Village of Edgerton Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 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 |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
6 Members Present
Other Village Representatives Present:
- Dawn Fitzcharles – Village Administrator; Denise Knecht – Fiscal Officer; Matt Krill – Interim Police Chief
Media Present:
- Liam Jackson – Bryan Times; Anna Wozniak -Village Reporter
- Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes from 07.05.2023:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2 |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y M |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passed 6-0
Village Administrator Fitzcharles introduced Crystal Meyer with Northern Buckeye Health Plan. We invited Crystal to join us this evening ahead of a budget season to give us an update and to educate new members about the consortium. Crystal provided slides and gave a presentation with highlights listed below:
- Northern Buckeye, a self-funded insurance program made up by multiple groups, has been around for 35 years and is part of a much larger group called Optimal Health Initiatives
- Benefits of NBHP – Express Scripts for mail order pharmacy, Anthem for the network, Everside Health Clinic for personalized clinic healthcare
- Local board control even though we’re part of a larger group
- 90 cents of every dollar go out to pay claims; fixed cost is low though as Northern Buckeye is a not for profit
- Fixed costs; stop-loss return is our biggest expense
- Premium for family plan is still less that we were paying in 2016 when we joined. Single plan just went over the cost back in 2016
- NBHP manages Health and Wellness Services, ACA reporting and compliance notices, internal staffing and consulting, online enrollment and eligibility management and telehealth services, including legal fees, actuary fees, staffing, everything is included in premium at no extra cost
- Every 3-4 years NB goes out and looks at medical networks, claims payer, prescription benefit managers
- They go out to market every 3 to 5 years for the groups looking for best deal to save the plan money
- We’ve seen larger rate increasing in the past couple of years but we are still right there with market trend
- Large claimants cause a decrease in reserves. (Example, childhood cancer)
- Rates and rebuilding reserves – double digit rate increase experienced in 2023; highest since 2015 (rates are based on claim trend and reserve rebuild)
- Looking at 2024 budget planning -preliminary rates and projections for a global increase from 6-9% by actuary and subject to change based on claims; updates will be coming in September
- Dawn attends the Northern Buckeye General Assembly meetings and has a vote to set rates and plan changes
- Affordable Care Act and employer contributions- There are requirements on the amount employers are allowed to charge employees for premiums. Current law for self only coverage cannot exceed 9.12% of income. Safe Harbor Option Federal Poverty Line is typically used by most of the Northern Buckeye Groups. Employee costs cannot exceed 9.12% of the FPL for a single coverage. Current FPL is $14,580. Based on this calculation, the employee monthly contribution for self only cannot exceed $110.81. Family plan employee contribution is set by Council.
Fiscal Office Denise Knecht commented that working with Northern Buckeye Administrative Team is really great. If we have an issue with employee’s coverage, a benefit question or a need, it is handled in a very timely manner. It’s been a very good experience.
Mayor Update by Robert Day:
- Recognized the new Summer Rec Board/Coaches dealing with the weather and obstacles at the Bulldog Bash last weekend. It was a great success. Having two complexes, Miller Park and Gerhart, afforded us to make adjustments and handle a tournament of that size.
- Reminder Homecoming Events will be Thursday through Sunday
- Great job to Street Department for cleaning streets in preparation for the parade route which be in reverse direction this year, starting at the new school and heading uptown
Administrator Update by Dawn Fitzcharles:
- Following suit with last year, a mid-year review was prepared with discussion about each fund. This is our 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, carry-overs, revenues and expenses to date by department; Electric, Water, Sewer, Storm Sewer, Street, General, Fire and Parks as of 6/30/2023, and including Capital Projects that were completed during the 1st and 2nd quarters and those still in progress. Wage & Comp and Finance Committee Meetings need to be scheduled soon. This presentation also includes the topics discussed that Finance Committee Meeting held on July 13th. A broad overview of presentation highlights is listed below:
- Cash balance trend – built up cash position since 2015; currently all funds total we’re sitting just under $8.5M; all funds are maintaining well over the minimum monthly carry over balances.
- Electric – Power supply costs have come in below projection and will be passed down to our residents and businesses with next billing period
- Water- Water Towers Project in progress and Water Treatment plant on horizon
- Sewer – Main Lift Station project in 2024
- Storm Sewer – small projects this year
- General Fund – subsidizes other services for the village, street and fire and hold match for multiple projects
- Income Tax- should mirror general fund by budget design and allocation of funds
- General Fund holds debt service for the Town Hall Loan, active through 2027
- Projection of Capital Project Funding 2023-2026 including construction year, estimated project cost, grant awarded, local match, loan awarded. Projects include Water Treatment Plan, ODOT/SRTS, Main Lift Station, Edgerton Metals Remediation, Oak Street Reconstruction, FEMA-AFG. We have grant awards for approximately $12.7M listed. We anticipate a local match of less than $1M and we have the ability to draw on loans up to $715,000. This helps provide Edgerton will a great opportunity for very necessary infrastructure improvements. This information is subject to change as other options become available. We have been saving for these capital improvement projects but didn’t anticipate the additional pots of money becoming available and the additional grant awards to come together for us. This is a very exciting time to live in Edgerton.
Fiscal Officer Update by Denise Knecht:
- Credit Card Review for statement period 06/16/2023 – 06/15/20223; please circulate and sign
Police Chief Update by Matt Krill
- The transition in the police department is going well. We have a great team and are very appreciative.
- We’re playing catchup with multiple projects and keeping them moving forward as a team
- Thank you to leadership team for support
- Reminder to use caution and slow down with the Rail Crossings being under repair
- Officers helping out during festival
Remove probation status: Officer Kelly Kunesh is very professional and has met all of the requirements to be removed from the six-month probationary period. Officer Kunesh is very detail oriented, positive influence on the department and great addition to the team.
- Motion to approve employment status request form to remove Kelly Kunesh from probationary part-time Patrol Officer and move to part-time Patrol Officer as of 7/17/2023:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y M |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2 |
Motion Passed 6-0
Contractor payments D & M Painting- We have received the contractor’s application for payment No 2 for work performed on the Water Towers II Project in the amount of $144,003.60 which includes change orders 1, 2, and 4 and has been signed off by our engineer.
- Motion to approve Contractor’s Application for Payment No 2 for Water Towers Project 2 in the amount of $144,003.60 to D & M Painting Corporation:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y M |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y 2 |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passed 6-0
Ohio Department of Development Brownfield Remediation Project Edgerton Revitalization DEV-2022-193553: We submitted our second payment request to ODD and are awaiting to receive the funds via bank direct deposit. Once the revenue is received, we will issue payment to August Mack to satisfy this invoice. They are actively working on this project. Council has previously appropriated the revenue and expense for this project. The request for this motion allows for transparency and tracking purposes.
- Motion to approve revenue receipt from Ohio Department of Development and issue payment for invoice #77559 to August Mack Environmental in the amount of $51,226.76 for the Edgerton Metals Brownfield Remediation Project (Edgerton Revitalization DEV-2022-193553) for project invoices through June 11, 2023:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y M |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y 2 |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passed 6-0
- Motion to pay bills 07.18.23:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y2 |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | YM |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passed 6-0
Councilman Wallace questioned the purchase of the golf cart and intended uses. It was in the 2023 Police Capital Budget and used for Homecoming and community involvement as well as mobility for events.
Council Discussion:
Council Member Gruver inquired about the planting and/or replanting of trees, specifically dead tree on Hull. Mayor Day assured that he had worked on this situation with Straight Gate just this morning and has 10 various trees on order and is working on best time to plant. Council Member Wallace reminded that we may be able to get trees from Stephanie at the State purchasing price. We need more trees. We have a total of 16 available. Dawn asked Chuck to bring the growth award that we received at the meeting he attended.
Council Member VanAusdale asked for discussion about the possibility to change the date and times of council meetings due to various schedules. A proposal of the first and third Wednesday of each month at 5:30pm was suggested. Legislation will be brought to the next meeting to make this change beginning in September of 2023.
Council Member Blinzler asked for netting to be considered at Gerhart Park to keep the homerun balls out of the park play area. Wallace has been looking into this and has made contact with someone who may have a net to donate. He will follow up.
Council Member Wallace commended Summer Rec organization on a job well done their first year even though the weather threw them a curve ball. It can be overwhelming. This tournament helps the whole community by bringing people to town. He spoke to the need of volunteerism in this type of organization. He also urged people to come out to at least support one homecoming event. There are lots of things to participate in. To keep these events going please come out! Support the community!
- Motion to enter into executive session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee under ORC 121.22(G)(1) @ 8:14PM:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y2 |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | YM |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passed 6-0
Council Member VanAusdale requested that Matt Krill stay for the executive session.
- Motion to exit executive session @8:24PM:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | YM |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y2 |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion Passed 6-0
Motion taken after executive session: None.
- Motion to adjourn @ 8:24PM:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | YM |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y2 |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion passed 6-0