Housing Grants for the Grant cycle of 2007 thru 2009.  The amount of Grant dollars is $520,000.00 dollars. Three programs, rehab, housing repairs and down-payment assistance program. County gets about the same amount.

Move the Ordinance be passed on the first reading, by Paul Wertz, seconded by Valentine 1.
Ayes:  Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.

Move to suspend the rules, by Paul Wertz, seconded by Detrow,  to invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz

Move that the Ordinance be passed by Valentine 1, seconded by Valentine 2.
   Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.

Ruth Detrow:  For the benefit of the Boy Scouts:  The numbers- the 21 means it is the 21st Ordinance that has been passed this year and 07 means the year 2007. We number them throughout the year.

Ord. 22-07
Item (d)  AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO THE AGREE-
                  MENT REQUIRED B Y THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE
                  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM REVOLVING LOAN
                  FUND FOR THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Move for non-reading in full, by Paul Wertz, seconded by Valentine 1.
   Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz
To invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.

Comments:
Anna Tomasek:  This Ordinance is for also the CHIP Housing program’s revolving loan program where a city receives home and CDBG funds.  This is a 3 year Grant period from 2007 through 2009, allowing the State to give the City of Ashland our CHIP Grant funds.

Mayor Strine:  A lot of this money is very helpful to people who are in a certain income bracket to improve their houses and there have been a lot of houses in Ashland that have been improved from these Grants.

Ruth Detrow- All of the Realtors in town are aware of this program and when they find someone who is having a problem making a decision on whether or not to buy a property they really want, if they have low income and if they have a very good record of payment, this is where a realtor will steer them.  It is, as the Mayor said, very, very beneficial.


Motion to pass on the first reading, by Valentine 1, seconded by Valentine 2.
  Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.

Move to suspend the rules, 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights by Paul Wertz, seconded by Valentine 1.
   Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.

Move the Ordinance be passed by Paul Wertz, seconded by Detrow.
    Ayes:  Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.

That concludes the Legislative portion this evening.

WARD REPORTS

Ward 2:  Bob Valentine
(a)    Mr. Wolfe called me from Arizona while he was watching the baseball game today and answered my questions.  I appreciated the call.  

(b)    My basement flooded Wednesday night, all the rain we had and my wife and I bailed water for about 5 ½ hours and then I got a hold of Curt Young, I did not want to wake him too early, so they sent the City out and they were there within 45 minutes and I appreciated that.  Good Response time. They did not know me from Adam, and I appreciated that.  I had a root ball 50 foot from my floor drain, 2 houses down from him, he was on vacation and he had to come home early, his flooded.  We used two big Wet/Vacs.  Curt Young brought over a plug to plug the drain, even though when it was plugged, it came up through the bathroom drain.

(c)    Another call for Paul Wertz, Ward 4.

Ward 1: Bob Valentine
(a)    A few calls regarding Sidewalks and there seems to be always a misconcep-
tion.  A lot of people did not understand what was going to happen in the future.  This was in the Times Gazette and there was a discussion on costs when it proposed 1 ½ years prior and so now they are aware that this is going to happen within the next 10 years, they are really concerned. One question, on Baney Road, they put sidewalks in, on Hillcrest sidewalks.  I said that was Issue 2 money and the State required that, that was a part of Issue 2, but the point that we argued, not argued but they understood it to be well, they got it, why couldn’t we?  When it is going to affect me, then I become concerned.  A lot of people did not understand that this was going to happen.
    
Ward 4:  Paul Wertz
(a)    The corner of East 8th and Union on the East side, a Water Company or the Gas Company has torn up the Street and there is a big drop off and needs patched, probably a 10 foot place needs repaired.  Cars are bouncing.  

(b)    A house at 1413 Troy Road is open and neighbors see kids going in and out of it and are concerned about it.  May needs to be boarded up or maybe the City can do something about it.  It is right there by Emmons Baseball Field on other side of the street. We did their yard for them.  No door on the left side of the house and a couple of windows are wide open.  We will discuss it with Richard Wolfe, II, Law Director.  

(c)    We have gotten several calls on trash.  People are putting trash out the day before pick-up, cats are getting into it and it blows all over the neighborhood and if anyone has any ideas on how to stop it let us know.
Sanitation has picked up some of the trash. Trash should not be set out until the morning of pick-up at 7:00 am. Maybe should alter the Ordinance and enforce when it should be put out for pick-up.

Mayor Strine:  I will talk to Curt Young, Sanitation, get some suggestions from him and have a Work Session to discuss this.  

Bob Valentine Ward 1:  It is just one of those things that they have to be reminded about. We need to look into the situation, see if it is occurring all of the time.

Paul Wertz Ward 4- my phone has been busy.  Two people have called regarding Armstrong Cable.  We told them that their Contract is up this year, so the people want to know when so they can come and talk to us about it.  We will talk to Richard Wolfe, II about it to get ideas on what to do.

Ward 3:  Ruth Detrow
(a)    The Arts Center.  If you read the paper at all, you know that the Art Center has closed.  A benefactor gave them a $10,000.00 dollar check.  I think unwittingly the paper encouraged people to sort of wait and see what happens and after talking with a member of the board of the Art Center, I know we cannot afford to wait.  The people of Ashland deserve to know exactly what is happening with the Art Center and they deserve to have an opportunity if they care for it all to do something to help.  This is informative, and what the people of Ashland decide to do about it.  Maybe they will not do a single thing. I do not believe that is true of Ashlanders. I believe we love our Art Center and I believe we want it to continue and as of right now, it is closed and it is going to stay closed and the building is going to be sold and that is it.  I  have asked Diane Hammontree to explain this to us.  She is the Chairman of the Board.  She knows a great deal more of about what is happening than I do.  Please listen with care and take to heart what she has to say because she is warning us about something that I think will be somewhat of a disaster to the Art scene in Ashland if that happens.  

Diane Hammontree, Chairman of the Board, Art Center of Ashland:  
    If I can sit, that would help, I have a lot of papers.
Financial Picture:  
     1.  Functioning 8-9- years, Earl Hawkins gave the Building to us in 2000.  
2.    Elevator installed a few years ago.  Monies from City and County to afford it.  
3.    The Historic Company needed the elevator to be put in by Historical
          values, so cost doubled.  $60,000.00 still owed on it. Do not know name of
          Company.  When you are on the Historical register, they have to have say of
          what is to be done and how.  77,000.00 dollars was borrowed to complete this
          project.  We borrowed from Frank Applegate, we paid on it and got it down to
          $60,000.00.  
4.    Personal Loan of 10,000.00, been brought down to $7,770.00.  There is a pos-
     sibility that the personal loan will be forgiven, we do not know yet.
5.    There was a line of credit at First Merit, taken out unsecured for 30,000.00 dol-
lars and taken to the limit.  
So we have $ 60,000.00, almost $8,000.00 and $30,000.00 right off the bat we owe.
6.    There are 3 pages of local creditors that we owe, that averages , up to March 9,
     owed $6,548.26.  And these people are still calling.

That is our known debt at this time.  We had teaches that we had to terminate.  Two staff people were terminated. When Earl gave us the $10,000.00 dollars it was for paying the Staff people.  We also had payroll taxes.  We had 2 tax bills.

7.    Staff added up to be $3, 630.31, 1 payroll tax was $1, 716.66.  The other tax
      was $1,991.80.

We had a phone call from First Merit, they put a FREEZE on Earl’s money because the $30,000.00 amount was not secured.  Everything was in the mail, money was deposited,  taxes were written and then we got the phone call.  I called First Merit back, and said don’t do this, we have 2 government checks that are going to bounce. They allowed those 2 checks to go through but froze the rest.  I said put a lien on the Building, we need those checks to go through. Then I got another phone call stating that they will only hold $ 1, 500.00 dollars which will be our August payment on the $ 30,000.00 dollar loan.  Our payroll has gone through.  

8.    Balance of the Check Book after payroll is $ 4,000.00, just under to about $3,900.00 dollars.  

9.    We still have the pending law suit from Overton for $32,000.00 dollars which will happen this fall.   We need to include that on the sale of the building, padding in case that happens. We own the building, we have to sell it.   If we cannot sell the building, we will have to file bankruptcy.  We have an attorney on our Board.  

Has there been any discussion of an appeal to the community to raise the funds.

We are in such dire straits; we do not have time to do that.  We cannot pay the heating bill; we cannot keep the lights on.  As far as an “Emergency Appeal to the Community”, yes it was discussed, and it was pretty much discarded because we made it a point to appeal to the community at least 4 or 5 times a year before and it wasn’t there.  We would get terrific support finally in the last 1 year ½ in attendance for free programs that were offered and classes the Art Center offered, but as far as money for program development, building maintenance, paying the payroll, paying the electric and all the things. I mean look at all the appropriations for Ashland, it is mind-boggling.  We could not get support.  There were people that would donate $1,000.00 dollars or  even I (Julia Spreng) got involved because I was donating large sums of money that, I mean my husband and I are not wealthy by any means but we just felt that it was important and needed to be supported somehow.  So we just discarded going to the community because the support hadn’t been there.

Valentine 1:  How did it get this far?

Julia:  Some of us are just now finding out.  We did not know. Also the fact that our director left without any notice did not help either.  A slow decline of monetary support.

Diane Hammontree:  At my door at 9:30 pm there was a note from Tricia that stated she had quit.

Bob Valentine Ward 1:  Did you have a treasurer ?

Julia:  Yes.  We are finding out that the kind of reports we were getting were not giving us the information we needed and since we did not know, we did not realize it was not there.  We are still going through files.

Ruth Detrow: Diane, you are to be commended for sticking with this instead of just saying, I am not going to go there and walk away.  I do not know what the community is going to do and may be nothing, and if it is nothing, there goes the Art Center.  You are in a mess and if something happens to save the Art Center, certainly there is going to have to be an organization that really knows everything and keeps the director and everyone on a tight schedule.  I do not have a magic answer, if someone has any suggestions to make.  We will listen.

John Chorpening:  From looking at the Times Gazette today, it appears that we are only using less than 700,000.00 income tax that would go to the General Fund. Because your use is based on what is estimated for last year.  7.5 and actually came in at 8.5 so if you take 72% of that figure would be $700.00 dollars, and I don’t know what your total came to, around $100,000.00 that you are in debt.  I would suggest the City to possibly buy the building and set up some way of running it.

Mayor Strine:  Where would you suggest we take the money from to do that?  From what operation that we are now doing?  We do not have excess.  You are misunderstanding those figures.  If you would like to we can sit down and discuss it and I will show you the figures, but what you are saying are is correct.

Diane Hammontree:  Would it be possible for the City to buy the building?

Mayor Strine:  Ultimately that is Council’s decision, however, the financial condition that the City is in, I would never recommend that at this time.  We are struggling to put Police and Fire back on that we had to lay off a few years back.  So we are just getting back up to full strength. So it is a struggle for us right now.

John Chorpening:  Since we are going back to our regular strength of manpower being added, and if you take the number of runs we have a year, approximately 3600 and take a squad call out of there and you have a couple of people on vacations, you drop down to the middle of manning of six and during the 1990’s it was 7.  Now if someone would have a house fire, you will only have one hose line, you have a better chance of extinguishing a fire with more manning.

Mayor Strine: John, there is no way to cover for every incident. If there would be 5 fires at once, there would be no way to cover for it.  It depends on how much the citizens want to pay for that protection. If the public would want better protection, then we need to have more money.  If you can show us a way to do it more efficiently for less money, I wish you would come in and sit down and talk to me.  I would be glad to listen to any suggestions like that.

John Chorpening:: Another thing I would like to comment on is on the Sidewalks. When I was going around with the petitions, I got the impression that most people have, the ones I contacted do not follow what Council does.  

Mayor Strine:  I personally would like to see the Board at the Art Center make some attempt to let the public know that they want to save it and give the people the opportunity to save it.  I had a number of people say to me they thought it was terrible what was happening and they hated to see that happen and they would be willing to help out financially.  I do not know how much it would take to get whatever money you would need to get, but I have a feeling the people of Ashland would respond to that.

Evan Scurti:  Primarily what we do is work with industrial companies,  Preservation type developers.  We can market the building, it is a building with character, unfortunately someone that could be interested in it might want it to turn it into apartments. My office can help on that end.  

Ruth Detrow:  Diane, Could you tell us who your Board members are:
1.    Diane Hammontree
2.    Tim Baker
3.    Chris Chengalis
4.    Marcy Myer
5.    Liz Paster
6.    Megan Koch- High School Student
7.    Julia Spreng                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       



OLD BUSINESS:  
(1)    What is the situation on Ethanol?

Mayor Strine: We made the original proposal to them, offering the land to them along with some other items that was part of the deal and then a week or so later I talked to them on the phone and at that time, I would say that has been probably 3 weeks ago now.  They stated that they were waiting on figures from Columbia Gas to see what that would cost to get it to the site because they are a huge user of Natural Gas and the comment to me at that time was that I depending on the total cost of the electric and the gas would determine whether they would choose this site.

NEW BUSINESS
    
(1)    Make changes for the Charter.  

Glen Stewart is going to be there for the 4/05/07 meeting at 7:30 am.  They are wanting to make changes in the Charter so they are making their recommendations on the Gender of He, His and Her throughout the Charter.  Also the word Emergency, only in cases of Emergency should it be used, otherwise expedite.  So they are making all recommendations to Council for changes to be made.

Glen had made some suggestions and Ruth made some suggestions and maybe other Council, do you think the combining of the City/County Health Dept, does it make any sense to have just 1 health department.  It reads in the report, since that is not part of the Charter, that would have to be done by Council.  Maybe we could have a Work Session to discuss this?  Sometime when Al Sanders can give us a presentation.  Richard Wolfe II, stated previously that Al Sanders when available could attend our meeting.  We will schedule a Work Session on Tuesday April 10 for Al Sanders to be here at 7:00 pm in the Economic Development Conference Room.  Maybe we will have something else also.  Also have updates on Armstrong Cable. Bring up about the Housing Codes too.

SIDEWALK WAIVER REQUESTS:

1.    Ryan D. & Elizabeth N. Wires, 615 King ridge Drive, Lot 4034 SA
Location:  Corner of King Road and King Ridge Drive

The existing sidewalk is complete on King Ridge Drive past the curb and connects with King Ridge Drive.  Property recently purchased, unknown situation- clarification

Jim Cooper:  Based on what we are doing with a 10 year program, in this particular situation, I have recommended that we give them a waiver until the year 2011 when the program comes around to that area and then they will be addressed as all the other residents and we will look at each situation and make recommendations to Council as to sidewalks that need to be either installed or replaced or repaired.

Comments: None.

Motion to extend the waiver until the year 2011, by Paul Wertz, seconded by Valentine 1.
     Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.

2.    Simonson Holdings, 2112 Troy Road, Ashland, Ohio 44805
                 Location:  1070 Faultless Drive, Ashland, Ohio 44805

Jim Cooper:  The picture again here is a problem with ditches, with drop offs and culverts.  This is in the Industrial Park and it is in an area from a Safety Standpoint as well as engineering, I am recommending that we not put sidewalks in that area.  I think we would put our citizens at risk and I do not think it is a good idea.  That is my personal opinion, and is my recommendation.

Comments: Paul Wertz:  I have been to several Industrial Parks in the area and none of them have sidewalks so I agree with Jim Cooper.

Robert Valentine 2 and Robert Valentine 1 agree also.

Motion to Deny putting sidewalks in this location, by Valentine 1, seconded by Valentine 2.
    Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz

3.    Kenneth Hendershot, 1301 Center Lane Drive, Ashland, OH  44805
          Location:  1540 Eastbrook Drive, Ashland, OH  44805

Valentine 1: That is kind of a different location, because you have Eastbrook starts at Smith Road, goes up to Center Lane and it stops and you have houses and it goes beyond those houses, the road doesn’t, but you go beyond those houses and it picks up again and goes out to Smith Road and you have 2 houses on each block and goes out Claremont.  There are no sidewalks in the area.

Jim Cooper: I recommend this Waiver be extended until 2013, our sidewalk program will be in that area and we will take a look at that and judge that the same as other houses and make our recommendations at that time.  There would also be drainage problems there.  

Move to waive for now, by Valentine 1, seconded by Valentine 2.
   Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz

4.    Sutton Bank, 1 South Main Street, Attica, Ohio  44807
                Location: Sugarbush Drive and East Main Street- in front of Home Depot.

Jim Cooper: This is the case where the front of  the bank faces out to the Home Depot as a private drive so if there were sidewalks, it would be along ODOT property, not our property, not our right of way.  There is also engineering problems coming under Rt 42 across the Bridge.  I really don’t think we want anyone walking across the bridge with traffic within 5 feet of them.  To  put a pedestrian bridge across the stream and come up through the swail and the sides of the banks of this area, I am recommending we not put sidewalks in this area up there, along Rt 250.

Mayor Strine:  Just for on 250, not the access roads?

Jim Cooper:  Exactly, because we have retail and commercial and they will have sidewalks.

Motion to waiver by Valentine 2, and seconded by Valentine 1.
     Ayes:  Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.

5.    Danny A. Norris, Sr. and Toni, 174 Belle Ave., Ashland, Ohio 44805
 Location: 174 Belle Avenue, Ashland, Ohio 44805

Jim Cooper: I  recommend that this sidewalk be installed and the reason being it is in the year 2 of her sidewalk program and the whole area is being reviewed and is in the processed of being developed so that Council can take a look at the Engineering recommendations.  This is Orange Street and Belle on the Corner.

They already have sidewalks in front of their house, this is going down the other way, even with the poles there you can put sidewalks in?

Jim Cooper:  Right.  It should be kept on the schedule. In this year’s program.

Comments: None.

Move that the request be denied, by Paul Wertz, seconded by Valentine 1.
     Ayes:  Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz

6.    Grace Brethren Church, 1144 N. Main Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805
               Location: 1144 N. Main Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805

Jim Cooper:  I am recommending that it be waived until the year 2013 and at that time have Engineering look at that and all other areas.  There are some Engineering issues with drainage at the Church and several other lots.  Engineering will have to look at that in regards to cost and how far we can get the sidewalks away from the road.  Again we will look at it from an Engineering standpoint.

Paul Wertz:  Is that W. Main Street?

Robert Valentine 2:  My property goes, I have a sidewalk and it dies right there on the side.  Once you get past the Church, it is like, the Bank is steep, it will be hard to put in.  

Jim Cooper:  I am recommending a waiver until the year 2013 when the sidewalk program is in that area.

Move that it be waived until the year 2013 by Paul Wertz, seconded by Valentine 1.
    Ayes: Valentine 2, Valentine 1, Wertz, Detrow

7.    Loretta A. Snoddy, 602 King Ridge Court, Ashland,  Ohio 44805
               Location:  602 King Ridge Court, Ashland, Ohio 44805

Jim Cooper:  Again, I recommend this same recommendation for 2 Lots  down is to Waiver this until the year 2011 and we will take a look at that then.

Move to Waiver until 2011 by Valentine 1,  seconded by Valentine 2.
    Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Wertz, Detrow

Robert Valentine Ward 1:  You think this seems to be a lot of Waivers, but when you are talking about all the areas in the City, this isn’t a tremendous amount and I think the public realizes we have to rely on the Engineer because he has done the research and we have pictures.   It is important to know if it seems like a lot, technically it isn’t.


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This is a renewal.

Move that it be accepted by Paul Wertz, seconded by Valentine 1.
   Ayes:  Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz.


Mayors Comments:
(1)    Just to remind everyone on April 28, 2007, which is a Saturday at 8:30 am, we will have our 5 K City Walk and  would appreciate everyone getting out to walk and get sponsors. The funds for this go to our Mayor’s Underprivileged Children Fund.   This allows us to help children who can’t afford to take advantage of some of the City’s Services.  It is a fund that started at Ashland University who supported us in this and the money goes to the Community foundation and the interest comes to us to help the kids.  It has worked out very well.  Our goal is have a little more money so we can have more interest each year.  We appreciate everyone’s support.
(2)    Also, I  have down to set up a Work Session which we have.

Diane Hammontree:  Just a comment:  Our Checkbook is $3,496.96.  

Motion to Adjourn by Valentine 1, seconded by Valentine 2 at 8:14 pm.
    Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz



  Adjournment at 8:14 pm
                            Submitted by
                            Valarie F. Bishoff    
                            Clerk of Council