Ashland City Council
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL
May 1 , 2007
Council President Glen Stewart 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
Present
Note: Throughout the minutes, Robert L. Valentine and Robert M.
Valentine are designated as to their ward representation, W1 and W2.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES
Regular Session: April 17, 2007
Charter Review: April 19, 2007
No Corrections or Comments;
Motion to accept the Minutes by Glen Stewart, approved by Paul Wertz,
seconded by Ruth Detrow.
Ayes: Robert L Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul
Wertz, Glen Stewart.
Comments of questions from the Audience: Items that are not included on
the Agenda.
None.
LEGISLATION
Ord. 29-07
Item (a) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO ADVERTISE
FOR
BIDS
AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT
FOR
THE WATER & WASTEWATER TREATMENT DIVISION OF THE CITY OF ASH-
LAND, OHIO, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine W2 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 W 1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Comments:
Jim Cooper: This is a modern day sewer upgrade, obsolete system
and this will allow the Water Treatment plant, Wastewater Treatment
Plant and Maintenance Garage to communicate together and I think for
probably the long term be very economical to have this system.
Bruce Wiser has done all of the research for pricing and this is what
he has come up with
Glen Stewart: I have a question, it is going to hit some of you
blindsided. Is this system compatible with the city, if we were
to go with a citywide upgrade of the phone systems? Does that
have a lot of flexibility and compatibility if we were to do something
city wide?
Jim Cooper: To be very honest with you, I cannot answer
that. There are no details on this.
Mayor Strine: I don’t know whether Section 2 answers your
question on that or not.
Glen Stewart: It indicates there is some capability. Most
modernized systems have a fair amount of flexibility but that is a
question I need to ask and Jim we have some our list stations have a
radio signal back to the wastewater treatment. Does that figure into
that?
Jim Cooper stated that it does.
Comments or Questions:
Robert Valentine W1: What telephone system are we working with?
Is it Verizon?
Mayor Strine: If you want to put this off that would be fine.
Richard Wolfe II, Law Director: Until there are bids, it is no
one in particular. This kind of contract should be bid.
Robert Valentine W1: Just for my own information.
Moved by
Stewart and seconded by Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be passed on
the
first
reading.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine W1 that the rules requiring
the reading on three separate days be suspended and that the Ordinance
be passed on the second and third readings.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Stewart that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Motion carried.
Ord. 30-07
Item (b) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR,
DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC SERVICE. TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS AND TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS
FOR THE 2007 REPAIR AND RESURFACING OF VARIOUS STREETS IN THE
CITY
OF ASHLAND, OHIO, TOGETHER WITH ALL INCIDENTALS AND APPURTE-
NANCES NECESSARY THERETO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Moved by Wertz and 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 W 1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart.
Comments::
Jim Cooper: The resurfacing
program as far as what the city is going to do directly is a little
less than normal and that is because we are partnering with ODOT to do
Center Street, Main Street and Cottage Street, but there is $250,000.00
dollars that has been appropriated and these are the streets that we
are proposing for this year and in addition to some
crack-sealing. $176,0900.00 dollars of the $250,000.00 dollars is
the County permissive tax. If this approved, we need to go to
County Commissioners since they owe that money and request that they
release set amount to us for that account number.
Robert Valentine W1: Is that Centerlane? It says
Centerline.
Jim Cooper: We have $12,000.00 in here right now.
Robert Valentine W2: Do we have like so many years we do it in or
do you go by the condition of the streets?
Jim Cooper: They still have a number of years since last time it
was done, based on the condition. Yes those type of things.
Jerry Mack during Winter and Springtime develop some lists and works
with me. They get together and look at it and based on that I am
field looking, the list we have overall we come with this type of what
we think might be the streets that most need it this year.
Glen Stewart: Will this be new Asphalt?
Jim Cooper: Absolutely. Yes Sir. Some we will grind.
Questions or Comments: None.
Moved by
Detrow and seconded by Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be passed on the
first
reading.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Detrow that the rules requiring the
reading on three separate days be suspended and that the Ordinance be
passed on the second and third readings.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be
passed.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Motion carried.
Ord. 31-07
Item (c) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR
DIRECTOR
OF
PUBILC SERVICE, TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS AND TH ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ASHLAND BUSINESS
PARK
RETENTION POND PROJECT IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO;
AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine W2 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 W 1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart.
Comments:
Jim Cooper: This is our retention
pond of the Business park including the designing for us, basically the
designing is done.
Paul Wertz: What are the particular areas that will be located at?
Jim Cooper: It will be located at the Northwest Corner of Cottage
Street and Faultless Drive in that Swail.
Glen Stewart: This will serve the entire Industrial Park back to
Ford Road and over the hump with go the other way.
Jim Cooper states yes.
Glen Stewart: We won’ t be picking up anything on the East side
of Rt. 250?
Jim Cooper: No sir.
Questions or Comments:
Glen Stewart: What’s the anticipated construction time on
this?
Jim Cooper: Once we bid it out through that process, about late
May or early June at the latest. And have it constructed by the
end of July.
Mayor Strine: Glen asked me that question. It makes me
wonder, I looked at the map 100 times and I cannot picture, where does
that water go?
Jim Cooper: That water goes down past where the Archway Cookies
are, the Donaldson property, goes down to 511, through the culvert and
hooks to Rt. 250, it runs by the Eagles to the lake.
Moved by
Stewart and seconded by Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be passed on
the
first
reading.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Detrow that the rules requiring the
reading on three separate days be suspended and that the Ordinance be
passed on the second and third readings.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be
passed.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Motion carried.
Ord. 32-07
Item (d) AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE
AGREEMENT
FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASHLAND AREA COUNCIL FOR ECO-
NOMIC DEVELOPMENT; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine W2 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 W 1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart.
Comments:
Glen Stewart: In following with the bylaws that are
set up for the Ashland area Council for Economic Development, the
appointees from the Commissioners office and from this office and all
appointees are set for a 3 year term. Three years does not
coincide with any of the elected positions at all. For instance,
I have 2 more years to serve and my term is up in December so this
means that Council would be into the appointment stage of someone to
complete a term. If we reset these terms, the way we have it set
up is that councilpersons term, would end at the end of this year, that
would be a 2-year term. The commissioners term will end next year
which is at the end of Mike’s term and then the appointees from
the Council and from the Commissioners are set up so that the appointee
from this Council, the person from the city appointed by this Council,
they would be, their term would run through 2008, so one of the two
appointees from Council would carry through and one would be
appointed. So what we have done, we have tried to get this in
sync with the actual terms that fall in a 2 yr, 4yr type thing instead
of a 3. The other major change we have made, currently City
Council and the Commissioners appoint an At-Large representative from
someone, can be from the County, City or wherever. We are asking,
and I say we as a chairperson of the Economic Development Council, we
are asking that the Commissioners and the Council allow us a change
that would provide for the Council and the Commissioners to appoint
the, replacing the At Large position with a position from someone off
of the Mohican Area Growth Foundation. That is another area of
Economic Development that the Council is working very closely with and
we personally feel it is the right thing to do to additionally submit
us together and make us a closer knit organization. So it
is term changes and the At Large position goes from At Large to a
appointment from the Mohican Area Growth Foundation. That is what
all of this language is about. We put a lot of time in it to make
sure it has some logic to it. 5-member board still.
Questions or Comments? None.
Motion to pass by Glen Stewart, moved by Valentine W1and seconded by
Valentine 2 that the rules requiring the reading on three separate days
be suspended and that the Ordinance be passed on the second and third
readings.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine 1 that the Ordinance be
passed.
Ayes: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Motion carried.
Ward Reports:
We have received 9 letters and still receiving additional
letters regarding the Sidewalk Issues. Copies have been
distributed to all Council. Valarie is keeping a file on all
letters. We have a total recap of all communication.
Ward 2: Bob Valentine
(a) Couple calls regarding sidewalks, they were happy
we are having the meeting on 5/10/07.
Ward1: Bob Valentine
(a) Numerous calls regarding sidewalks and what their
positions were.
(b) Cable service on Samaritan, person concerned way
complaint was handled.
Cable Company mis-communicated with her. Her
concern, she thought she had telephone service, neighbors had same
problem. Will bring up at 5/8/07 meeting
(c) Call on the size of the Garbage can. Talked to Curt
Young and he took care of it.
Ward 3 Ruth Detrow
(a) Had a Ward meeting, sidewalks on 4/26/07, 70
people attended, vast majority not wanting anything done with the
sidewalks, legal questions. I favor putting sidewalks in.
Am listening with great care to the people in her ward. The
people will make the decision. They feel strong about this.
Can’t have a town that is run down.
(b) Trash and Garbage twice a week, with gasoline
prices going up, it has become and issue with person. Has any
comparisons been done on how much would be saved if going to once a
week trash pick-up.
Curt Young: Fuel prices are relatively small and not a huge
portion of his operating budget but will keep an eye on it. If at
some point, if an issue, we can make a change then with our rotation
being the way it is. Manpower is the biggest operating budget.
Ward 4 Paul Wertz
(a) 2 Calls regarding Jake Braking on Jacobson
Ave. Semis coming in seem to hit their Jake Brakes all times of
the day and night, noise problem.
(b) Alley on West 10th, Jim Cooper is looking into
for him. On record.
(c) House at 1128 Union Street where you pull down on
Orange Road, Brick house on the corner, you almost have to pull out on
58 to see oncoming traffic, bushes are halfway across the sidewalk,
needs trimmed back. Hazard.
(d) 426 W. Tenth Street, have two dead trees,
arborist needs to check them. Maybe cut them down if dead.
At Large President Glen Stewart
(a) Calls on Cable Franchise, bring up at meeting on
5/8/07
(b) Meeting for Sidewalks, Work Session May 10 at
7:00 pm will not be at the Annex, it will be at the Little Theatre at
the Ashland High School at no cost to us, Council or the City and they
are going to set it up in a fashion that will accommodate the 5 of us,
the Mayor , the Law Director since it is a Work Session and we will
have microphones and a standing Microphone and we will have a procedure
to handle the anticipated crowd. News media can handle the
communication to the public.
(c) On May 8 we will be here to
discuss the Cable System Franchise.
Old Business: None
New Business:
Application for a Liquor Permit- Apple Ohio LLC, DBA
Applebee’s, 2250 Claremont Ave. Ashland, Ohio 44805.
(a) Request for a D2 License, Wine and Certain
pre-package drinks for on premises consumption and in sealed containers
for carry-out until 1:00 am. This is not a transfer, this is new.
Richard P. Wolfe II, Law Director: I think this is an extension
of later hours.
Glen Stewart: We have options, we can request a hearing to be
held at the County Seat or in Columbus or we do not request a hearing.
Moved by Wertz, request no hearing, seconded by Valentine 2.
AYES: Valentine 1, Valentine 2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Glen Stewart: I talked to Anna a few weeks back and she has some
significant information for us regarding our financial position.
Anna Tomasek: Finance division has prepared reports for
Council. Income Tax receipt and revenue for January, February,
March and April. Contains Income Tax collections for this year vs last
year and the overall conclusion is the City of Ashland at this time
over last has approximately 152,000.00 dollar increase Income Tax
collections first report.
The second report shows the actual revenue. Actual % for businesses and
individuals. The overall collection for January thru April was
$3,000,000.00 ; 10,456.28 at this time for 2007 for a grand total
3,162, 471.79. So the Income Tax revenue is stable.
Glen Stewart: To keep the glass full mode we are doing okay, the
income we built the income around as far as income tax, we are okay.
Anna Tomasek: Correct. Last year grand total of Income Tax
collections in 2006 was $8,542,453.00. Our estimate 2007 $7,550,000.00
and it looks like our estimate was low. Now is $8,000,000.00.
Should stay Conservative. Income tax extension in 2005, Income tax
extension 584, and this year is less at 524 extensions.
Glen Stewart: That extension tells us that the cash flow is
running lower than last year. 60 fewer extensions. We still
expect Hospira is still on tract to phase out by the end of July.
Questions or Comments: None.
Robert Valentine W 1- Average sidewalk $2500.00. Average Installation.
Mayors Comments: None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Stewart and seconded by Valentine 1 to adjourn.
Ayes: Valentine 1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Council adjourned the regular
session at 7:40 p.m.
Submitted by
Valarie
Bishoff
Clerk of
Council