Village of Edgerton Council Meeting Minutes
|Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at 5:30 PM
- Mayor Day called the meeting to order at 5:30PM with the Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer.
- Y – Yes, N – No, A – Abstain, Abs – Absent
- Roll Call:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | ABS |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
5 Members Present
Other Village Representatives Present:
- Chris Walker – Law Director; Denise Knecht – Fiscal Officer; Dawn Fitzcharles – Village Administrator; Fabian Aguilar – PD
Media Present:
- Edgerton Earth- Cindy Thiel, Anna Wozniak- Village Reporter, Liam Jackson Bryan Times entered at 6pm
Public Present:
- None
- Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes from 12.06.23:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2ND |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | ABS |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passes 5-0
Mayor Update by Robert Day: Nothing at this time maybe later in the meeting.
Council Member Chuck Wallace entered at 5:34PM
Administrator Update by Dawn Fitzcharles:
- Has items to share at the end of the meting
- As part of the Water Treatment Plant Rehabilitation Project, we will schedule a commercial diver for inspection of the clear well. The clear well, where water sits and reacts with the chlorine before moving out to the softener and into the system, will be inspected. The diver will check for any necessary repairs, clean out any gravel/sand as needed. We solicited for proposals and reviewed them. The preliminary cost is $4,326. If repairs or clean out are needed there could be additional costs. The project engineer reviewed the proposals and gave official recommendation in writing. Film and pictures will be available when complete and shared with council.
- Draft Policy for Call-Time was introduced after conversation at the wage & comp meetings. After review this will be brought to Council for action at the Jan 3rd meeting to amend employee handbook with policy. The policy written includes the topics discussed with specific explanation that the “On-Call” is waiting to be engaged, not engaged to be waiting, which are two separate issues.
Fiscal Officer Update by Denise Knecht:
- Credit Card Review – statement policy 11.16.23-12.15.23
- Please note one small addition of $3.18 for an invoice from Big C that came in after the Bills List was compiled and printed.
- As done previously, if we receive any more invoices with 2023 open purchase orders from today until the end of December, we will prepare another small check run to get those items off the books.
- Motion to pay bills 12.20.23:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y 2ND |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y MOTION |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passes 6-0
Resignation full-time officer: Mayor Day announced that we are requesting to regretfully accept the resignation of Fabian Aguilar. We are sad to announce that Officer Aguilar has accepted his dream position at the City of Defiance and will be leaving us on December 30, 2023. He joined us as an auxiliary officer, moved to part time before joining us for full time last year. In his time here he has been a tremendous asset to our team always going above and beyond in service of the community. His enthusiasm for working with children has led him to create a diversion program for the Edgerton’s troubled youth which was very well received by co-workers and community members alike. Mayor recalled the night Officer Aguilar was sworn in and how totally unprepared he was for the emotions of the event. The Village of Edgerton is proud for helping Officer Aguilar get his start in law enforcement. We are pleased to stand back and watch him do great things because he has a great potential inside of himself. Thank you for your service.
- Motion to accept resignation of full-time Police officer, Fabian Aguilar effective 12/30/2023:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y 2ND |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passes 6-0
With the acceptance of that resignation, we would like a motion to advertise for the open police department position.
- Motion to advertise for regular full-time police officer:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y MOTION |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y 2ND |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passes 6-0
WTP Rehabilitation Project: VA Fitzcharles presented a contract for professional services for the Water Treatment Plant Rehabilitation Project with Kleinfelder for approval. We have been working with a couple different engineering groups for a few months to nail down the scope of services and pricing for this project and have made a selection. This project will be to perform the upgrades to the WTP. We are also working on an additional source of funding which became available in the last month to assist with the possibility of additional work at the plant that we were not anticipating completing. We are asking for approval of this agreement. With the funding sources that we have the project has to be complete by Dec 31, 2025. We are shooting for final completion of December 31, 2024.
- Motion to approve professional services agreement with Kleinfelder for WTP rehabilitation:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y MOTION |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2ND |
Motion Passes 6-0
Ordinance No 1129 – Salaries & Wages: Every year the Village is required to pass an annual wage Ordinance which includes wage scales and pay grade assignment. This is the third reading for immediate passage and will take effect with payroll period beginning December 17, 2023.
VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO 1129
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SALARIES AND WAGES FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE VILLAGE OF EDGERTON, OHIO
- Motion to suspend the rules for Ordinance No 1129:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y MOTION |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2ND |
Motion Passes 6-0
- Motion to pass and adopt Ordinance No 1129:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2ND |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passes 6-0
Ordinance No 1130 – Permanent Appropriations 2024: This information was presented at 11/15 meeting. This is the third reading for 2024 Budget with proposed change of removal of FEMA grant. We were recently notified that the FEMA grant was not awarded so there was no need to appropriate and then have to appropriate again to remove it. The amount of $241,160 was removed from the permanent appropriation listing Exhibit A.
VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO 1130
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE PERMANENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR YEAR 2024
- Motion to suspend the rules for Ordinance No 1130:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2ND |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passes 6-0
- Motion to pass and adopt Ordinance No 1130:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y MOTION |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y 2ND |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passes 6-0
House Bill 33: Ohio House Bill 33 passed in July and made changes to the law pertaining to municipal income tax. Because we have a municipal income tax code, we are required to update when provided. Essentially this update is in line with states initiative to streamline the tax code to try and make it easier for taxpayers. This is the second reading to pass immediately as the legislation is required to be uploaded to RITA by December 31, 2023.
VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO. 1132
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 185 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF EDGERTON, OHIO PERTAINING TO MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX
- Motion to suspend the rules for Ordinance No 1132:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y MOTION |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y 2ND |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passes 6-0
- Motion to pass and adopt Ordinance No 1132:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y 2ND |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passes 6-0
Lexipol Police Department Policy: This policy was previously provided to Council by email and is the 2nd reading.
- Motion to give 2nd reading for Ordinance No 1133:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2ND |
Motion Passes 6-0
Additional items added to agenda by VA.
Utility Bill Comparison – An updated comparison of average utility bills usage and cost in our community and other local communities (Bryan, Montpelier, Pioneer, Toledo Edison and Northwestern Electric) has been collected, studied and compared by consumer class. Email of this presentation will be sent to Council Members for review.
- VOE ranks #1 in Large Power sector – great news to our industrial and business customers
- Average residential usage is 500 to 800kWh per month
- The average VOE residential household pays $76.32 per month in Electric charges. The highest in our competition pays $96.14.
- VOE ranks 3rd in residential usage; A monthly residential bill of 500kWh including all services (water, wastewater, storm, refuse & recycling) is at $153.99 per month;1000kWh is $212.81
- 2023 bills per other services at the average residential customer usage were as listed; water at estimated $29.68 per month, sewer at $28.25, storm at $5.00, refuse and recycling at $14.74
- Services for refuse and recycling are contracted out
Smart Thermostat Program: We need to get more community members enrolled in this energy saving program. Energy Hub pooled us with 9 other member communities to reduce energy cost to all. When we experience a peak event participants smart thermostats would be automatically set to precool the home before the peak event. This reduces our energy rate. Eight peaking events were called in 2023. Anytime a peak event is called and we can shed our load we are lowering our power bill. If every residential thermostat participated this year it would equate to $50 in saving per thermostat per year calculating at and estimated savings of $50,000 at 980 thermostats. This is one way we can all work together to experience lower energy bills. Typical events are on weekday in excess of 90 degrees in the hours of 2-5pm. If you enroll and decide to opt out of an event you will have that capability. There are incentives for participation and rebates.
Council Discussion:
Council Member Wallace contacted a few people about the Cat Program that was presented at the last meeting. He knows of a few people interested. Councilman Bowsher mentioned his wife would be willing to be a transporter.
Council Member Bowsher and Wampler wished for all to have a great Holiday!
Council Member VanAusdale thanked Chris Walker for his service.
Council Member Wallace noticed the solar speed side on South Michigan is not working.
Mayor Day thanked Law Director Chris Walker for his service over the past 24 months and mentioned the fast pace Edgerton is moving. Here are some of the projects that Chris has been a part of; Edgerton Electric Sub-station upgrade, ODOT/SRTS, Oak Street Sidewalks, Edgerton Metals Remediation, Water Towers Rehab, Water Treatment Plant and Main Lift Station and more. He has helped to kept us moving in the right direction and for that we are thankful.
- Motion to adjourn at 6:07PM:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y 2ND |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0