Ashland City Council
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL
Tuesday, May 20, 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
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES
(a) Regular Session – 5/6/08
(b) Executive Session – 5/12/08
Moved Robert L. Valentine W1 and seconded by Robert M. Valentine W2 to
approve the minutes as received.
Ayes: Stephen L. Stuart, Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M.
Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz
Paul Wertz: On the Agenda, there are two Public Hearings, but due
to certain procedural issues, both public hearings scheduled for
tonight’s meeting are being canceled and will be rescheduled for
another date.
LEGISLATION
Ordinances:
Ord. No. # 23-08
Item (a) AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE REPLAT OF LOTS
552, 553, 553-A, 553-B, 553-C AND
553-D, SOUTH ASHLAND, IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY.
Moved by Ruth Detrow for non-reading in full and seconded by Robert L.
Valentine W1 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: Stephen Stuart, Robert L.
Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz.
Jim Cooper: This is a request to replat this particular
area. If you look at the map, it is a, kind of like
housekeeping. We are trying to make it a little bit neater for
these people who are Planning Commission and reviewed this and there
are no land lock. This improves the situation for these people.
Robert M. Valentine W2: That use to be the flower shop?
Jim Cooper: Yes, back in the back.
Robert M. Valentine W2: Zoning was only for a flower shop
only. And it expired after they weren’t there. Is it
now back to Residential?
Jim Cooper: I don’t think it is back to Residential. I will
look that up for you.
Robert M. Valentine W2: Yes remember because somebody ran a Body
Shop out of there and we had a problem with that, because those people
were beating on cars at 2:00 am and we had gotten them to take that out
of there because that isn’t what it was for. I just want to
make sure that it is not another Auto Body shop up there because I have
the same lady that lives right on the corner and I will be getting a
call.
Ruth Detrow: It is a big piece of land; How many acres?
Jim Cooper: A little over five acres.
Ruth Detrow: This one line is contiguous with Ashland University
property?
Jim Cooper: Yes.
Comments or questions?
Moved by Ruth Detrow and seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1 that the
Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Stephen Stuart, Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert
Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz,
Move to suspend the rules, 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights, by
Paul Wertz, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1 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: Stephen Stuart, Robert L.
Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz.
Moved by Robert M. Valentine W2 and seconded by Ruth Detrow that the
Ordinance be passed.
Ayes: Stephen Stuart, Robert L. Valentine,
Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz,
Motion carried.
Resolutions:
Res. No. # 8-08
Item (a) A RESOLUTION DECLARING COUNCIL’S
INTENTION TO VACATE A CERTAIN STREET
LOCATED IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO (Jefferson Street).
Moved by Ruth Detrow for non-reading in full and seconded by Robert L.
Valentine W1 to invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the
distribution of this Resolution has satisfied the requirements of said
Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes: Stephen Stuart, Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert
M. Valentine W2, and Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz.
Mayor Stewart: After you pass this Resolution, then you can set a
hearing date, correct?
Paul Wertz: Correct.
Mayor Stewart: This Street, the University owns all of the ground on
both sides and at the end.
Comments or questions?
Moved by Robert L. Valentine W1 and seconded by Stephen Stuart that the
Resolution be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Stephen Stuart, Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert
Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz.
Move to suspend the rules, 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights, by
Paul Wertz, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1 to invoke Section 113.01
of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Resolution has
satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading
be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes: Stephen Stuart, Robert L.
Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz.
Moved by Robert M. Valentine W2 and seconded by Ruth Detrow that the
Resolution be passed.
Ayes: Stephen Stuart, Robert L. Valentine,
Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz,
Paul Wertz: We will set new dates for both Public Hearings.
July 1, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. after the Tax Budget Public
Hearing at 7:10 p.m.
WARD REPORTS:
At-Large: Stephen Stuart
No report.
Ward 1: Robert L. Valentine:
No report.
Ward 2: Robert M. Valentine
No report.
Ward 3: Ruth Detrow
(a) I have had two complaints about high grass and
complaints about people leaving dirt and trash in their lawn but right
next to another lawn. We are working through it.
Ward 4/President: Paul Wertz
(a) I had similar calls regarding high grass. 337 E. 4th Street,
357 E. 4th Street, 318 Miller Street, 328 Miller Street, 324 Virginia
Avenue and somebody called as you are coming into Ashland, the 42
bypass; there is a lot on the right hand side. Claremont
Ave. A house set back in there for years, they tore the house
down, but the lot is still there.
OLD BUSINESS:
None.
NEW BUSINESS:
I just received a letter today in the mail, receipt Notice of, a
petition filed for annexation for Steven W. and Sheryl J. Cellar with
the Hearing Date set for Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. at the
second floor meeting room of the County Office Building, 110 Cottage
Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805.
Paul Wertz: Just to let everyone know they want to annex into the
city.
Comments or questions?
Ruth Detrow: It is not a motion or anything of that sort; I just
want to thank Ms. Tomasek for the information she has given to me
concerning hiring of the labor relations consultant. I appreciate
the fact that she was prompt with that.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
I have two or three comments this evening. 1) Myself, Paul Wertz
and the City Engineer (Jim Cooper) visited two Sand and Gravel
operations in the area. They belong to B & B
excavating. The reason for the visit is that at some time in not
too distant future, we may enter into an agreement to start a Sand and
Gravel operation which is the beginning of a Reservoir north of
Ashland. The Sand and Gravel operation can make the excavation of
the area very inexpensive for the city to excavate that area for the
Reservoir. The water level out there is somewhere that averages
eight to ten feet below ground level. It is an excellent location
for the Reservoir. When you start a Sand and Gravel operation,
the expediency of removing in making a Reservoir; it is a long-term
project and it is very dependent on the economy and the construction
industry; road construction and other construction industry. We
have not entered into an agreement with anyone yet. We expect to
start the discussions in the near future; but the operation, I
wasn’t familiar and have never gone into an actual Sand or Gravel
pit. It is a big operation. They are very stringently bound
by the State for permits. Very stringent on land
reclamation. So they have a lot of; not guidelines, but actual
rules to follow. We have been told and we have had material
tested that some of the gravel out there is a grade 9 on a scale of
1-10, is that accurate Jim?
Jim Cooper: Yes it is.
Mayor Stewart: Grade 9, for my friends in the department of
transportation; is that a pretty good gravel.
Robert M. Valentine W2: Well I think the gravel is good but what
I heard, was there is a lot of clay, and that is counterproductive to
them; it takes more time to get through the clay and it is more of an
expense. But the gravel itself is fine. It is just a matter
of how much clay they are going to run into and in what area.
Because that is a lot of money and who buys clay?
Mayor Stewart: They are aware of the clay, they are aware of
their course handling, they are aware of the depth and we shared that
concern and they are willing verbally and we haven’t entered into
an agreement; they are willing to remove that clay and haul it.
It won’t be a sellable product but I think it is about 8 foot of
clay.
Jim Cooper: It ranges from 4 up to 6, 7 feet.
Mayor Stewart: There is some extremely high grade sand and very
good gravel and they offered. I made a statement that I really
don’t want to start a gravel pit out there and have it be a very
shallow somewhat nonproductive or nonviable Reservoir, because our
intent is to have a Reservoir. If we were to have to excavate and
build our own Reservoir; it would be insurmountable to this
community. We think there may be a way to go forward with
this. It isn’t a 2 year project, it is not a 5-year
project; it is a long-term project. It is very dependent on the
economy. Paul you were with me.
Paul Wertz: That is basically what they said.
Robert M. Valentine W2: Well in this part of the state, good
gravel is hard to find. You can ask Jim; that is why you mostly
see Limestone. If it is good gravel it ought to bring premium
dollar. I wouldn’t have a problem with that.
Mayor Stewart: We just wanted you to know we have done a little
site seeing, if you will; and I am sure that if any of you chose to do
so, we could arrange for another site-seeing trip to these two sites
that are operated by B & B. One is North of Loudonville and
the other one is down by Olivesburg. That is primarily sand and
they have got sand and gravel over at the other operation.
Questions or comments?
Mayor Stewart: Paul and I have been talking and we initially
thought we could have a Work Session this Thursday night. That
will not work for me; I am sorry. Quite frankly my grandson is
playing in a district baseball team in Bowling Green. I
didn’t know that until after we set this meeting up and I
graciously ask you to consider rescheduling. And in that Work
Session, we would like to talk about the Industrial Park Building Rules
and also the CRA pre 94/post 94. Many of the communities
including Mansfield Ohio, I am told have voided the pre 94 CRA’s
and moved to the post 94 CRA’s and it gives the community a
better handle on whatever abatements you choose to apply. And
Evan Scurti is going to confirm on both of these areas to us. I
think all of you may have a draft copy of the Industrial Park
material. I don’t think we sent anything out. Evan
went home ill this morning and I don’t think we have anything to
pass out on the CRA’s unless he already got it you Valarie.
Valarie Bishoff, Clerk: No.
Mayor Stewart: So we need to set a Work Session if you can
Council. Second Tuesday nights are; I am now on the City/County
Health Board and the first Monday night is Planning Commission; I will
work around wherever we can.
Paul Wertz: How about Thursday, June 5, 2008?
Robert L. Valentine W1: I won’t be here. I
don’t want to hold you up.
Paul Wertz: Do you want to still have it then?
Mayor Stewart: Evan is available any of the Thursday nights
except for the 12th. He sent me an E-mail this afternoon.
Through the end of July. So you want to set it
up? You want it at 7:00 p.m., after work or what is your
pleasure?
Paul Wertz: Set it up for 7:00 p.m. on June 5, 2008.
Industrial Park Guidelines and CRA.
Robert M. Valentine W2: Evan is going to give that information to
us.
Mayor Stewart: I have one other thing I want to do. I want
to ask that we form an AdHoc budget committee and I would like to have
two Councilpersons’ serve on that. I don’t know at
this point in time how long a term this will be and I don’t know
if it will expand into other committees or not. But I shared with
Council early on that I wanted to establish some committees. This
is the first one I would like to do. This Budget Committee; I
want them to help me with expenses and expenditures. I think I
had two volunteers am I correct?
Paul Wertz: Yes, Steve Stuart and Ruth Detrow.
Mayor Stewart: What I would like to do is to meet with you at
your earliest convenience and when we can get on the schedule. If
we were to look at calendars after the meeting tonight, I would be glad
to do that and take a look at it. That’s all.
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Items not appearing on the
Agenda)
John Chorpening 1126 Overlook Drive: This last weekend on
Saturday about noon, I went for a walk through the Brookside Park; and
I go to the Park fairly often. You can tell when it is getting to
be warmer weather because you see more people in the park and there is
more trash and more broken glass, etc. On Saturday there was a
pile of broken glass pretty close to the parking area where the little
kids play and the soccer moms park. So I figured I would go home
and call Park Department and I tried that and there was no
answer. I called the maintenance office and there is no answer;
and I always felt that the Parks represent the community with visitors
coming in here that they should be kept fairly clean and I thought if
possible maybe we need someone on call for the weekends for these kinds
of messes. Like I said it is normally during the summertime when
it is warmer weather.
Robert M. Valentine W2: How much glass are we talking about?
John Chorpening: I don’t know. Wherever they are
breaking it; it is all over where people park. You know how
kids are with Pop bottles; I don’t think they were beer bottles.
Ruth Detrow; May I make a suggestion? One of my favorite things
in the city right now and one of the things I have been working on
because it is underused and it is a terrific that should be used a lot
is E gov. On E gov; you use your computer don’t you?
John Chorpening: I know but I thought who would respond on
Saturday at noon?
Ruth Detrow: Yes, you probably won’t get a response on
Saturday unless somebody was checking it. But you would on Monday.
John Chorpening: Well I figured by Monday, driving by, they would
probably see it. I just thought for the people coming by
later on Saturday afternoon or on Sunday that this might become a
problem, that is the only reason I brought it up. I realized e
gov is there but like I said I didn’t think anybody would respond
to it.
Robert M. Valentine W2: But now once the summer kids come in,
they run a 7-day operation. They pick up trash 7 days a week,
don’t they Tim?
Tim Clingan, Parks: Yes.
Mayor Stewart: My phone number is in the telephone book.
John Chorpening: I didn’t want to bother you with that.
Mayor Stewart: Why not? I have wide shoulders and I have a
lot of telephone numbers.
Robert M. Valentine W2: You can call me, that is my Ward; I will
come down with a broom and shovel. I have picked up stuff going
down through there before.
Ruth Detrow: And I will come down there to watch.
Robert M. Valentine W2: Somebody better bring a camera. It
could be a Worker’s Comp. Claim.
Tim Clingan: We do have a call list, that if anyone has a
concern, they call the Police Department and the dispatcher then
contacts; there is a pecking order; it goes right down the line.
We take care of anything that arises. The Street Department also
has one.
John Chorpening: I didn’t think about calling the Police
Department for that.
I have another suggestion. I live
up on Overlook and Fairview is up there and over the years we have
talked about putting up parking complexes and a softball diamonds up
there and you know how Ashland is kind of a saucer, that is that
ridgeline. We get far more wind up there than you get down
here. I have always noticed that. It is cooler up there
than downtown anywhere. And I always thought that you could put a
wind farm up there and generate your own electricity and the money
would come back to the city; I mean they are running news stories about
the cities doing this now. That would be the perfect spot for
that.
Ruth Detrow: Yes I have seen those.
Robert M. Valentine W2: We had that mentioned to us by the Mayor
a while back, we just didn’t pass it; right Glen? We are
looking at anything you know?
Mayor Stewart: That happened to be on one of the TV channels last
night. There is one community that is generating enough for their
community and another one of their size. It is not inexpensive
but it beats depending on Oil.
Comments or questions? None
Motion to move to adjournment of Regular Session by Paul Wertz, moved
by Robert M. Valentine W2, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1.
Ayes: Stephen Stuart, Robert L. Valentine W1,
Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz.
Adjournment at 7:27 p.m.
Submitted by
Valarie
Bishoff
Clerk of Council