MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL
July 5, 2005
Council President Greg Gorrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Ward 1: Bob Valentine Present
Ward 2: Greg Gorrell Present
Ward 3: Ruth Detrow Present
Ward 4: Paul Wertz Present
At-large: Glen Stewart Present
June 7, 2005 Regular session
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Stewart to accept the minutes as presented.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Gorrell, Detrow Abstain: Valentine
June 21, 2005 Regular session
Moved by Valentine and seconded by Wertz to accept the minutes as presented.
Ayes: Wertz, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow Abstain: Stewart
(a) Mosquitoes: Tyler Smith
Smith told Council that he had attended the concert at the bandshell in Brookside Park and the fireworks also, and he stated that the mosquitoes were terrible. He asked when the City would begin the spraying schedule.
Park Director Tim Clingan responded that their program includes traps throughout the City for collecting mosquitoes, and the spraying begins when the traps reach a certain number of mosquitoes. Though that level hasn’t been reached, he thinks the threshold is close to being reached, and spraying will begin in the next couple of weeks.
Ord. 55-05
Item (a) AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE TAX COMMISSION BUDGET OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2006, AND SUBMITTING THE SAME TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR; 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: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Comments:
Finance Director Nancy Boyd told Council that this is routine, and she is required to file that document with the county auditor by the third week in July.
Gorrell added that this has been discussed in prior meetings, and again for clarity, this is the tax commission budget to have certification made; the actual detailed appropriated expenditures will be developed later this year to be approved when departmental division directors submit their budgets.
Stewart thanked Boyd and told her he appreciated the detailed work in this budget and that Council had received it in time to do adequate review.
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
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: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Motion carried.
Ord. 56-05
Item (b) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE WATER TREATMENT DIVISION OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Stewart 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: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Comments:
Director of Water Treatment Bruce Wiser explained that this is a project at the water plant that they did not want in the general construction going on down there. This is a renovation of the lab cabinets. During the last renovation of the plant, the lab was taken down all at the same time, causing them to lose their certification. This time they are using a phased construction for the lab; they will advertise for bids to replace the cabinetry and salvage the good tops. The estimate for the job is $40,000 and is budgeted already; the job should not have to be redone for another 20 years or so.
Moved by Stewart and seconded by Detrow that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Stewart 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: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Moved by Valentine and seconded by Wertz that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Motion carried.
Item (c) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAKING OF THE ANNEXATION OF CONTIGUOUS TERRITORY AND DIRECTING THE DIRECTOR OF LAW OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND TO PROSECUTE THE PROCEEDINGS NECESSARY TO EFFECT IT; 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: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Comments:
Gorrell recommended tabling this item, as there are some documentation issues that are not complete, some loose ends to tie up. It will not affect the project at the industrial park. Mayor Strine noted that this is not a problem with City matters but other information not received by the City as of yet.
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Stewart that the Ordinance be tabled.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Res. 14-05
Item (d) A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO, TO FILE AN APPLICATION AND ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE OF OHIO, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING FUNDS THROUGH THE D.A.R.E. GRANT PROGRAM; 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 Resolution has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Comments:
Police Chief Bill Miracle explained that this has become a yearly grant application for the DARE program, which is basically run on grants and donations. No budgetary money is used for the program other than Officer Shipper’s salary. Usually between $10,000 and $15,000 a year comes from the state. The DARE funding is becoming doubly important since the school funding for the program hasn’t been restored, and the program is run almost entirely through this grant and donations on a yearly basis.
Their goal is to continue the program this fall unless something unforeseen happens and the department has to cut budget further. If that happens, then this program will probably go by the wayside. That is not anticipated at this time but the department will have to just wait and see.
Moved by Gorrell and seconded by Wertz that the Resolution be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Detrow that the rules requiring the reading on three separate days be suspended and that the Resolution be passed on the second and third readings.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Stewart that the Resolution be passed.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Motion carried.
Ward 3: Ruth Detrow
(a) Mowing needed, City property (Siler), East Main Street:
Detrow received some calls about the Siler property and about the fact that the property hasn’t been mowed at all, according to people who live close to it. Since the City owns the property, it is rather an embarrassment. She asked Park Director Tim Clingan where it is on the schedule, and how much it can be speeded up.
Clingan responded that the Street Department has been mowing that even though it belonged to Siler’s. The Park Department purchased the property last year and has taken over the responsibility. However, he reminded everybody that with the budget cuts and fewer people, he is being asked to do more with less. It is scheduled, and the Park Department will take care of it.
Detrow asked if there was any possibility that the grant money could be used to hire someone to go in there and do the mowing? Referring to the grant money from the Clean Ohio Grant, she was told that money was used to acquire the land.
Ward 4: Paul Wertz
(a) 11th Street woods removal, creek bottom destroyed:
Wertz reported that in taking trees out of the woods here, the creek bottom has been destroyed, leaving wet areas and more mosquito problems there. He has talked to Kurt Brzyscz about it to see what can be done.
(b) Farm animals, Cleveland Avenue/Fourth Street:
There was a complaint a few weeks ago about farm animals here; Wertz checked the Codified Ordinance, finding that there’s no ordinance against this as long as the animal areas are clean. The neighbors are worried about their property values. He hasn’t talked to the law director yet. Mayor Strine indicated that agriculture is permitted in any of the City’s zoning classifications. If there is a health problem, that’s another story.
OLD BUSINESS: None
(a) Request for liquor permit hearing: (Transfer)
To: Sharda Corporation, 432 Claremont Avenue
From: Central Ohio Energy, Inc., Charter #109012, DBA In-N-Out Mart 108, 432 Claremont Avenue
Moved by Gorrell and seconded by Wertz that no hearing be requested.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
(a) Work session/Ward Walk:
July 12th: Ward Walk, Third Ward
July 26th:
There will also be a work session dealing with the City of Ashland selling water to the Rural Lorain system.
August recess/Council:
Mayor Strine indicated there might be a need for a special session in August, though he is not sure of that at this time.
(b) Water table:
Valentine asked about the level of the water table for the City, and Bruce Wiser responded that it is still real good, though it may have receded a little, not much.
(c) Traffic study, Mifflin Avenue:
Mayor Strine also reported that they are still waiting for an estimate as to a traffic study in the Mifflin Avenue area. As soon as that is received, he will get back to Council; the hospital has said they would help out on the cost of that, and Hospice said they would also.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Gorrell and seconded by Stewart to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Wertz, Stewart, Valentine, Gorrell, Detrow
Council adjourned the regular session at 7:22 p.m.
Submitted by
Elaine C. Bucklew
Clerk of Council