City Council

REGULAR MEETING Jan 10th, 2022 Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM by Mayor Barbara J. Lloyd with the recitation of the “Pledge of Allegiance”. Meeting Started by swearing in Elected Council Members Gibson and St. Clair by Mayor Lloyd. Mayor Lloyd opened the floor to nominate 2 new members of Council to fill open seats. Paul Motioned to nominate Kyle Coconis, Seconded by Kim. Ed nominated Mike Nunley and seconded by Greg. Nominations closed. Both accepted. Mayor Lloyd then swore both candidates in. Mayor Lloyd then opened the floor for nomination for President of Council. Paul nominated Ed. Seconded by Kim. Roll Call – In Attendance – Paul Lowe, Kim St. Clair, Ed Harlon, Mike Nunley, Kyle Coconis, and Greg Gibson Paul motioned to accept the minutes of the Regular Village Council Meeting held December 3rd, 2021. Seconded by Kyle. Lowe – yea, St. Clair - yea, Harlon – yea, Nunley – yea, Coconis – yea, and Gibson – yea. Motion Carried. Ed moved to approve the Fiscal Officer’s report for November 2021. Seconded by Kim. Gibson – yea, Coconis – yea, Nunley – yea, Harlon – yea, St. Clair – yea, and Lowe – yea. Motion Carried. Ed moved to approve the Fiscal Officer’s report for November 2021. Seconded by Kyle. Lowe – yea, St. Clair - yea, Harlon – yea, Nunley – yea, Coconis – yea, and Gibson – yea. Motion Carried. Mayor Lloyd asked Council if they saw the December Mayor’s Court Data? CITIZENS AND GUESTS None DEPARTMENT HEADS Administrator – Danny Wiseman Nothing Fire – Russell Taylor Is in school but left the following data for Council: Yearly and monthly reports were made available to Mayor and Council. 1 Police – Mark Ross Was out sick Yearly and monthly reports were made available to Mayor and Council Water – Danny Wiseman For the month of December there were 56 work orders, 55 were completed and 1 is new. Locates were down in December to 30. The new Water Tank is now being filled and it should be full by Wednesday. They will then test the water sometime after that. There are only a few little things to finish up as well as some landscaping and it will be done. Street – Danny Wiseman The first snow was here. REPORTS OF COUNCIL COMMITTEES None COMMUNICATIONS AND LETTERS None ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Resolution 1088 A RESOLUTION DETERMINING TO PROCEED WITH THE SUBMISSION TO THE ELECTORS OF THE QUESTION OF LEVYING A TAX IN EXCESS OF THE TEN-MILL LIMITATION FOR POLICE PROTECTION AND DECLARING IT AN EMERGENCY (RC 5705.19, RC 5705.19(J)) Kim asked if she could ask a few questions before proceeding. Mayor Lloyd said yes. Kim said she had a few people reach out to her and they had some question they asked her. First is the levy under Fire. Mayor Lloyd said no it is the Police, there is a typo on the Resolution that will be corrected. As far as the salaries is there any other way to fund this other than pass it onto the taxpayers? The reason being the property taxes have increased up to 20% and you now have the Muskingum County Parks Levy is going into play, you also have our water increase. So, there are some concerns about adding more taxes Chris Kerby stated we have applied for Grants to get fund another officer, but have not received favorable responses from the Department of Justice (DOJ). This levy would only pay for 1 officer’s pay and Benefits. Paul said he understands peoples concerns as here we are in an inflationary cycle and basically, I think we should let the public decide. Kim said that is why she brought it up is to see if there was another way to fund another 2 officer. Chris said we have tried and will continue trying through Grants. Kim asked if we did get the grant what would be done with the money we would be collecting? Mayor Lloyd said it would be used to purchase equipment for the Police Department. Kim asked if this passed would the new Officer work the shifts that are currently not being covered? Mayor Lloyd said yes. Kim said that the monies collected then, if the levy passes, would go be for what. Chris Kerby said salaries and benefits. Kim asked would that come up to $111,000? Some of it would be used toward training, maintenance of vehicles, fuel, uniforms and so on. Paul stated if this fly’s we are gaining another officer we still have night coverage. Kim said we do have the Sheriff’s department that does not charge us and they cover during that time frame but now I am having questions to why we are doing this because no one wants to see their property taxes going up anymore. Paul said there is another monkey wrench out there and that is with the retirement program for the Police (OP&F) increase from 19.5 % to 26.5% of the police payroll. Greg said basically the question may be do we really need a third officer? Do we have that many problems? Since the Sheriff is covering for the hours we do not have an officer on duty. Paul stated in the end it is the publics choice, so let’s let the pubic decide. Kyle said to your point that is why we put it on the ballot. Ed moved to suspense with the three separate readings rules of Resolution 1088 pursuant to statue 731.17 of the Ohio revised Codes and declare it an emergency. Seconded by Kyle. Lowe – yea, St. Clair - yea, Harlon – yea, Nunley – yea, Coconis – yea, and Gibson – yea. Motion Carried. Paul motioned to pass Resolution 1088. Seconded by Kyle. Lowe – yea, St. Clair - yea, Harlon – yea, Nunley – yea, Coconis – yea, and Gibson – yea. Motion Carried. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Council Member Coconis said with me still being relatively new and with Mike coming on as well, in conversation with basically with what just happened (Police Levy conversation) I think it is good to have more communication and talking about these things. Like some of the conversations, like the Dog Park, that became public was obviously discussed prior to me coming on Council and I was caught blindsided. I knew there was conversations about it since I see things in here about it but I feel there are things I feel we can discuss more. I have been on the Council for 7 months and I have not had one Committee meeting. I feel I’m not doing my part in communicating things with others that are on my committees and/or conversations in Council meetings. Mayor Lloyd said she will be looking over the Committee listing and will have a new listing. NEW BUSINESS Mayor Lloyd said Chief Ross asked in leu of a pay increase would it be possible to start taking the cruiser home. I told him I would have to bring this up to Council. Kim asked where does he live. Mayor Lloyd said 23 miles away. Greg said absolutely not. I have been in the transportation business all my life and it never turned out good in the long run. Paul said he is not for that at all, I don’t think it is wise. Bo said if it was a larger area (Village wise) it might work but since we are so small. Kim said maybe if he lived closer. Council was unanimous on saying no. 3  MISCELLANEOUS Kyle asked if we ever figured out the tax situation and what is going to be done with the property across the street (15 E. Main St.). Chris said the Prosecutor’s office is working on it. ADJOURN Ed moved to adjourn, seconded by Kyle. Mayor Lloyd asked all to vote by stating I. All did. Motion Carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. ______________________________ ______________________________ Barbara Lloyd - Mayor Chris Kerby - Clerk/Fiscal Officer 4