Meeting Minutes: September 17 ,2019
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:
Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on
Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at 7:30 pm at the Rockford Village Hall.
Invocation – Jeff Long
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Gehle, Young, Fox, Pontsler, Now
Heitkamp absent.
Also attending: Tom Stankard – of the Daily Standard, Jeff Long, Srgt Stetler,
Marge Gehle, Bret Peel, Robbie Peel.
Motion Now. Second Gehle to accept the agenda as orders of the day. Young called for the question. Now = y, Gehle = y , Young = y, Fox = y , Pontsler = y. Passed 5 yes.
Motion Fox. Second Pontsler accept the minutes from the September 3, 2019 council meeting as presented. Now called for the question. Fox = y , Pontsler = y, Now =y, Gehle = y, Young = y. Passed 5 yes.
Visitors to Address Council:
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
Mayor noted receipt and review of Mayors Court pay in,
bank reconciliation, and bank statement.
Mayor Proclamation:
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month
Community Announcements and events:
Saturday – September 21st — Fire Department Chicken Dinner / reverse raffle
Saturday – October 5th – Veterans Memorial Fund Raiser
Monday – October 7th – Rockford Chamber Banquet
Saturday – October 26th – Halloween – – 5 pm – 6:30 pm. Judging at the Firehouse at 7 pm. * new hours began last year
Saturday – November 2nd – Lions Club Fish Fry
Village Administrator’s Report – Jeff Long
Joe Roth has been given 50 cents per hour raise – has been here 3months and is doing a great job.
Both Bubba and Blair have been here 12 years – very happy with our employees.
Odor at the sewer plant – we had 3 units down for 2 weeks. The units have since been replaced and were under warranty. We will be adding a small aerator at a minimum cost to help ensure lowest amount of odor possible. We are hoping this will safe guard the process so we don’t have problems.
Engineering meeting this week regarding the water tower. We will be going for a Community Development Block Grant to build a new tower to the north. This will be a million dollar project but we are hoping to be qualified for enough grants to cover the costs. We would build the new tower and once it’s up and running then do a tear down of old. The old tower is actually located in a residential area – which makes the building of new even more desirable. This will get the tower out of residential area and north of town. This could be a 3 year process. The old tower is almost 100 years old — yep time for new !
And then Jeff gave an emotional announcement that he will be retiring after 35 years as the Village Administrator. This will take effect on January 3rd. This has been a difficult decision as he loves this village. He states there is no better place to live. He has been thankful for the opportunity to serve this village. He will be working with the council to make the next step decisions. His recommendations would be that Aaron Temple be considered as the Village administrator and that Blair Shaffer be the Utility Supervisor over the water / sewer plants. Blair will need to get an additional license. Joe will be in training, but will not be able to pursue licenses for 2 years. We would have to look at hiring another employee. A committee meeting will be schedule for discussion along with Budget 2020.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee – Steve Gehle
Motion Young to pay bills as submitted – $36,365.93. Second Fox. Now called for the question. Young = y, Fox = y, Now = y, Gehle = y, Pontsler = y. Passed 5 yes.
Motion Fox to accept the Mayors Court pay in: $577. Second Pontsler. Young called for the question. Fox = y, Pontsler = y, Young = y, Gehle = y, Now = y. Passed 5 yes.
RESOLUTION 07-19
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUND –
VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD $30,434.00 OR 6.63%.
Motion Now. Second Fox. Pontsler called for the question. Now = y, Fox = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, Young = y. Passed 5 yes.
RESOLUTION 08-19
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMOUNTS AND RATES AS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY TAX LEVIES AND CERTIFYING THEM TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR.
Motion Pontsler. Second Young. Fox called for the question. Pontsler = y, Young = y, Fox = y, Gehle = y, Now = y. Passed 5 yes.
Audit – 2017/2018 – Should be finishing up this week – in house records.
Service Committee: Greg Pontsler
Soccer and Flag football have started at the park.
Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp – absent
Now suggested a stop sign behind the realty company — this would stop traffic from turning on to Columbia street. There have been several near accidents.
Jeff to get permission from Tammy – should be ok and good idea.
Economic Development Committee: Shane Young
ORDINANCE 03-19
AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, ACCEPTING THE PLAT OF HICKORY STREET DEDICATION TO THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD AS PER THE ATTACHED PLAT.
1ST reading = 09/03/19
2nd reading – 09/17/19
Public Utilities Committee: Wilbur Fox
Alleys still need work – Jeff stated yes there are several projects that have been put on hold while we work on the Veterans Memorial. There are some timing issues with memorial that need to be met. We will be getting back on track soon.
Leaf pick up will begin next month – probably around mid October.
We are ready to begin sending water billing statements by email – if you are interested in this service please send your home address and email address to –
lisa.kuhn@rockfordohio.org.
We will be testing the program for several months. Residents that sign up for this service will still get postcard in the mail for several months until we are sure all procedures are in place.
Rules Committee: Brad Now
Old Business:
New Business:
_________________________ _________________________
Mayor Fiscal officer.
Meeting adjourned at 7:57 pm
