City Council

February 18, 2025 The Fredericktown Village Council met in regular session on February 18, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fredericktown Municipal Building. PRESENT: Council Members Brewer, de Rojas, Lanuzza, McKnight and Shoemaker; Administrator Snell; Chief Myers; Fiscal Officer Graves. ABSENT: Council Member Hobson. Lanuzza made a motion to excuse the absence of Council Member Hobson. Seconded by Shoemaker. All Yea. Mayor Day called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. INVOCATION: Chief Myers, Fredericktown Police Department. MINUTES: • Lanuzza made a motion to approve the February 3, 2025 council meeting minutes. Seconded by Brewer. All Yea, except Hobson. de Rojas abstained. VISITOR COMMENTS: None LEGISLATION: • (Third Reading) RESOLUTION NO. 2025-01- A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE DELAWARE, KNOX, MARION, MORROW JOINT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT’S SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN FIVE YEAR UPDATE Lanuzza made a motion to pass Resolution 2025-01. Seconded by McKnight. All Yea, except Hobson. • (Third Reading) ORDINANCE NO. 2025-02 - AN ORDINANCE GRANTING FRANCHISE TO CONSOLIDATED ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE IN THE STREETS, THOROUGHFARES, ALLEYS, BRIDGES, AND PUBLIC PLACES OF THE VILLAGE OF FREDERICKTOWN, STATE OF OHIO, AND ITS SUCCESSORS, LINES FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC ENERGY TO THE VILLAGE OF FREDERICKTOWN, AND THE INHABITANTS THEREOF FOR LIGHT, HEAT, POWER, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE SAME WITHIN, THROUGH, OR ACROSS SAID VILLAGE OF FREDERICKTOWN, STATE OF OHIO McKnight made a motion to pass Ordinance 2025-02. Seconded by Brewer. All Yea, except Hobson. • (Second Reading) RESOLUTION NO. 2025-03 - A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AN AMOUNT OF $50,000.00 AS THE LIMIT ALLOWED FOR BLANKET PURCHASE ORDERS Shoemaker made a motion to waive the third reading of Resolution 2025-03. Seconded by Brewer. All Yea, except Hobson. Shoemaker made a motion to pass Resolution 2025-03. Seconded by Brewer. All Yea, except Hobson.  • (Second Reading) ORDINANCE NO. 2025-04 - AN ORDINANCE SPECIFYING THE STAFFING AND WAGES OF EMPLOYEES OF THE VILLAGE OF FREDERICKTOWN, OHIO McKnight made a motion to waive the third reading of Ordinance 2025-04. Seconded by Shoemaker. All Yea, except Hobson. Brewer made a motion to pass Ordinance 2025-04. Seconded by McKnight. All Yea, except Hobson. • (Second Reading) ORDINANCE NO. 2025-05 – 2025 PERMANENT APPROPRIATIONS Shoemaker made a motion to waive the third reading of Ordinance 2025-05. Seconded by Brewer. All Yea, except Hobson. Lanuzza made a motion to pass Ordinance 2025-05. Seconded by McKnight. All Yea, except Hobson. • (Second Reading) RESOLUTION NO. 2025-06 - A RESOLUTION APPROVING BLANKET PURCHASE ORDERS AS REQUIRED BY OHIO REVISED CODE Lanuzza made a motion to waive the third reading of Resolution 2025-06. Seconded by Brewer. All Yea, except Hobson. Lanuzza made a motion to pass Resolution 2025-06. Seconded by Brewer. All Yea, except Hobson. • (First Reading) RESOLUTION NO. 2025-07 - A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO APPLY FOR, ACCEPT, AND ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE LOAN AGREEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT (WWTP) BIOSOLIDS PROCESSING IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF FREDERICKTOWN AND THE OHIO WATER DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Brewer made a motion to waive the three readings of Resolution 2025-07. Seconded by Shoemaker. All Yea, except Hobson. Lanuzza made a motion to pass Resolution 2025-07. Seconded by Brewer. All Yea, except Hobson. OLD BUSINESS: • Water Improvements Project: Balderson’s office stated there will be update by March 14th on the Federal grant. • Sewer Plant Project: Gibson Chen is still waiting on final estimate from contractor. • Streetscape Project Wrap-up: None • Rules of Council Updates – In progress • Marijuana Moratorium - None • Disaster Recovery Plan – Lanuzza requested to rename it to Continuity of Operations Plan NEW BUSINESS: None VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: See report. FISCAL OFFICER'S REPORT: • Council reviewed the bills, financial reports and bank reconciliation statement for the month of January 2025. Lanuzza made a motion to approve the financial reports, bills and bank statement for January 2025. Seconded by Brewer. All Yea, except Hobson. POLICE CHIEF REPORT: • New cruiser is expected to be in production in May. • Will present 2024 review next month. SOLICITOR’S REPORT: None COMMITTEE REPORTS: • Safety, Public Works and Finance Committees – next meeting February 18th. • Planning Commission – next meeting to be determined • Miscellaneous Committee Reports ADJOURNMENT: Lanuzza made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by de Rojas. All Yea, except de Hobson. Meeting Adjourned at 7:19 p.m. _____________________________________ Jerry Day, Mayor ___________________________ Suzan Graves, Fiscal Officer TO: MAYOR & COUNCIL FROM: BRUCE SNELL, VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR DATE: FEBRUARY 18, 2025 SUBJECT: ADMINISTRATOR’S UPDATE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS The Board of Zoning Appeals did not meet in January as there was no business to discuss and we do not anticipate a BZA Meeting being scheduled this month. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Fredericktown Community Development Foundation (FCDF) met February13th at the Old High School to discuss economic development in the community. The group is now meeting on the second Thursday of the month, so FCDF will meet again next month on March 13th. LIBRARY The Fredericktown Community Library is in need of replacement windows and we have gotten a $32,000 quote from Yoder Windows. The Interim Director has indicated that the Library Board is likely willing to split the cost of that capital improvement. OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION We should know in a week whether we will receive the requested OPWC funding for the 2025 Street Improvements. This year, our funding request was essentially the same as the proposed 2024 Street Improvements – replacing curb and gutter and paving East College Street and overlaying the north half of Taylor Street. I’m told that our odds of getting funding are better this year than in previous years. We have requested funding for this estimated $275,890 project, with $132,428 being requested in the form of a grant, which is less grant funding than any other Knox County agencies asked for. The Village will also request $71,731 in a zero-interest loan and the Village has agreed to contribute $71,731 in out-of-pocket cash toward the project. We should know in early February whether we will get the requested OPWC funding this year. We have gone without for three years in a row, so this funding seems long overdue and we will certainly be grateful if we receive the said funding. PLANNING COMMISSION The Planning Commission is scheduled to meet on February 27th at 5 PM to review and discuss a potential lot-split and Subdivision Regulations. SERVICE DEPARTMENT We appear have more than enough salt to get us through February, although this winter brought more snow and ice than the past two winters combined, or so it seems. W. SANDUSKY SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS (2027) KE McCartney has completed the Stage 1 submission of the engineering and designing of the West Sandusky/Bollinger Sidewalk Improvements. This submission was due the first week of February and KEM staff had this work ready for ODOT review well before the 1/2 deadline. There will be no local match required for the sidewalk work. Although KEM estimated this project to cost approximately $800,000, ODOT puts the estimate closer to $624,000. This federally funded project will begin roughly across from Carol Drive, on West Sandusky. The new/replacement sidewalk will run west on Sandusky Street to Forest Cemetery, then cross the street around FCNB. The new sidewalk will continue west to Bollinger Drive, then go north to the existing sidewalk near Bollinger Drive and Malibu Court. Several safe crossings will also be added for pedestrians to cross State Route 95 within the scope of the project. Construction of this project will likely take place in 2027. STREETSCAPE The park benches have all been delivered and installed by the Service Department with donor’s nameplates mounted on them as well. The benches were made possible through donations solicited by the Design Committee and they picked out the specific benches, as well. S. MAIN STREET/COLUMBUS RD. SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS (2028) With Council approval, we applied for TAP Funding for the replacement of sidewalks on both sides of S. Main Street, from Sandusky Street to Columbus Road (estimated cost is $1 million). If funding allows, the proposed new sidewalk will continue down Columbus Road and connect with existing sidewalk at Mohican Drive (estimated cost is $600,000). ODOT seemed enthusiastic about the possibility of continuing the Streetscape endeavor south on Main Street. While we have requested funding to cover Main Street and Columbus Road, we have also offered to do this project in two separate phases, if that better suits ODOT’s funding demands. UTILITIES 2025 Water Infrastructure Improvements: Acting Mayor Lanuzza and I met with a staff member from U.S. Representative Balderson’s Office to get an update on the federal funding of this proposed project. The funding has been delayed but we were told that Representative Balderson does still expect our project to be funded – just not as quickly and smoothly as we had anticipated. We are currently in the engineering and design portion of this preliminary estimated $1.8 million project and construction is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2025. The Village has agreed to provide a local share of approximately $181,000 toward the total cost of this endeavor, which will be used primarily toward the engineering and design. The Fiscal Officer has indicated that we are in a cash position with Water Fund reserves to provide this match funding out of pocket. If the federal funding doesn’t materialize after all, I would highly recommend we complete the project as far as state funding will take us. WWTP Improvements: After striking out (again) with USDA on loan and grant funding, we are working with Ohio Water Development Authority in seeking a low-interest loan. We also met with Farmer’s Citizen’s National Bank and Park National Bank in regards to the cost of securing a loan through a private lender. We are working with the Ohio Water Development Authority in regards to what kind of government subsidized financing we would secure through them and it seems as though OWDA will likely be our best funding source for this endeavor. We will keep Council apprised on how this project develops over the next month. 2/2