Ashland City Council


MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL
March 4, 2008




Council President Paul Wertz called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.   

ROLL CALL

    At-large:      Stephen L. Stuart    Present
Ward 1:    Robert L. Valentine    Present
Ward 2:    Robert M. Valentine    Present
Ward 3:    Ruth Detrow        Present
Ward 4/President: Paul Wertz    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

A moment of silence for George Valentine, great member of the Community.

PRESENTATION OF MINUTES
   Regular Session:  February 19, 2008
 
No Corrections or Comments

Motion to accept the Minutes by Paul Wertz, approved by Ruth Detrow, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1.
    Ayes: Stephen L. Stuart, Robert L Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz

Paul Wertz:  All of the Legislation is withdrawn for this evening because it all pertains to the Budget and we are not ready to pass the budget tonight, Ordinances and Resolutions.  

WARD  REPORTS:

Councilman At-Large:          Stephen L. Stuart

(a)    None.   I personally would like to express grateful appreciation to the efforts of our
      Firefighters last Thursday as they battled a really intense fire and temperatures at the
      Pump House and also express thanks to the mutual aid and standby assistance that was
      given from Jeromesville, Hayesville, Loudonville, Mansfield, Mifflin, Polk, Ruggles, Troy
      and Wooster.





Ward 2:        Robert M. Valentine
   
(a)    I had one call from a gentleman on Sandusky Street, he got is pothole filled. Thank you Jerry Mack, Street Department

Ward 1:        Robert L. Valentine

(a)    I had one call also.  I called Jerry Mack about it and he is taking care of it. Thank you Jerry Mack.

Ward  3:        Ruth Detrow

(a)    The only call I had in the last couple of weeks was a call asking if we were going to meet tonight.  I assured this person I talked to that City Hall would have to fall down before we would not meet.

Ward 4/President    Paul Wertz

(a)    None.

Old Business:   None.

New Business:  

Richard P. Wolfe II:  In regard to both of these liquor applications, there aren’t any issues that would warrant us taking any kind of action opposing them.  In both of these cases, they are mostly administrative matters.  There haven’t been any problems with either of these permit holders

(a)    Liquor Permit Request:  Ashland Pizza Inc., DBA Pizza Hut, 1274 Claremont Ave., Ashland, Ohio 44805;  

Move to accept Liquor Permit by Robert L. Valentine W1, seconded by Ruth Detrow
   Ayes:  Stephen L. Stuart, Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul
             Wertz.

(b)    Liquor Permit Request: Buehler Food Markets, Inc., DBA Buehlers, 1055 Sugarbush Drive, Ashland, Ohio 44805

Move to accept Liquor Permit by Ruth Detrow, seconded by Robert M. Valentine W2.
   Ayes:  Stephen L. Stuart, Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul
              Wertz.



     (c) Building Permit Request:  Change of use; Location – South side of West Main Street be
         tween Center Street and Claremont Avenue.  Owner Lisa Lee, 145 West Main Street.
    (Coffee Shop area for Perk Retail, 145 West Main Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805)
         This project will include a partial change of occupancy from an M, Mercantile to an A-2
         Coffee shop area.

Comments or questions?

Jim Cooper:  The Lee’s have worked with Roger Gordon and they sent their permit request to the State, worked with Dave Gribble.  Personally I am happy to see this occur.  I think it is a good thing for downtown.  We surely don’t have a problem with it.  I would recommend approval.

Paul Wertz:  Is this right beside the Antique Shop?

Lisa Lee:  Yes.  

Robert L. Valentine W1:  Is there anything you would like to tell us?

Lisa Lee:  We have awesome desserts.  

Mayor Stewart:  We will be down tonight.

Move to approve the Building Permit by Ruth Detrow, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1.
   Ayes:  Stephen L. Stuart, Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul
             Wertz.

(c)    Building Report for the month of February 2008

Jim Cooper:  This will be in your packets every month.  This comes from Building and Zoning.  It will be related to Permits that have occurred during the month.  As you can see from this, one large one would be the business building remodeling of Lutheran Social Svcs, Mowry Construction for $300,000.00 dollars, and there is a new single family residence for Calvin Keefer for $50,000.00 dollars and these will be in your packets at the end of every month for the next Council meeting.  If there is other information you want from Building and Zoning or Engineering please let us know and we will accommodate.  

MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
    (a)  I met with Realtors, the legislative group, this past week and having some dialogue with them about what is happening in Ashland.  I asked how one particular area is moving that they were involved in which happens to be the H & H development out off of Mifflin Avenue.  They are pleased with the way it is going.  And this afternoon I received a call that they would be pleased if Council would like to stop out and take a tour of one or two of those Condos that are being built out there.  I told them I would pass that on and I believe that John Mast would be the person to talk to.  The call came from that office offering that invitation.

Comments of questions from the Audience: Items that are not included on the Agenda.

Philip Rafeld, 1039 Oakhill Circle:   Is there projects in the works for a bridge repair on Lutheran Avenue behind where Susie’s is?  Is there anything on the docket coming up?  A bridge replacement or repair?

Jim Cooper:  There is a possibility of in the near future to take a look at and study that bridge.  There is nothing right now, this year that is going to happen with a new bridge but are looking at it since it is rated an A-4 by the Richland Engineering.  We have to review every bridge once a year, State requirements.  So we are keeping track of that.  We do realize there is some difficulties with some of the scouring of a few things.  We are not going to let that go unattended.

David Lee:  Back on South Street there is becoming a safety issue.  All of our Streetlights are blown out.  We have no lighting for her to park back in the back lot where we like to keep away from using our customers parking.  We usually park out there.  She gets to work really early in the morning and coming out late at night and all the streetlights are out.  We have contacted Ohio Edison, we have contacted Jerry Mack, this was done in January and now it is February and entering into March and Streetlights are still not been repaired.  I was wondering if anyone here could expedite that a little faster?  

Mayor Stewart:  David, we met with First Energy on some other issues very recently and they gave us a form that could be faxed to them and they have a crew that works street lighting, not in Ashland specifically but in their area every night and if possibly it may require what might expedite it is if there is pole number, most of them have an aluminum tag on them with a pole number.  That might help.  I will have someone contact First Energy to take care of that.  Someone in our crew will get that expedited.

Comments or questions?

Move to adjourn Regular session by Robert L. Valentine W1, seconded by Robert M. Valentine W2.
   Ayes:  Stephen L. Stuart, Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul
             Wertz.


­Adjournment 7:13 p.m



                                        Submitted by
                                        Valarie Bishoff
                                        Clerk of Council