Village of Edgerton Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 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 | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
6 Members Present
Other Village Representatives Present:
- Denise Knecht – Fiscal Officer; Dawn Fitzcharles – Village Administrator; Amanda Knecht – Administrative Assistant
Media Present:
- Cindy Thiel, Edgerton Earth; India Kenner, Village Reporter; Brian Koeller, Bryan Times (arrived @ 5:36pm)
Public Present:
- None
- Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes from 11.06.24:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Abstain |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Mayor Update by Robert Day:
- Christmas decorations are in the process of being put up
- Leaf collection has gone very well this season
Administrator Update by Dawn Fitzcharles:
- Leaf pickup will continue through next Wednesday depending on the weather
- Crews need to get equipment set up for snow and ice since we use the same trucks
Fiscal Officer Update by Denise Knecht:
- Monthly Business Card review with statement period 10.16.24-11.15.24 presented
- Motion to pay bills 11.20.24:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y Motion |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y 2nd |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Park Board Meeting 11/13: Village Administrator Fitzcharles reported at the Park Board Meeting there was a review of budget, general and park fund status updates with 2024 project updates as well as new projects planned for 2025. This was the same material that was presented in the Finance Committee Meeting and Budget Meetings. Councilman Wallace questioned the plan for the lights that were purchased/donated and are just sitting there and have been for four years. He would like to donate them to another group that would like to use them. If the park board has no intention of using the lights, he would like to recover the expense and get them to another entity that wants them. Administration gave Chuck the go ahead to see if another entity would like them.
Reclassification of employees: We respectfully request the reclassification of an employee. We ask that Dakota Burke be removed from probationary part-time general laborer and transitioned to part-time general laborer. He has served his six-month probationary period in this position. Originally Dakota started with us as an intern and moved to the general labor position.
- Motion to approve reclassification of Dakota Burke from probationary part-time general laborer to part-time general laborer effective 10/08/2024:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2nd |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y Motion |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
The next item for Council approval is a reclassification for Jerry Brown, Police Department employee. Chief Jacob is asking to end his probation as a part time patrol officer.
- Motion to approve reclassification of Jerry Brown from probationary part-time patrolman to part-time patrolman effective 11/20/2024:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y Motion |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y 2nd |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Chief Blue has asked for probationary firefighter Kodie Carlisle to be removed from probationary status. He has completed the probationary period with an excellent service record.
- Motion to approve reclassification of Kodie Carlisle from probationary volunteer firefighter to volunteer firefighter effective 10/03/2024:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y Motion |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2nd |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
The next item for consideration is the resignation from Junior Firefighter Adam Gruver.
- Motion to accept the resignation of Junior firefighter Adam Gruver effective 11/08/24:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y Motion |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2nd |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Next, we have a couple of classification changes within the Fire Department with the recent retirements and officer changes. We have two lieutenant positions open. An application process was held with 5 applicants. All applicants took a test. We looked at attendance, training hours, outside training hours and test scores. The candidates were graded and officers voted. Based on recommendation from Chief Blue, as of Jan 1, 2025, Rob Pettit will fill the position of Lieutenant 39-1 and Matt Fortney will fill the position of Lieutenant 39-2. Both new Lieutenants will receive officer pay of $33.33 per month. These appointments will fill our officer group back up to seven. They will join Chief Scott Blue, Assistant Chief Bob Adkins, Captains Terry Sanders and Mike Goebel, and Safety Officer Brad Stark in the leadership of the department.
- Motion to approve reclassification of volunteer firefighter Robbin Petitt Jr to Lieutenant 39-1 effective 01/01/2025:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y 2nd |
| Wallace, Chuck | NO |
| Wampler, Pam | Y Motion |
Motion PASSES 5-1
- Motion to approve reclassification of volunteer firefighter Matthew Fortney to Lieutenant 39-2 effective 01/01/2025:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2nd |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y Motion |
| Wallace, Chuck | NO |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 5-1
2025 Council Committee Assignments: Mayor Day sent an email and has kept committee assignments the same as last year with no objections, so we are seeking approval from the group for 2025 Committee Assignments.
- Motion to approve 2025 Committee assignments:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y Motion |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y 2nd |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Holiday, regular council meeting and payroll schedules for 2025: Each year Council approves the holiday, regular council meeting and payroll schedules. The first item is the council meeting schedule. It was pointed out that the first regularly scheduled council meeting date of the year falls on January 1st, so that meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday January 2nd.
- Motion to approve 2025 regular council meeting schedule:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y Motion |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2nd |
Motion PASSES 6-0
The next item is the 2025 Holiday Schedule with includes the holiday proposed with the budget and wage and compensation committees:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2nd |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y Motion |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Council also confirms 2025 payroll periods. Portions of this are put in the wage ordinance section for the salaries and wages of the employees of the Village which is passed by Council annually. The first payroll period #1 in 2025 will have a pay date of December 31, 2024 because we cannot upload the budget and make the time frames of the direct deposit file to the bank by the second day of the year. The monthly pay schedule will not change. The only concession is for biweekly pay period #1.
- Motion to approve 2025 payroll periods schedule:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2nd |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y Motion |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Fire Contracts for St Joseph and Milford Townships:
Dawn provided an overview of the fire contract process and calculations. Every 3 years contracts are reviewed. Tonight, we have consideration of contract renewals for St Joseph and Milford Townships. We have met with the entities and have come to an agreement and are requesting councils’ permission to execute these fire contracts. The Fire dept expense trend since 2015 was reviewed. Since the contract revision in 2017 we have seen a significant decline in the amount that the village subsidizes for the fire department. The percentage of total cost are VOE at 55%, Center at 11%, St Joe at 22% and Milford at 12%. Overall the increases are modest and the entities are pleased with the amount of grant funding the fire department has gotten and the fund raising activities done to offset costs for everyone.
- Motion to approve St Joseph Fire Contract for the period of Jan 1, 2025 and end December 31, 2027:
| 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 approve Milford Township Fire Contract for the period of Jan 1, 2025 and end December 31, 2027:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y Motion |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y 2nd |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Oak Street: We have the final balancing change order for the Oak Street Resurfacing Project. The overall change to the project (part I and part II) with quantities being finalized is a change order amount of $3,907.84. This change order will also have to go before the Williams County Commissioner as well.
- Motion to approve Change Order #2 (FINAL) for Oak Street Resurfacing Project:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y Motion |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y 2nd |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Mayor Day commented that the Oak Street projects have been great projects. He has noticed that the residents living on the block taking pride in their own dwellings making improvements which overall will improve the whole block.
The Mayor announced that Santa is coming to town with a lighted parade on November 30th at 6pm. Santa will be at the town park to see the children. There will be the lighting of the Christmas tree, food and firepits. This has grown into a nice community event.
Housekeeping Ordinance:
Each year we review budget appropriations and make housekeeping adjustments annually. We previously made this adjustment in late December but now that the budget commission has changed their meeting schedule, we try to get it in sooner rather than later. Many of the items listed in the ordinance are based on the status of specific unfinished projects that are being carried over. Most of the funds that are being decreased now will be included in the budget appropriations in 2025 for project completion. The measures before you consist only of decreasing annual appropriations and decreasing estimated revenues. No increases.
VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO 1145
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A SUPPLEMENT TO THE 2024 ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS
- Motion to pass and adopt VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO 1145:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y Motion |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2nd |
Motion PASSES 6-0
2025 Budget: This will be the first reading for the 2025 annual appropriation as presented to you in the Finance Committee and Wage and Compensation Meetings.
VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO 1146
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISING THE PERMANENT APPROPRAIATIONS FOR YEAR 2025
- Motion to give 1st reading to VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO 1146:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y Motion |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2nd |
Motion PASSES 6-0
2025 Wages: This is the first reading of the annual wage ordinance as discussed earlier in the meeting.
VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO 1147
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SALARIES AND WAGES FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE VILLAGE OF EDGERTON, OHIO
- Motion to give 1st reading to VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO 1147:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y Motion |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y 2nd |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Council Discussion:
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and count your Blessings from Councilman Bowsher.
Councilman Blinzler reported a pothole by the Firehall where the pop can container used to be.
- Motion to adjourn at PM 6:04:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Lance | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y Motion |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2nd |
Motion PASSES 6-0