Village of Edgerton Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 21, 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 Absent
Wampler, Pam Y

  5 Members Present

Other Village Representatives Present:

  • Chris Walker – Law Director; Denise Knecht – Fiscal Officer; Dawn Fitzcharles – Village Administrator; Gary Plotts – Police Chief; Justin Coffman – Edgerton Police Department

Media Present:

  • Rebecca Miller – Village Reporter; Cindy Thiel – Edgerton Earth; Lucas Bechtol – Bryan Times

Public Present:

  • Trinity Nichols; Boy Scouts – Kaiden Wilson, Andrew Wilson, Ryan Breen, Adam Gruver, Lonny Breen
  • Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes from 06.09.22:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Abstain
VanAusdale, Leslie Y M
Wallace, Chuck Absent
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion passes 4-0

Introduction of New Village Employee – Trinity Nichols, Intern started with the village, last week. Trinity’s current project is to work on records retention and destruction and will assist with various projects during our time with us. She is with us this evening to be introduced and to see how government meetings are ran. Welcome Trinity!

Dawn Fitzcharles introduced Joey Boston with Efficiency Smart. Joey is here to share information with Council and the public. The Village of Edgerton partners with Efficiency Smart to help our residents and businesses conserve energy and save money. They offer many services including advice on projects and products; provide rebates and discounts. Some of the residential services include: Home Energy rebates, Online savings and Local retail savings. Also, residents are offered Electric Usage Monitoring, Electric bill advice and Online home energy assessments. All businesses are eligible to receive account management and engineering consultations to help identify opportunities to save money and energy. The Village Market is a designated local supplier offering low-cost, high-efficiency bulbs to our community at a cost of $0.99. Efficiency Smart engages with customers through a variety of methods including bill messages, utility office flyers and social media campaigns through their website and email newsletters. The appliance recycle/reward program is being started up again. The promotion being offered now is a scheduled pickup of an old working appliance with a rebate of $100.00 offered beginning July 1- Sept 30, 2022 for refrigerators, humidifiers and room air conditioners. Small businesses using local contractors for energy efficient upgrades and projects will received double the incentive. Using local vendors gives double the benefits and helps our communities. Efficiency Smart is a program developed to assist Edgerton residents and businesses with saving energy and money, increasing comfort, safety and productivity and meeting sustainability goals. Village Administrator informed the community how the Village has used the ES program to complete the street lighting LED project upgrade; Town Hall Gym LED lighting upgrade and most recently a project of upgrading lights and fans at the Fire Department. We are currently working on the outside lighting at the Village Hall for safety.

Mayor Day gave a personal testimony of a lighting project upgrade completed approximately four years ago at his business. It cut the electrical usage in half. The recoup time of the project including the rebate was about 18 months.

Mayor Day welcomed the Boy Scouts and thanked them for their interest in our public meeting.

Administrator Update by Dawn Fitzcharles:

  • Need to schedule special meeting of Village of Edgerton and St Joe Township Trustees. Either June 29 @ 5 or June 30 @ 4 or 5. Most members requested June 29 @ 5. We will follow up with Trustees and confirm with all.
  • Building assessment project -The engineers have the reports in draft form. Poggemeyer is currently working on the architectural portions of the assessment and we are hoping to have a draft copy by the first of July.
  • Power Supply: A power supply graph was displayed for 2022; Edgerton has multiple long term power contracts and joint ventures ranging from 30–50-year agreements. We do have one short term agreement called PSEG, a remaining requirement negotiated contract ending at the conclusion of 2022. We will need to have replacement power. The portion of power supply that is at risk is approximately 22%. AMP issued a request for proposal (RFP) for an in front-of-the-meter (FTM) solar purchase power agreement (PPA) in 2021 based on the aggregate amount of the membership’s confirmed non-binding interest. Edgerton submitted a letter of non-binding interest. From this information, the submittals were analyzed, and the best-rated and most economical project was shortlisted and ultimately a term sheet was negotiated and executed with the selected developer. During this time of evaluation, negotiation and execution of the term sheet, there was a significant run-up in project development costs due to inflationary and supply chain pressures on solar panels and related construction costs. These pressures were not isolated to the selected project but seen across the entire solar development space, which has increased the PPA pricing. Edgerton would be building in additional resources withing our power supply. Edgerton suggested participation is 0.6MW solar. Due to this changing landscape, the AMP Board of Trustees authorized AMP to proceed with the subscription process for a generic solar PPA that meets all the requirements identified in the RFP. Subscribing the project will allow AMP to confirm the total amount of member participation and have member agreements in place to execute a PPA if/when the following primary negotiated terms are met:
  • Term: Fifteen (15) Years
  • Delivery Point: PJM AEP/Dayton Hub
  • Pricing: Not to Exceed $45/MWh with 0% escalation for Term
  • Project Attributes: Energy, Capacity, and Environmental Attributes (RECs)

Dawn has provided this information to John Courtney. He suggests moving ahead with the resolution but to not execute the agreement without contract review. This will be further reviewed by Courtney and an attorney. Dawn suggested throwing our hat in the ring to learn more. This could be valuable power supply resources to add to our portfolio.

  • Water Tower project -Loan- WSRLA at interest rate 1.73%, with annual projected payment amounts $7,821.19; 1st payment due 7/1/2023, Project slated to begin August 8th- October 13th
  • Oak Street Project – scheduling preconstruction meeting soon; Contractual documents are being completed with the commissioners

Fiscal Officer Update by Denise Knecht:

  • Credit Card Review; May 15- June 15, 2022
  • Update of 2020/2021 Audit – have not heard back from them yet but should be very soon
  • Annual Tax Budget Commission resolution is on the agenda
  • Motion to pay bills 06.21.22:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y M
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Absent
Wampler, Pam Y 2

Motion passes 5-0

Police Department Update by Chief Gary Plotts

  • Bike Patrol Program – approved by Chief Plotts and developed and ran by Sgt Coffman. Both bikes were on display. The bikes and all equipment have been donated to this point. The Bike Patrol Program makes is possible for officers to have more interaction with our community members, especially during community events in the summer months and an opportunity to save fuel. Thanks to Sgt Coffman for taking the initiative and jumping on this.
  • Body Armor Grant – 20 vests needed; applied for grant through the Attorney General’s office David Yost for $25,655. We were approved for 75% of the cost providing us with grant funds in the amount of $19,241.25 leaving us with $6,413.75 Village match. This grant allows us to have all 20 officers outfitted with bullet proof vest at a low cost to the Village. With this grant we have to pay for the items up front and then apply for reimbursement.
  • Fireworks– As of July 1st Ohio will have a new fireworks law. However, the Village already has an Ordinance on the books that states fireworks are not allowed to be discharged within the village limits.
  • Security cameras and key fobs – Denny with Elite Door will be here next week to start the wiring for the security cameras and key fobs
  • Tactical Unit – Not serving a purpose to the Police Department; requesting permission to sell on auction site with reserve of at least $3,000. The unit look nice and runs. With the proceeds Chief requested purchasing a golf cart.
  • Motion to sell the Police Department Tactical Unit by auction with Darin Bok, United Edge Real Estate and Auction Co:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y M
Wallace, Chuck Absent
Wampler, Pam Y 2

Motion passes 5-0

Discussion-Ordinance No 1104: This Ordinance appropriates budget amounts to receive body armor grant and then purchase body armor. Funds will be reimbursed.

VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO. 1104

AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A SUPPLEMENT TO THE 2022 ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS

  • Motion to pass and adopt Ordinance No 1104:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y M
Karnes, Tom Y 2
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Absent
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion passes 5-0

Discussion: Amounts and Rates as determined by the Budget Commission – this will be the first reading. This resolution gives the annual tax collection amounts for the General fund and the Fire fund. The general fund amount is approximately $9,000 higher than last year’s collections with the Fire fund amount remaining the same. We are looking for the first reading tonight with the second and third to follow on July 5 and July 19 so that we have plenty of time to get our submission into the County Auditor no later than the Oct 1st deadline.

VILLAGE OF EDGERTON RESOLUTION NO 2022-013 (1st reading)
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMOUNTS AND RATES AS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY TAX LEVIES AND CERTIFYING THEM TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR

  • Motion to give first reading for Resolution 2022-013:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y M
Karnes, Tom Y 2
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Absent
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion passes 5-0

Discussion: Solar first reading- Dawn explained that this is to deliver the 2022 energy schedule. “That the Village Administrator hereby authorized to (i) acquire under the 2022 Solar Energy Schedule, authorized above, a Contract Amount as defined in that Schedule of up to 600 kW with a price of up to $45.00/MWh(ac) for energy, capacity and environmental attributes made available thereunder without bid, and (ii) make any determinations and approvals required thereunder, if any, as the Village Administrator shall deem necessary and advisable.” Dawn will bring information back to the group and legal counsel before taking any future action.

VILLAGE OF EDGERTON, OHIO RESOLUTION NO 2022-014 (1st reading)
A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE FORM AND AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF THE 2022 SOLAR ENERGY SCHEDULE WITH AMERICAN MUNICIPAL POWER, INC. and taking of other actions in connection therewith regarding SOLAR GENERATED energy PURCHASES

  • Motion to give first reading Resolution 2022-014:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y M
Karnes, Tom Y 2
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Absent
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion passes 5-0

Discussion: UTV vehicles: Mr Walker informed all that we talked about utility vehicles. Edgerton already has an ordinance in place for golf carts. ORC definition now includes LOW-SPEED, UNDER-SPEED, OR UTILITY VEHICLES, OR MINI-TRUCKS in one section. We are trying to simplify and allow for substitution of all vehicle types with requirements that include being inspected, have basic safety equipment and can’t drive on roads over 35mph.

VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO. 1105 (1st reading)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 376 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF EDGERTON, OHIO PERTAINING TO LOW-SPEED, UNDER-SPEED, OR UTILITY VEHICLES, OR MINI-TRUCKS

  • Motion to give first reading Ordinance No 1105:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y M
Wallace, Chuck Absent
Wampler, Pam Y 2

Motion passes 5-0

Recessed @ 8:12PM -Council relocated to the mayor’s office for an executive session

  • Motion to enter into executive session to discuss the acquisition of property and employment and compensation of a public employee/employees @ 8:16PM:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y 2
Gruver, Jason Y M
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Y
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion passes 5-0

  • Motion to exit executive session @ 9:12PM:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y M
Karnes, Tom Y
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Absent
Wampler, Pam Y 2

Motion passes 5-0

Action Taken After Executive Session

VILLAGE OF EDGERTON RESOLUTION NO 2022-015
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE OF EDGERTON, OHIO AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH EDGERTON ACQUISTION, LLC PERTAINING TO A GIFT OF REAL ESTATE TO THE VILLAGE OF EDGERTON AND TO APPLY FOR A GRANT UNDER THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT’S BROWNFIELD REMEDIATION PROGRAM PERTAINING TO SUCH REAL ESTATE

  • Motion to pass and adopt Resolution 2022-015:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y 2
VanAusdale, Leslie Y M
Wallace, Chuck Absent
Wampler, Pam Y

Motion passes 5-0

  • Motion to adjourn @ 9:16PM:
Blinzler, Sharon                              Y
Gruver, Jason Y
Karnes, Tom Y M
VanAusdale, Leslie Y
Wallace, Chuck Absent
Wampler, Pam Y 2

Motion passes 5-0