Village of Edgerton Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 7:00 PM

  • Mayor Day called the meeting to order at 7:00PM with the Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer.
  • Y – Yes, N – No, A – Abstain, Abs – Absent
  • Roll Call:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Y
Wampler, Pam Y

6 Members Present

Other Village Representatives Present:

  • Chris Walker – Law Director; Denise Knecht – Fiscal Officer; Dawn Fitzcharles – Village Administrator; Yvonne Pierce- Clerk

Media Present:

  • Dan Cooley –Village Reporter

Public Present:

  • None
  • Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes from 08.02.22:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y 2
Wallace, Chuck Y M
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion Passed 6-0

Communications, Petitions, and Claims of Public

Edgerton First Responders – Mayor Day congratulated Rob Studer & Ashley Stahler who recently completed the First Responder course. We are grateful and would like to acknowledge them for stepping up to fill a great need in our community. Mayor also noted that if others are inspired to do the same, we could possibly still get the course textbooks provided by a community member.

Administrator Update by Dawn Fitzcharles:

  • FEMA Meeting– The Mayor, Public Works Superintendent and Village Administrator attended a meeting with FEMA for the kick off of a Risk MAP project that they are completing with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (OHDNR) for a county project anticipated to take from 3-5 years. The purpose of this project is to help communities within the county identify, assess, and reduce their flood risk. This first phase is the discovery and planning process. During Discovery, DNR and FEMA staff work with local communities within the county to gather information from the communities on local flooding concerns, mitigation plans, training needs, and so on. It is important that this information be updated as it impacts mortgage lending programs and insurance in regard to flood plain areas and it has not been updated in over 50 years. In the future Council will be asked to approve studies and maps.
  • AMP power supply strategy will be brought to the next Council Meeting. By Resolution No. 2022-018 Council authorized a block ENERGY SUPPLY SCHEDULE and to acquire the Municipality’s energy from one or more Long-Term Energy Purchase(s), each with a term beginning on January 1, 2023 and ending no later than December 31, 2028 not to exceed the up-to price of $60 per MWh. We have been working several different strategies to cover the piece of power supply that we are going to lose at the end of 2022. At the next meeting, I will be presenting a 36-month hedge for 1MW of power, approximately 2,190 MWh per year, which accounts for about 8% of our total energy requirement at 4.7, well below energy market rate. This information and the contracts are being reviewed by Mr Walker to be presented to Council in September.
  • Mid-Year Budget Review – Following suit with last year, a mid-year review was prepared for each fund. This is the first step in the process of identifying budget objectives, available revenues, and operating budget requests. A schedule has been created by administration to work through this budgeting process with Department Heads, Committees and Council. Administrator Fitzcharles presented a slideshow of each fund reviewing current balances, revenues and expenses to date by department (Electric, Water, Sewer, Storm Sewer) as well as Street, General, Fire and Parks as of 7/31/2022, and including Capital Projects that were completed in the 1st and 2nd quarter and those being worked on in the 3rd and 4th quarter. Wage & Comp and Finance Meeting need to be scheduled soon.

Fiscal Officer Update by Denise Knecht:

  • Credit Card Review will be at next meeting as statements were not yet available.
  • Motion to pay bills 08.16.22:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y M
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Y
Wampler, Pam Y 2

Motion Passed 6-0

Police Chief Update by Gary Plotts:

  • Elm Street/side streets are being monitored after several complaints of stop sign being ran through
  • K9 Training is going well and has been received well by community; Chief Plotts trained all day today with Jaxx;
  • Dog Cage to be installed in vehicle and will be functional next week
  • To date all expenses for Jaxx, except approximately $2,500, have been covered by grants or donations and are still receiving more through other avenues
  • By October, Gary & Jax will be certified with the State; Jaxx will be making appearances all around the community including the schools and any place requested
  • After the recent 2-week instructor training course of an officer we now have 3 certified officers on staff who are able to teach and instruct
  • Security System Update – cameras and monitors are functional; door fobs expected to be installed next week; this will complete the interior phase 1 with the ability to implement more exterior phases or phases in other Village locations in the future; the idea was for this to be added to for additional services

Mayor Report:

  • RAW Run 9 –Mayor complimented this awesome event that rumbled through town with several hundred riders raising money to assist veterans. It was very impressive to see Montpelier & Bryan Fire Departments on location to assist with raising the American flag using their ladder trucks.

Discussion- Medical Certification and Disconnect Policy: We currently have an informal medical certification program. Village Administrator Fitzcharles worked with Summer Intern Trinity Nichols to standardize a policy for disconnects and extended payment plans for a medical certification program. This addresses policies due to extreme weather conditions and to establish uniform procedures. This also helps us to create a list that could be used to inform medical certificate holders in the event of scheduled power interruption for repairs. It provides clear guidelines and also allows us to give better customer service. To obtain a medical certification the resident must have the provided brochure completed by the physician’s office stating that the resident is using lifesaving medical equipment at their residence with recertification required every 90 days.

  • Motion to approve Medical Certification and Disconnect Policy effective September 1, 2022:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y M
Karnes, Tom Y 2
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Y
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion Passed 6-0

Council Discussion:

Mayor Day complimented the Administrator and office staff with the forward thinking, attention to details that we are seeing out of the office is appreciated, noted and the community is seeing the difference.

Railroad right-of-way upkeep/lease: west side of tracks on the south side is covered with weeds; With new lease we will be spraying weeds in the spring and fall; discussed volunteer groups helping with cleaning this up; possibility of planting wild flowers in future

Newly planted Hull Street trees are under warranty; Village Administrator has already contacted supplier for replacement

A special mention of gratitude to Tomara Rhoden for taking on the Home Town Hero Banner Project and seeing it through. The banners look great! We have heard many compliments regarding the appearance and placement of banners. Family members are coming from out of town to view their Service member’s banner.

  • Motion to enter into executive session to discuss employment & compensation of a public employee(s) and acquisition of property @ 8:15PM:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y M
VanAusdale, Leslie Y 2
Wallace, Chuck Y
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion Passed 6-0

  • Motion to exit executive session @ 8:38PM:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y 2
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y M
Wallace, Chuck Y
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion Passed 6-0

Action Taken After Executive Session

Village Administrator requested that Council accept the voluntary resignation by job abandonment of Lilly Halter effective 8/9/2022. Ms. Halter was a no call and no show for scheduled work shifts on 8/3/22, 8/4/22, 8/5/22 and 8/9/22 and failed to report to work as directed. A letter was delivered to Ms Halter by certified mail stating that we hereby accept the voluntary resignation by job abandonment.

  • Motion to accept the voluntary resignation by abandonment of job of part-time seasonal utility clerk, Lilly Halter effective 8/9/22:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y M
Wallace, Chuck Y
Wampler, Pam Y 2

Motion Passed 6-0

With that vacancy in the office, we now have a position to fill in order to cover a future medical leave in the office. Administrator Fitzcharles would like to recommend that Council approve the hire of Melanie Kaiser as a probational part-time seasonal utility clerk through Dec 31, 2022. Melanie comes to us with many years of governmental experience and holds her notary public. She will be able to step right in and cover these duties for us during our short-term need.

  • Motion to hire Melanie Kaiser as Temporary Part Time Seasonal Utility Clerk at $17.00 per hour with start date of 8/18/2022:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Y 2
Wampler, Pam Y M

Motion Passed 6-0

Administrator Fitzcharles has been working with the school to develop a school to work program. Fitzcharles presented a candidate and would like Council to consider hiring Hayley Kimpel as a probational part-time intern trainee at a proposed rate of $10.00 per hour starting Monday 8/22/2022. She is a senior at Edgerton High School and participates in the school/work program. Hayley will work 12-15 hours per week; 3 hours per day Monday – Friday. We are excited to bring her on board to work with us for the school year.

  • Motion to hire Hayley Kimpel, probationary Part Time Administrative Intern Trainee @ $10.00 per hour with start date of 08/22/2022:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y 2
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y M
Wallace, Chuck Y
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion Passed 6-0

  • Motion to adjourn at 8:44PM:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y 2
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y M
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Y
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion Passed 6-0