A Public Hearing on
the 2012 Budget
The budget has been available for viewing at Village
Hall. Mayor and Council have received a
copy. David Kennedy, Administrator,
asked if anyone in the audience had any questions. There being no questions Kennedy called on
Fiscal Officer Lynn Baird. She commented
the village is waiting the signing of the State 2012 Budget. She asked for any comments or questions. There being none the Public Hearing was
closed.
COUNCIL MEETING
New Richmond Village
Council met in Council Chambers in regular session on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at
7pm. Present: Richard Hilt, Gary Skeene, Richard Mathews,
Nicholas Wolf, Jack Conners and Vinnie Cochran - members; Ramona Carr, Mayor;
Donna Hammons, Clerk; Randy Harvey, Police Chief; Lynn Baird, Fiscal Officer
and David Kennedy, Administrator.
Also attending:
Bob Beiser – 2740 St. Rt.
132
Judy Bandy – 208 Front
Street
Chester Coldiron – 1221
Bethel New Richmond Road
Paul Vonderbosch – 208
River Valley Boulevard
Patrick Blair - 101
Lights Pointe
Paul Steineman – 2270
Harvey Road
Margie Keck – 256 Apples
Way Drive, Batavia, Ohio
Rene Biddle – 622 Willow
Street
Charles Scott – 622
Willow Street
Kristin Bednarski –
Clermont Sun
Floyd Henderson – New
Richmond Police Officer
Mayor Carr opened the
meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Carr acknowledged
Officer Henderson. Floyd received an
award for ‘Officer of the Year from a Small Department’ from the Clermont
County Citizens Law Enforcement Association.
Mayor Carr presented him with a pin to commemorate his award. Floyd has been an officer here since
1986. Chief Harvey sent the letter
nominating Henderson for the award.
Minutes of May 24th were presented
for approval. Cochran motioned to
approve. Seconded by Wolf.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr.
Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr.
Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr.
Cochran: yes
Margie Keck,
business owner, Trendy’s Diner:
The Waterfront Business
District business owners are requesting permission to close Front Street from
Union Street to Main Street for the purpose of having cruise-ins. This will coincide with the antique/craft
events put on by Historic New Richmond on the second Sundays of July, August,
September and October. There was
discussion about the frequency of closing Front Street as much as we have in
the past. The antique/craft event this
past Sunday was very successful and the streets remained open to traffic. Margie said the group has permission from
RiverHills Bank to use their parking lot as well as the side parking lot of
Front Street Café. Wolf suggested the
group use Walnut Street from Front Street to Willow Street. Cochran suggested this be tried at the July
event and see how it goes. Wolf motioned
to close Walnut Street from Front Street to Willow Street on July 10th
from 10am to 6pm. Seconded by Cochran.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
David Kennedy,
Administrator:
Permission requested to
place police unit #521 (Dodge Charger) for public sale on the village on-line
auction site. Minimum bid is $6500. Cochran motioned to approve. Seconded by Wolf.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
A request has been
submitted by Jim Comodeca (dba RedKayak LLC), owner of the property at 204
Front Street, to apply for a grant from the Front Street Commercial Rehab Grant
Fund in the amount of $1,437.49. This
will be for a new awning. Committee
recommends the application with a business start-up being added. Hilt motioned to approve with a six-month
business start-up date from the time the awning is installed. Seconded by Skeene.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
Proposal submitted from
Environmental Engineering to complete a Wastewater Collection System Master
Plan for $5,800.00. Cochran motioned to
approve. Seconded by Conners.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf:
yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners:
yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
Solicitor Korfhagen has
requested an amendment to the previously approved agreement with Duke Energy
Retail Sales to include a $20,000 cap on indemnification. Hilt motioned to approve. Seconded by Skeene.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
A change order has been
requested for the Augusta Street Boat Ramp Phase 2 project. The total change order is a reduction in the
contract price of $8,252.20. Mathews
motioned to approve. Seconded by
Conners.
Bond #B98802013974 for
the Regatta Subdivision, Block B, section 1, is a performance bond for blacktop
surface course. The surface has been
completed in block B, section 1, and the bond needs to be converted to a
maintenance bond. Cochran motioned to
approve. Seconded by Mathews.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
The village has received
a proposal and financing for a new Case Backhoe 580N. The regular price is $118,300, but through
the Ohio State Purchasing Program the village can purchase the same backhoe for
$66,246 less a trade in of $12,000, which results in a balance of $54,246. Four-year financing resulting in annual
payment of approximately $15,012 per year.
This will be shared among the water, sewer and street funds. Wolf motioned to approve. Seconded by Cochran.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
Kennedy is requesting
permission to conduct fire training to remove the building at 220 Columbia
Street. The village received this
property through the Land Reutilization Program. The request has been submitted to the Land
Reutilization Committee as required.
Cochran motioned to approve.
Seconded by Mathews.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
Hilt motioned to suspend
the three reading rule. Seconded by
Cochran.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
Hilt motioned to adopt ORDINANCE
2011-9 ADOPTING A 2012 TAX BUDGET AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Seconded by
Cochran.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
Richard Hilt,
Finance/Personnel Committee:
The renewal levy failure
was discussed. Wolf said Mayor Carr has
suggested perhaps we put on levies for specific uses such as Cemetery or
Streets/Sidewalks. Wolf said the roads
at Greenmound Cemetery are in awful shape.
The cost to repave the cemetery roads just can’t happen because the
village does not have the money. But
they need to be repaired. So perhaps a 1
mill Cemetery Levy for five years to finance the repairs to Greenmound
Cemetery. Carr also mentioned there
needs to be paved pull-off at Watkins Hill Cemetery. It is desperately needed there. There is absolutely nowhere to park. Rene Biddle and Charles Scott who live at 622
Willow were in the audience and complained about the condition of Willow Street
in front of their property. It is in
very bad shape. Wolf suggested a 2 mill
Street/Sidewalk Levy. The money from a
cemetery levy and a street/sidewalk levy could only be spent on the specific
reason for the levy. The money would not
go into the General Fund. Hilt
agreed. Tough decisions need to be
made. No matter what decision is made
somebody will be upset because the money wasn’t spent where they wanted. Cochran said the village makes tough
decisions on repaving streets based on traffic usage and the small amount of
money we have. This subject will be
referred to Finance/Personnel Committee.
A meeting was set for next Tuesday night at 7pm.
Hilt motioned to accept
the resignation of volunteer firefighter David Kahle effective immediately and
the appointment of Debra Scribner as a volunteer, EMT-basic effective June 15th
on a one-year probationary period, contingent upon completion of a physical
examination and drug screening. Seconded
by Mathews.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr.
Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr.
Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran:
yes
Fire Chief Baird
discussed the purchase of fire hose and nozzles under the 2010 Assistance to
Firefighter’s Grant (AFG).
Hilt motioned to pay
bills #33265 - #33451 and electronic payments #135 – 175. Seconded by Skeene.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
Richard Mathews,
Safety/Laws/Rules Committee:
The deadline to place any
levy on the ballot is August 10, 2011.
Chief Harvey brought to
the table the topic of the Police Department issuing summons in zoning and
building violations. His problem is the
officers don’t ‘see’ the situation and can’t file a summons. It is suggested the Building/Zoning Inspector
make the summons in the future. These
will require being served with ‘personal service’. This can begin immediately.
Carr brought up about the
demolition of the old water treatment plant.
Kennedy will get bids.
Conners brought forth the
discussion about ‘outside vendors’ for RiverDays. The magistrate thought there was a
discrepancy in our ordinance. We are
awaiting an opinion from our solicitor.
Cochran thinks the whole thing is just a waste of money. You can’t reason with some people and they
are just going to continue doing whatever.
You have the event sponsor and the local people. He can see both sides of this issue.
Mathews mentioned the
banister on the steps leading from Susanna Way to Skippers boat harbor is
missing.
Cochran asked about the
suggested amendment to the personnel policy requiring department heads to ask
council for permission to be employed outside the village. Carr said Chief Baird was asked to be on a
volunteer committee to hire a new Fire Chief in Felicity. Felicity then asked him to do administrative
duties for the department until the hiring of new chief. This is compensated. Following the personnel policy Baird notified
the Mayor as his immediate supervisor and she approved. Cochran feels council needs to be aware of
department heads working other jobs. The
department heads attend committee meetings and the opportunity is there for them
to share this with council. Carr said as
mayor she is the supervisor over the department heads and she was
notified. This issue was referred to
Finance/Personnel Committee to amend the personnel policy.
Vinnie Cochran,
Public Works/Parks/Recreation Committee:
The sidewalk from Regatta
to the high school is being installed and should be completed in a few
days. Also, the repairs to Country Place
Road are in process.
Bev Funk has approached
Kennedy for the use of a piece of mitigated property to begin a community
garden.
Also, the Askrens, owners
of the property at the eastern end of Washington Street, attended the
meeting. They have a problem with people
dumping trash on this land and were wondering if the village owned any of the
property in this area. We don’t and it
was suggested that they have their property surveyed. The Askrens are interested in installing a
fence.
A Zimmer Power Station
supervisor has approached Mayor Carr and his crew is going to volunteer to
cleanup the drift on the riverbank.
Carr appointed Mary Allen
to fill the term of Tony Siefert (12/31/13) on the Planning Commission Board.
Financial reports for the
month of May have been distributed to council for their review.
CALL OF MEMBERS:
Cochran – Noted that a couple items on the ‘draft list of old
business’ could be removed.
Conners – Nothing to report.
Wolf – Nothing to report.
Mathews – Nothing to report.
Skeene – Nothing to report.
Hilt – Nothing to report.
Skeene motioned to
adjourn. Seconded by Mathews.
Mr. Hilt: yes Mr. Wolf: yes
Mr. Skeene: yes Mr. Conners: yes
Mr. Mathews: yes Mr. Cochran: yes
Meeting adjourned at
8:33pm.
_____________________
___________________________
Mayor
Clerk of Council