City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, July 24, 2023 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council Mayor Lance Westcamp Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett & Jack Rupp City Council Meeting Minutes July 24, 2023 I. Call to Order Mayor Lance Westcamp called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Staff Present: BJ King - Administrator, Kevin Shannon - Law Director, Jason Carr - Director of Finance, Casey Adams - Chief of Police, Mindy Kay - Clerk of Council Guests Present: The Guest Book is on file with the Clerk of Council. II. Moment of Silence The Mayor asked everyone to join him in a moment of silence. III. Pledge of Allegiance Chief Adams led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. Roll Call Present: 6 - Shawn M. Cleary, Edward Dildine, Jean Ann Hilbert, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett, and Jack Rupp V. Approval of Minutes VI. Business of Guests A. Cheryl Raver-Irving Cheryl Raver-Irving said while she is pleased, as our other residents, with the Main Street renovations and new businesses, she has a question about the business that is supposed to open in the old Little Italy building. She stated she’d been told by Development Director Jeff Green that the occupancy of the old Little Italy building is between the owner of Little Italy and the owners of the business going into it. She asked if the permit is a matter of approval for them that’s delaying their opening, or some other problem with which the City can assist them to speed up the process. Administrator King informed Mrs. Raver-Irving that it is not a permit issue. He said plans have been submitted and believes they’ve been approved. He told her he would confirm that and let her know tomorrow, and assured her that there is nothing on the City’s end that is causing the delay. City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes July 24, 2023 VII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings B. 2nd Readings Ord. 2023-028 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2023-015 ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF GROVEPORT’S POLICE DEPARTMENT STRENGTH OF STAFF. Sponsors: Hutson This Ordinance was read by title Ord. 2023-029 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION STATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND/OR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM(S) AND TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PORT ROAD RECONSTRUCTION (PHASE II) PROJECT Sponsors: Lockett This Ordinance was read by title C. 1st Readings Ord. 2023-030 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2022-035 (ADOPTED 11/14/2022), ORDINANCE NO. 2023-008 (ADOPTED 02/27/2023) THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, OHIO, FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2023 Sponsors: Dildine Attachments: Ord. 2023-030 Exhibit A.pdf A motion was made by Council Member Dildine, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to suspend the rules as to the three readings. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rupp Ord. 2023-031 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING NO. 2023-009 (ADOPTED 02/27/2023) AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF CASH FUND BALANCES City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes July 24, 2023 Sponsors: Cleary Attachments: Ord. 2023-031 Exhibit A.pdf Finance Director Jason Carr informed Council that this change is based on our GREAT Program needing $5,000 more. This ordinance will amend transfers to the general fund. A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to suspend the rules as to the three readings. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rupp Ord. 2023-032 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO SOLICIT BIDS FOR THE PURCHASE AND/OR LEASE OF GOLF CARTS AND TO FURTHER ENTER INTO ANY AGREEMENT NECESSARY TO FACILITATE SAID PURCHASE AND/OR LEASE Sponsors: Rupp This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole VIII. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp B. Administrator - BJ King C. Chief of Police - Casey Adams D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr Mr. Carr reported that the post-audit for the 2022 audit will be at 5:00 before the next Committee of the Whole meeting, and that he'll send a reminder out as well. #159-2023 Finance Director Report Attachments: Finance Director Report.pdf E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon F. Development Director - Jeff Green City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes July 24, 2023 G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Jack Rupp Mr. Lockett stated he had met a young couple at the tennis court who had just moved into Dorchester about a month or so ago and they were surprised to find tennis courts here. He said he doesn’t think people are aware of all the good things the City does for them and the things that we have to offer them as residents. He inquired if we have any kind of welcome wagon that we can give to new residents so they know things about the City like trash pickup, leaves, and other information. Mr. Cleary and Mrs. Hutson both replied that the City used to do that. Mr. Cleary said the Fire Department used to do it too. Mrs. Hilbert agreed and said we used to put things in a bag or a basket. Mrs. Hutson stated that when her family moved here the Police Department knocked on their door and gave them a basket with informational items and welcomed them to Groveport. Administrator King said he asked Chief Adams and Mr. Carr how we would know if someone moves in and they confirmed it can be done through the utility bills. Mr. Lockett expressed that the City should be doing this. Administrator King said it’s a great thing to do. Mr. Dildine added that if using the utility bills turns out to be unreliable we could certainly come up with something. Mayor Westcamp said we can have something available for people when they come in for their water bill. Mr. Dildine stated that some of our residents are on Columbus water so we won’t see those. Mrs. Hilbert suggested putting something on our website. Mr. King said we will use every resource to make this happen. Mr. Cleary raised the question of whether people who already live here know all the benefits. Mr. Cleary said he went to Kroger early Saturday morning and saw Engine 181, Engine 183, Engine 4, and Hamilton Medic all in the parking lot. They were all buying their station groceries. He said he asked the medic why they were all here and was given the answer “You don’t go on South High Street.” He went on to say that our Kroger is in need of some updates for how busy it is. He said it is a goldmine and the owner has got to be interested in this. It used to be you ran into people you knew there and now there are so many people because it’s grown so much in popularity. This is something we need to reach out about to get ahead of the game. Mrs. Hutson said she thinks they spent $3 million on it the last time they remodeled, and why they didn’t turn it into a home store like in Gahanna, she doesn’t know. She mentioned that the one in Gahanna is a nice store. Mrs. Hilbert suggested that our Kroger has a bigger market than they ever expected. Administrator King said we can certainly reach out to them. Mr. Cleary asked Mr. King to reach out to them about the empty bank as well. Mr. King said those are two different owners but will City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes July 24, 2023 also reach out to them. Mrs. Hilbert brought up the subject of putting in a no left turn sign on Wirt road at Main street. Mr. King said that he and City Engineer Steve Farst had a discussion about that and are working to get a contract with Traffic Counts. He said we have been advised that a good way to do it is when school is in session, and the road closure for the roundabout could skew the traffic counts. We’ve been told by the traffic engineer that a better time would be October. It’s still on the radar and could proceed beforehand, but the recommendation is to wait so we can get truer numbers. Mrs. Hilbert said she doesn’t understand why we are waiting for that corner. She said she can understand the traffic flow for everything else but that left turn is so dangerous. We’re not considering the health, safety and welfare of our residents by not putting something up there. H. Clerk of Council - Mindy Kay I. Standing Committees IX. Other Business X. Adjournment Council Member Hilbert made a motion, seconded by Council Member Dildine to adjourn at 6:47 p.m. All in favor stated AYE, None Opposed. Motion passed. __________________________________________ Lance Westcamp, Mayor __________________________________________ Mindy Kay Clerk of Council PLEASE NOTE: THESE MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM. A RECORDING OF THE MEETING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. City of Groveport Page 5