WAPAKONETA CITY COUNCIL JULY 20, 2015

President Steve Henderson called the meeting to order at 7:30pm on July 20, 2015 at 701 Parlette Court with the following members present: Jim Neumeier, Daniel E. Lee, Bonnie Wurst, Chad Doll, Randy Fisher, Rachel Barber and Dan Graf. Also present were Mayor Rodney Metz, Service Director Bill Rains and Law Director Dennis Faller. Clerk Terry McDonald was absent, with Terri Rohrbacher acting as clerk.

Ms. Barber requested that council minutes reflect the names of individuals invited by Council into Executive Sessions. Motion by Fisher, second by Doll to approve the minutes of the July 6, 2015 Council Meeting as corrected. Vote – 7 yeas, 0 nays.

Health & SafetyCommittee – a meeting was held on 07-15-2015 and the following was discussed:

The committee came together on July 15th, at 4 pm to discuss a draft of a policy to be used by the City for private use of public streets.

The July 1st meeting minutes were approved with a vote of 3-0.

All members were given drafts of three different documents to discuss changes. Each document was discussed and reviewed. Changes were offered and recorded. The new documents will now be sent to Denny Faller for his review and guidance.

Mr. Graf asked for clarification on ‘private use of public streets’. Mr. Lee advised the reference would include any 5K, 10K, block party, parade or other event that has received permission to use the public roadway for their event. Mr. Graf added that there is a previous ordinance approving the use of public roadways for festivals. Mr. Lee agreed to check on this.

Streets & Alleys Committee – a meeting was held on 07-15-2015 and the following was discussed:

  1. Approved minutes of June 18, 2015, Fisher/Neumeier, 3-0
  2. Mary Ruck presented a project that Dan had asked to explore to have the name ‘City of Wapakoneta’ placed on the Bellefontaine/I-75 overpass bridge. The name would be placed on the north and south sides of the bridge during the ODOT’s reconstruction work in 2016. Lettering would be red. After hearing the cost to the city would to around $100,000.00, the committee asked Mary to inquiry what the cost would be for just the name ‘Wapakoneta’ would cost. ODOT does not permit any branding labels on the bridge. The committee moved to present the proposal to Council for their consideration. Neumeier/Fisher, passed 3-0
  3. The committee also asked Mary to prepare and submit an ODOT Gateway Grant proposal for four large disks to be placed at the I-75 exit 111 ramps commemorating Armstrong’s moon landing. Two disks would depict the lunar lander with the inscription ‘The Eagle has landed’. The other two disks would depict the first step footprint with the inscription ‘One Small Step’. Two disks (one of each) would be on the south side and two on the north side.

Ms. Barber asked for the costs of the proposed 4 disks. Mr. Graf replied that he did not have an estimate at this time.

Communications -

Clerk read a letter from the Auglaize County Auditor acknowledging the request to place a Parks and Recreation levy on the November 3, 2015 ballot.

Mr. Neumeier noted that the wording “…two (1.0) mills…” is confusing, and requested that the City clarify this with the County Auditor.

Clerk read a letter from the Board of County Commissioners of Auglaize County, Ohio, stating that they approve and grant the annexation of 14.663 acres, more or less, to the City of Wapakoneta as petitioned by H & B Partnership.

Guest Petitions –

Joe Swaney of Mike Swaney Buick GMC in Wapakoneta, Ohio, requested permission to hold a 5K race on September 12, 2015 at 9:00am.

Motion by Fisher, second by Lee to approve the request, providing the event organizers do not make any permanent markings on the pavement of the race route, and that they provide liability insurance for their event. Vote –7 yeas, 0 nays. Motion passed.

Unfinished Business -

Ms. Barber asked for an update on the retention of trees on Buchanan Street. Mayor Metz replied that he did not have the list of trees at this time.

Ms. Barber asked for an update on the investments legislation that was passed July 6, 2015. Mr. Rains advised that he did not have an update from Auditor Walter at this time.

Mr. Doll asked if administration had any updates regarding the ‘mega-power user’ class. Mr. Rains advised that this information will soon be available.

Mr. Doll asked if a formal resolution was needed regarding the City’s participation in Ohiocheckbook.com.

Mr. Rains advised that he is working on locating the correct spreadsheet needed to participate in the website.

President Henderson asked Clerk to read Res 2015-22 for the second time re: A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE NECESSITY OF CONSTRUCTING AND/OR REPAIRING CERTAIN SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY OF WAPAKONETA, COUNTY OF AUGLAIZE, STATE OF OHIO, REQUIRING THAT ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS CONSTRUCT AND/OR REPAIR THE SAME.

President Henderson asked Clerk to read Ord 2015-25 for the first time re: AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING PRELIMINARY LEGISLATION FOR THE CONSENT OF THE CITY OF WAPAKONETA TO THE OHIO DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION TO PATCH DAMAGED AREAS OF INTERSTATE 75 WITHIN THE CITY OF WAPAKONETA, AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Ms. Barber asked why the ordinance is an emergency. Mr. Rains replied that ODOT needs the legislation returned to them by September 2015.

President Henderson asked Clerk to read Ord 2015-26 for the first time re: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 248 “RESCUE SQUAD SERVICE” OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF WAPAKONETA, OHIO.

President Henderson asked Clerk to read Ord 2015-27 for the first time re: AN ORDINANCE RESCINDING ORDINANCE 2014-31 DUE TO THE ADDITION OF CITY FUNDED WORK AND CREATING AN ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE OF THE WORDS CITY OF WAPAKONETA TO OVERPASS.

Mr. Graf advised that ODOT needed a deadline date on what the City was going to do.

Ms. Barber asked if the Ordinance must be amended to say “Wapakoneta” instead of “City of Wapakoneta”. Mr. Graf replied, on the final reading.

Ms. Barber asked where the money will come from to pay for the proposal. Mr. Graf stated that the Finance Committee will consider this.

The Mayor gave the following report:

  1. Provided lunch for German students and chaperones visiting Wapakoneta from Lengerich. They will be staying with host families until August.
  2. Participated in monthly Tree Commission meeting. Fall planting is the main item of discussion. We are experiencing problems in getting trees due to weather conditions.
  3. Participated in one Department Head meeting.
  4. Participated in webinar program on Down Town Revitalization. This program was done by the State Historic Preservation Office.
  5. Participated in exit audit review performed by the State of Ohio auditor group.
  6. Attended Wapakoneta Police Department’s PACT event held at WapakonetaElementary School.
  7. Presented the Mayors’ award at the Western Ohio Aquatic League meet held at the WapakonetaWaterPark.
  8. Participated in many Moon Fest activities, along with fundraiser for Wapakoneta Sister Cities.
  9. Participated in monthly (DWP) Downtown Wapakoneta Partnership meeting.
  10. Participated in Wapakoneta City Councils’ Streets and Alleys meeting.
  11. Called Celebrity Bingo for senior Citizens’ group at the Wapakoneta Eagles.
  12. Participated in Façade Improvement meeting. The committee has two approved projects at this time. Mike and Pam Doepker and Thrifty Treasures.
  13. Participated in dinner meeting at Armstrong Air and SpaceMuseum. We heard about the space program research that continues to progress. There are medical and industrial achievements continuing to develop due to the space program. Astronaut, Greg Johnson, was the presenter.

Ms. Barber asked what is being done about the red paint on the downtown crosswalks that did not last through their warranty period. Mayor Metz replied that Mary Ruck is checking into this.

Ms. Barber asked for an update on Dominion Gas. Mayor Metz replied that Dominion intends to take care of the problem, but that he is unsure if Dominion will utilize their own forester. Ms. Barber provided Council and administration with a photo of recently damaged tree roots at 213 West Auglaize Street, and advised that she received a citizen complaint of same. Mayor Metz replied that the City does have an employee monitoring the work being done on West Auglaize Street, and that he will discuss with Mary Ruck how to prevent any further issues such as these. Mr. Neumeier and Ms. Barber requested that Council be advised as to whom the City employee is, and what their understanding is of their responsibilities in monitoring the safety of the trees.

Mr. Neumeier also noted that Doctor Herman would like to know who will be responsible for the mowing of the triangle of grass in front of his home. Mayor Metz replied, the City. Mr. Neumeier advised that work crews told him that water lines were being put in at said ‘triangle’ for a fountain. Mayor Metz said the water lines are only being put in for possible future use, so that the street will not be torn up later should water lines be needed.

The Service Director gave the following report:

State Champions signs will soon be put up.

SCHEDULING OF MEETINGS:

Finance Committee will meet on July 27th at 6:00pm at City Hall.

Utilities Committee will meet on July 29th at 6:00pm at City Hall.

Parks & Rivers will meet on July 30th at 6:30pm at City Hall.

Miscellaneous Business –

Ms. Barber requested that Mr. Fisher investigate costs to local businesses for refuse removal.

Mr. Neumeier asked if the resolutions regarding the Parks & Recreation levy have been submitted yet. Mr. Rains replied, no, but that this will be completed once Clerk McDonald returns to certify them.

Mr. Lee advised that the Summer Concert was a success.

Motion by Fisher, second by Doll to adjourn at 8:14pm. Vote – 7 yeas, 0 nays.

PresidentClerk of Council