City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, October 9, 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 October 9, 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 The September 25, 2023 City Council Minutes stand approved as submitted. #211-2023 September 25, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes Attachments: 2023.09.25 City Council Meeting Minutes.pdf VI. Proclamation Mayor Westcamp read the Fire Prevention Week Proclamation and presented it to Madison Township Fire Chief Robinson. Chief Robinson expressed his gratitude and thanked the Mayor and Council for their continued support. He said the Fire Department is honored and humbled to serve this community and its residents. This is a very important week in the Fire Service. One of the main goals of the Fire Service is not only to protect lives and property, but to also educate. He said this is a great opportunity for us to have the ability to reach out and educate. You can also visit NFPA.org for all types of literature and fun and educational activities for the kids. We kicked off our Fire Prevention City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes October 9, 2023 Week with an open house yesterday at Station 181. He thanked Groveport’s Community Affairs Department for assisting the Fire Department for getting the word out through social media. We had a wonderful turnout with live demonstrations of auto extrications and a fire extinguisher simulator. We used our new inflatable smoke house to educate kids as well, so it’s been a great start to the week. He then encouraged everybody to remember that November 4th is our time change and that is a great time to remember to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Every six months you should be changing those batteries, even if your unit is powered and hard wired in the ceiling or a plug-in monitor that goes into an outlet. They do generally have a battery backup, so even though they are powered through those electrical sources, please remember there are batteries in those in the event of a power failure. If you have any questions about smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors in your home, our Fire Prevention Bureau will be happy to come out and assist you or answer any of your questions over the phone. You can call our main station at 614-837-7883. We have ten-year battery-operated smoke detectors donated to us by the American Red Cross and would be happy to install one on every floor of your home. We would also be happy to guide you on how to properly place carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Carbon Monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless and unfortunately, you may not know you have a problem until you start developing symptoms. Council Member Cleary commented that a lot of people don’t realize that smoke alarms expire. Chief Robinson said on the back of any smoke or carbon monoxide detector, there is a manufacture date. Generally, we use a guideline of ten years on those devices. After ten years they should be replaced. The plug-in carbon monoxide detectors have a code that will actually illuminate. #212-2023 Fire Prevention Week Proclamation Attachments: 2023 Fire Prevention Week Proclamation.pdf VII. Business of Guests A. Andrew Nimely Andrew Nimely greeted the mayor and Council and thanked everyone for the opportunity to participate in the stirring of the apple butter in preparation for Apple Butter Day. He said he’s been in this community for almost thirteen years and never had an opportunity to do that. Thank you for embracing this great tradition that the Preservation Society brings City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes October 9, 2023 forward to our City. As long as God continues to bless me and continues to strengthen me, I will always be excited to come and work hard. It reflects the goodness of the community how everyone embraced me, showed me what to do and answered all my questions. It was amazing to see people working hard, and to be able to hang out and go through the whole process was a good thing. He then thanked the City for the Cram a Cruiser event and said it was close to his heart. It was a such a great event. He expressed how he enjoyed the Fire Exhibition and how he is so proud to be a part of this great community. VIII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings Ord. 2023-036 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO PURCHASE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UNDER THE OMNIA PARTNERS GROUP COOPERATIVE PURCHASE PLAN THROUGH INSIGHT PUBLIC SECTOR THEREBY WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING PURSUANT TO GROVEPORT CITY CHARTER SECTION 9.02(B) Sponsors: Lockett Administrator King stated that we’ve received final quotes, so we’re ready to go upon approval. A motion was made by Council Member Lockett, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rupp B. 2nd Readings Ord. 2023-037 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2023-028 ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF GROVEPORT’S POLICE DEPARTMENT STRENGTH OF STAFF. Sponsors: Dildine This Ordinance was read by title Ord. 2023-039 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY'S COMPENSATION PLAN ESTABLISHED IN ORDINANCE 2012-010 (ADOPTED 5-9-2012) AND ORDINANCE 2017-002 (ADOPTED 1-23-2017), WHICH AMENDED THE SAME, THEREBY AMENDING THE CURRENT PAY SCALE FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes October 9, 2023 Sponsors: Rupp Attachments: Ord. 2023-039 Exhibit A.pdf Council Member Rupp shared something to consider discussing further. Ohio Administrative Code 3341-5-32 allows for bonus policies within a community. He said we have the lump sum payment in there, but the thought behind that bonus policy is for someone who goes beyond the expected responsibility in their job description. Maybe someone takes on a project that lasts for six months or so. That would give us an opportunity, under the direction of the Directors and Administrator, to be able to determine an amount that would be a bonus for that extra effort that they’ve put forward. This Ordinance was read by title C. 1st Readings Ord. 2023-040 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, OHIO, FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2024 Sponsors: Hilbert Attachments: Ord. 2023-040 Exhibit A.pdf Administrator King said that all Directors will be in attendance at the October Committee of the Whole meeting for discussion on this ordinance. This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole Ord. 2023-041 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RECREATION CENTER CAPITAL ACCOUNT FUND AND RESCINDING ORDINANCE NO. 2019-047 (ADOPTED 11/12/2019) Sponsors: Lockett This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole I. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp B. Administrator - BJ King City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes October 9, 2023 Administrator King expressed how he is looking forward to discussing the budget with Council and the Directors next week. He said we always strive to provide a good budget to continue improving on the community. The theme that he sees for this year is continuing to improve and replace old equipment that we have, adding to amenities, and improving upon the infrastructure. Certainly, there is a need. We have old equipment, old vehicles, and want to build amenities that will bring people in based on what’s going on in central Ohio and the nation. The pocket park is well underway and moving forward. The concrete will be sealed next week then we will be landscaping and putting tables in there. It’s going to be a really nice addition. He expressed his appreciation for Mr. Lockett’s and Mr. Dildine’s input on that. He then mentioned the buildouts of the two tenant spaces. He talked to the contractor last week, and they will be ready to turn over to the tenants the end of October at the latest. He’s been in contact with both tenants and everything seems to be on schedule. He said to be watching for ribbon cuttings. C. Chief of Police - Casey Adams Chief Adams spoke about the Cram the Cruiser event on Saturday. He appreciated Mr. Rupp for coming down and boxing food with the Police Department. He reported that there were roughly sixty boxes of food and $200 in monetary donations for the Greater Groveport Food Pantry. It filled up the whole room, where before the shelves were nearly bare. This will probably get them through at least Thanksgiving. Rick Palsgrove at The Messenger is going to put out a nice thank you letter to the community, and state that we will continue to collect at the Police Department. We’ll have boxes out if anyone would like to drop off boxed or canned food items. We’re very happy with getting that much food to donate in three hours at two locations. He then said that he and Public service Director Strayer and Trees and Decorations Committee Chair Scott Clinger will be going down to Blacklick Park on Wednesday to talk about preparations for the upcoming Haunted Park. We’re planning on having the surveillance trailer down there during the event and have the street blocked off like we normally do. There will be officers going in and out and we will have a cruiser at the other side of the event as well. He reported that Wirt Road will be closing on Friday around 4:00pm in preparations for Apple Butter Day. It will reopen around 8:00pm Saturday. He then spoke about a complaint about speeding on Wirt Road that City Engineer Steve Farst had received. The Police Department had put up signs at Wirt and College and at Wirt and Cherry that tracked the traffic coming in and out. Just from August 28th to October 1st, we had 30,999 cars use Wirt Road. Just under 22,000 of those cars were traveling at speeds of between 21mph and 30mph. City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes October 9, 2023 Roughly less than 2,000 of those cars were going between 31mph and 36mph. He then said fourteen cars were going over 45mph, but doesn’t know if that could be attributed to emergency vehicles or not. The average speeds were 23mph to 29mph during that time frame. He stated he was actually shocked at how low the speeds were. The peak times were 6:00am to 9:00am and then again 1:00pm to 5:00pm so nothing unexpected there. D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr Finance Director Carr reported that last week he and Senior Accountant Anna Krigbaum attended training so that they could meet the required investment training hours to continue on the same investment philosophy path. He then spoke about changes we will need to make to our Income Tax Ordinance. There was an email sent out by the Regional Income Tax Agency. He said the plan would basically be to see Administration amend our Income Tax Ordinance, have something to Council to go through the three-reading process and discuss at the Committee of the Whole meeting. The recommendation is that it should be in place by January 1, 2024. He concluded by stating he just wanted to give Council a heads up as to the Income Tax Ordinance changes pertaining to House Bill 33. Council Member Rupp said it’s good that the State didn’t put us into a position to where we would have to do emergency legislation. E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon F. Development Director G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Jack Rupp Council Member Rupp stated he helped the Police Department on Saturday, then went down and stirred apple butter. He enjoyed watching the process of the apple butter being made and jarred. He then reported he plans on attending Wednesday’s board meeting at the school. Council Member Hutson expressed her enjoyment in also being a part of the apple butter stirring and the Cram the Cruiser event. She said Saturday was a busy day for Groveport and it was nice. Council Member Cleary informed Council that he had received a letter from Mr. Gibbs at Groveport Madison High School. He said the construction class is looking for some projects and wanted to know if we City of Groveport Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes October 9, 2023 were interested in having them put new roofs on our shelter houses. He said he spoke with the Mayor about it, who suggested seeing if the class would like to build a brand-new shelter house at Cruiser Park. Mr. Cleary suggested having them build two smaller shelter houses so we could do more activities at the park. He said they had a meeting at the school today about it and he was amazed at what that class does. They built sheds for the tennis and softball teams and he got a good look at it. The class will be designing the shelter houses and presenting their plans to Council for approval. They will build this just like they would if they were a business. They will get the permits and go through the exact same process. He then said Council will fund the materials and when it comes to digging the footers, we might have to have a contractor do that. The class will be present for that as well, so it’s going to be a total start to finish learning experience for the class. Mr. Cleary expressed how he loves the idea of Cruisers building at Cruiser Park, how impressed he was by the teacher, and the number of students they have in this program. He said this is a great program that offers a lot of opportunities for its students. The City’s Building Department and Public Service department may have to help them a little with this project, but it should be a nice and easy project for them. Administrator King added that this is going to be a great learning opportunity for these students and an opportunity to leave their mark. He said it had been mentioned to have the class leave a plaque at the shelter. Council Member Dildine said this would be a great opportunity to turn into something the class does each year. The Mayor stated they had built the new concession stand at the visitor side of the football field. Mr. King said there’s a lot of opportunity in our parks, whether its building a shade structure, benches, or maintenance. He was amazed with the teacher as well, and the fact that the students could come out of school and go straight into an apprenticeship in their craft making $40 an hour. He encouraged Council to fully support this when the class comes to present their plans. He said there are so many things they could do. Mr. Cleary added that they’re looking into a program to build a house, which would in-turn fund future projects. Mayor Westcamp also mentioned that class built all the props for the community choir. H. Clerk of Council - Mindy Kay IX. Standing Committees Mr. Cleary reported that there is an opening on the Cemetery Committee. He said he believes we have two good candidates. City of Groveport Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes October 9, 2023 X. Other Business XI. Adjournment Council Member Hilbert made a motion, seconded by Council Member Cleary to adjourn at 7: 02 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 8