Ashland City Council
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers
Council President Paul Wertz 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/President:Paul Wertz Present
At-large
Stephen Stuart Present
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MINUTES:
(a) Regular Session/Executive Session 11/17/09
No corrections.
Move
to accept the Minutes from Regular Session/Executive Session 11/17/09
by Robert M. Valentine W2, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1.
Ayes: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth
Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.
Legislation:
Ordinances: None
Resolutions: None
WARD REPORTS:
Councilman at Large Stephen Stuart
(a) No report.
Ward 2 Robert M. Valentine
(a) No report.
Ward 1 Robert L. Valentine
(a) I had a call, a complaint about leaves. He called back and said it was taken care of.
Ward 3 Ruth Detrow
(a)
I recently attended a meeting of the Board for the Transportation
system and I just wanted to share a couple of things that we learned at
that board meeting. For one thing, it is solvent. That is
good news in these times. For another thing, I have here a flyer
for the Holiday Shopper Shuttle. I don’t know how many people
realize that, and this one is going to be Friday, December 4th; they
are going to make three runs to the Shopping Center in Mansfield,
Westfield Mansfield Mall, Richland Mall. So for $10.00 dollars,
round trip, you can go over there and I would assume you could leave on
the first one and you could stay; the earliest one leaves at 10:00 am
and you could probably stay and come back on the one at 6:30 pm if you
had that much energy and ambition and it is a really good thing for
people who don’t have transportation.
Paul Wertz: It leaves at 10:00 am, 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm.
Mayor Stewart: Leave from where?
Ruth Detrow: From Ashland.
Ellie Grubb: From the building here. If you cannot get here, he will pick you up.
Mayor Stewart: Would the last one be limited to if they take two full loads over and they all want to stay?
Ruth
Detrow: I am sure that Ellie and all of the transportation people
can solve it right away. It is a wonderful extra service that
they provide for the people of Ashland. I also did not know
exactly where the boundaries are for in-city service and out-of-city
service and the boundaries are: a 3.5 perimeter around the
city. I even have a list which I will not bother you with in its
entirety but I have a list of the; some examples. For example, on
511, County Road 1600 is 3.5 miles out. On 250 north near BCU
Electric Company. If you are familiar with those roads, that is
quite a ways out, and you can still have service as if it were in the
city. So I thought that was interesting and I am delighted with
the way things are going with our Transit service. I am happy
that I am the Council member that is appointed to do that. To
take care of going to their meetings.
Ellie Grubb: Ruth, I
would like to just mention that they are doing that in Mansfield one
day but for the city of Ashland, they do that also the next day and it
is free. They go to several different stores.
Ruth
Detrow: Okay, the Shopper Shuttle? And that is free on the
5th of December. We have a Shopper Shuttle that runs every
Saturday and if you look around town you can see the signs that are for
the bus transit among other places; it goes to AU and it is a good
place to go because there are students there who don’t have
transportation and I know it makes a run out to all of the stores;
Walmart and that little mall out there. And I know it goes out
Claremont. I do not know their route exactly. But anyhow,
there is a charge usually, but it is free on the 5th.
Robert L.
Valentine W1: Ruth, can I ask a question? You are talking
about City Services, that is north and south. What about east and
west?
Ruth Detrow: Oh, you mean how far is 3.5?
Robert L. Valentine W1: Yes. I identified it by that when you said it.
Ruth
Detrow: East, it goes as far as the old Fin, Feather and
Fur. So if you want to go shopping at the new one, that is within
that. West, it goes; on 1356, which is west Main; it goes out as
far as that Amish school house near 1353. So it is a long
way. You can hike from there and play golf.
Robert L. Valentine W1: Well you are not too far from the par 3 there.
Ward 4/President Paul Wertz
(a) No report.
OLD BUSINESS:
(a) 67.5374 acres golf course land.
Paul Wertz: There is golf course land to discuss.
Mayor
Stewart: As I recall that is in Council’s hands to determine what
direction they would like to dispose of that land and when.
Stephen
Stuart: Let me make a proposal to kick off the discussion, if that is
all right. We have kind of a situation on the land with the
Fairview Drive properties that abuts the acreage we are considering
selling and they have been allowed a kind of a shelter zone, a strip
there in back of those properties that has been formed as a buffer for
their properties. I believe we ought to offer those property
owners the first opportunity to buy that buffer strip and that, just to
run a figure, that a fair price might be $800.00 dollars per
parcel. The way I came about the $800.00 dollars is roughly 2.15
acres and I figured that a low price for lots, if you think about it,
would be $5,000.00 dollars an acre and divide that by the 16
properties, it comes out to $797.00 dollars. So I rounded it up
to $800.00 dollars. We ought to make that offer as ‘all or
nothing’. In other words, the property owners get together and
decide and if they all agree, then we would sell it on that
basis. And there ought to be enough lead-time for that to be done
before the bulk of the acreage is put up for auction. And I
suggest an auction. In other words, depending upon the action of
the property owners along Fairview Drive, that acreage, the buffer area
would be excluded or it would be included in the total. So there needs
to be a reasonable time for that to transpire and I suggest we, while
it is very important to the long-term sustainability to the golf course
to sell that property and have the proceeds from that property be
reserved exclusively for the golf course; I don’t think we need to give
it away. We are aware of what the appraisals have been, you know that
were submitted to us; I suggest we put it up for auction and we
establish a minimum reserve of $4,000.00 dollars an acre.
Robert
L. Valentine W1: I am glad you had said, either everyone, or no
one. I think that was a good point. You had mentioned that
before. The next question, I probably have to, is; I would assume
we will have to take the initiative to contact these people. That
would be our responsibility and what did you say, that land was
what? How may acres?
Robert M. Valentine W2: 2.1436 acres.
Robert
L. Valentine W1: So does that take off of the 67?
Yes. I see, 65. All right. So the point is, that
could drag on if we don’t watch it.
Mayor Stewart: It wouldn’t have to Bob if you make the offer with a deadline.
Robert L. Valentine W1: That is fine. I wanted to make sure that we did have a deadline.
Stephen Stuart: I would think an auction in March would be a reasonable target date.
Robert
L. Valentine W1: Yes. I was thinking spring too. You
want to put it up for auction, what is the rationale as compared to not
putting up for auction, just putting a price on it?
Robert M.
Valentine W2: Yes, because when you get to people who want it,
the price might go up. And you are going to set a $4,000.00 dollar
reserve so, either you are going to sell it for the reserve price or
you are not going to sell it.
Ruth Detrow: Actually the
history of auctioned properties, right now, is quite good and that is
one reason why I agreed that an auction would be at least a good first
step; and we might just be surprised at how well it goes.
Robert
L. Valentine W1: Well, I don’t disagree. I just didn’t know
that much about it and of course you have some background with
it. We had some other people look at it too but I doubt if we
asked that question when we did that, ‘about what is the best way
to do it’; but like you said if that is good; I don’t disagree, I just
wanted to make sure, if there is another alternative, would it be
better to go that way or to go the way you suggested.
Paul Wertz: Shane Kremser, City Engineer, do you see any problems with anything we have discussed about the property?
Shane
Kremser: Well, if that were to be developed as a residential
subdivision, having one means of ingress and egress, deflates the value
of it, there is no doubt about that. If I were a developer, I
would ideally be looking to get an additional means of ingress and
egress off of Baney Road. I think if we had that; we might get
more for the property. But I know there is history with
that. I figured you could get about 100+ homes back there.
Robert L. Valentine W1: Well Steve, I think your suggestion is a good suggestion.
Stephen
Stuart: Rick from a standpoint of what is allowable as far as
disposal of public property. Is what I have suggested; is that
within parameters of what would be legal?
Richard P. Wolfe
II: Yes, I don’t see any problem with it. The legislation
that you pass that would authorize the sale would make a declaration
that it is no longer needed for a public purpose which is what we do
anytime we sell property or auction property off. I think what
Mr. Kremser was suggesting, is that we may want to consider or at least
what I heard, is perhaps explore whether or not we could obtain the
other means of ingress and egress in order to make that property more
saleable. The one thing, that knowing the previous situation,
there was a lot that was considered at one time; but has that been
built on now?
Paul Wertz: Yes, it has been.
Richard
P. Wolfe II: So, I don’t know what is available there as far as a
second access off of Baney Road. But in the meantime, at least we
could look and see what properties are there and then bring back
information to Council as to whether that is something; whether we want
to put up more money in order to perhaps make more money because, right
now there is only one means of ingress and egress.
Stephen
Stuart: The first step, having at our second meeting in December
an Ordinance to make that offer of that buffer area to the existing
property owners as a first step.
Robert L. Valentine W1: Do you need a motion on that?
Mayor
Stewart: Excuse me Bob. In that offer letter, are we, the
city going to do the survey work and the lot descriptions and all of
that so that it would be prepared for a deed?
Richard P. Wolfe
II: I think you justify adding that cost into the price. The only
logical thing to be for us to prepare those descriptions and then add
that cost into the price. Pro-rate it over all the properties in
there. Perhaps before you have legislation, in transition, may
contact with all of the neighbors on that street to see if that is
viable and then if it is, then you could have legislation to approve
it. Or you could go the other way around, whichever you
prefer.
Ruth Detrow: There is no sense going to the expense of having this all surveyed and so on until needed.
Richard P. Wolfe II: All right; we can have that ready for the next council meeting.
Mayor
Stewart: So next council meeting will be strictly a consideration
to offer the buffer zone to the individual property owners at a
specified price plus surveying and deed work-up.
Stephen
Stuart: Really, in the interim, we ought to proceed to have, if
you can, to explore what other possibilities for egress there might be
for that acreage.
Mayor Stewart: I would like to
discuss that with the designated Council members or two offline.
I would like to discuss those options. I have some thoughts on
that I would like to share with a couple of you offline.
Questions or discussion?
NEW BUSINESS: None.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
(a)
Yes, I have some comments that I would like to make. I
would like to call your attention to the gentleman that is going to
join me here; former Mayor Strine, would you step forward please?
Bill, it has been a pleasure to work with you over the past six or so
months and your offer to come back, some months prior to that; I
thought, well, you made the offer, I am going you on that and you still
said yes. I appreciate that. This is an accommodation to
William Strine:
Whereas, the city of Ashland, wishes to recognize individuals who has
served the community and contributed to improving quality of life, and
Whereas, William E. Strine has demonstrated true leadership
responsibility when he returned to the Division of Finance as acting
Finance Director, and
Whereas, William E. Strine was able to guide the city through a
difficult time working with auditors, asking for extensions, meeting
deadlines and working to reunite the torn department.
Now therefore, I, Glen P. Stewart, Mayor do hereby thank you on behalf
of the members of City Council, city employees and the residents of
this community for your dedication to Ashland and for returning to
service and when you were asked and when it was needed most.
Glen
Stewart
William E. Strine: Thank you very much. I
appreciate this honor and it has really been a joy to work with all of
you and a special note should be made of one individual who made it
through a mess that I created and that would be Lee Yarman. She
stuck through some really tough times and did a tremendous job for the
city and so not only Lee but also everybody in that office was very
dedicated workers and I just wanted you all to know that. We are
very fortunate. Thank you.
Mayor Stewart:
Before you come to adjournment, I would like for you to come back and
allow me to request adjourning to an Executive Session.
Robert
L. Valentine W1: I would like to request the same thing, an
Executive Session. First, though, my suggestion would be for just
the Council to meet at first. That is my suggestion to the rest
of Council.
Mayor Stewart: It is your call.
Richard P. Wolfe II: I do not have any problem with it.
Paul Wertz: State your reason for the Executive Session.
Robert L. Valentine W1: Personnel. To consider compensation of a public employee.
Ruth Detrow: And it will be a very short session.
Robert L. Valentine W1: Then we will continue on.
Comments or Questions from the Audience: (items that are not on the Agenda).
None.
Mayor
Stewart: I would like to request that Council adjourn to
Executive Session, including our Law Director and our Director of Human
Resources and myself to discuss compensation of public employees,
current and potential.
No formal action will be taken in Executive Session.
Motion to move to Executive Session by Paul Wertz, moved by Robert M. Valentine W2, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1.
Ayes: Robert L. Valentine, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.
Motion to return to Regular Session by Robert L. Valentine, seconded by Ruth Detrow.
Ayes: Robert L. Valentine, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.
Motion to Adjourn Regular Session by Robert M. Valentine W2, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1.
Ayes: Robert L. Valentine, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart
Adjournment at 9:02 p.m.
Submitted by
Valarie F. Bishoff
Clerk of Council