Belpre City Council Minutes

Council President Mr. Neff called the Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Belpre, Ohio, to order at 7:30 p.m.  The roll was called with the following members present:  Ms. Abdella, Mr. Colvin, Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Sinnett, and Mr. Turrill present.  Also present were Mayor Lorentz; Safety Service Director Mr. Cross; City Auditor Miss Pittenger; City Law Director Mr. Webster and Clerk of Council Mrs. Meredith.    Absent from the April 11, 2016 meeting was City Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid.

Mr. Neff asked that everyone please rise for the Prayer and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Mrs. Marshall gave the invocation.

Mrs. Marshall made a motion to accept the minutes of March 28, 2016 as presented and by-pass the reading.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.

Reports of City Officials:

Mayor Lorentz reported at the last of March I met with Buckeye Hills about our grants. The ARC for 1.5 Million is still in play but the grant for our generator is not looking good. The funding has changed and we are not sure of success at this point.

Our Farmers Castle Museum hosted Region 10 Historical Society on April 2nd. My wife and I were able to attend and welcome everyone to Belpre.

On April 6th I was able to meet with some of the Governors Education officials. Our students were also briefed on the Start Talking Initiative that Our Chief has sponsored.

The same day a small contingency of Belpre folks travelled to Beverly for the Muskingum Valley Chamber Dinner. Our Police Chief Terry Williams was honored with the service award from the chamber and Son of the Revolution.

On Friday I met with Senator Brown and others at the Community Action offices in Marietta. Senator Brown along with everyone else is quite concerned about the drug issues we face. Both of us then attended the WTAP Sponsored Town Hall meeting at the People’s Theatre.

Tomorrow Night is the Historical Society Annual Dinner at the Belpre Church of Christ should you choose to attend you better call Nancy Sams early tomorrow to adjust food needs.

Today I met with Belpre Township Trustees to discuss the mutual aid between Little Hocking and Belpre. Our volunteer EMT’s are not responding as we had hoped. Mr. Cross and I are diligently negotiating an alternative solution to our ambulance and emergency services. A copy of the letter from the trustees is on your desk.

Safety Service Director Mr. Cross had no report.

City Auditor Miss Pittenger announced that the State Auditor’s are in house.  You all should be getting notification from the State Auditor asking questions about the city finances.

Miss Pittenger announced that all members of council should have received an email from our State Auditor’s regarding the Pre-Audit Meeting at 10 AM on Thursday in the Conference Room.  They basically tell us what they are looking for and it is a good time for you to ask questions.

Miss Pittenger announced that the Adjustment Report is on-line and on the back desk.  You will notice that it is quite large again as we had a $56,000 entering error for Orion Chemicals also known as Degussa.  I have discussed this error with our employee and there will not be any more errors like this.

The Adjustment Report for the month of April has been placed on line and on the back desk for your review.  At this time Ms. Abdella made a motion to accept the Adjustment Report as presented.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye except Mrs. Miller who abstained.

 City Law Director Mr. Webster announced that the advertising on the Ohio Avenue Alley has commenced.  I will advise council when we can consider it.  Mr. Webster also pointed out an article of interest in the Cities and Villages magazine that has been placed on each member of council’s desk.  The article has to do with changes in our local government in the last 10 years.  In the last 4 years the local funding has really gone down.

City Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid was absent.  No report was given in her absence.

Communications and Petitions:

Mr. Neff briefly discussed the article on Page 5, of Cities and Villages.  He encourages members of council and the administration to read this article.  He stated that the real concern extends across the country regarding infrastructure issues.  At some point there will be a very large expense on upgrades.  Mr. Neff also stated the possibility of shared services for Water and Sewer.  There is also a large article on changes in Local Government.

Report of Standing Committee:

Ms. Abdella Finance Audit Committee made a motion to add to tonight’s agenda for first reading AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2016 MANPOWER ROSTER.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.

Mrs. Miller, Police and Fire Committee asked the Law Director if he has the new requested parking tickets.  According to Mr. Webster he doesn’t have them this evening.  Mrs. Miller stated that she also has concerns about the Fire Department but would like to get with the Mayor before calling a meeting.

Mayor Lorentz stated that we might want to have a meeting before the next meeting of council to discuss Fire Department issues.

Mr. Colvin, Streets, Sidewalk and Storm Sewer reported that he has received several calls from citizens.  He stated that he would have a report at the next meeting once he had the opportunity of checking into their concerns with the Mayor and Safety-Service Director.

Mrs. Marshall, Utilities Committee had no report.  Mrs. Marshall asked for information from the Administration regarding the Sale of the Cell Tower.  Mayor Lorentz stated that he thought there was a draft proposal.  Mr. Cross stated that there is something coming.

Mrs. Sinnett, Parks and Recreation Committee had no report.

Mrs. Drake, Planning and Zoning Committee had no report.  Mrs. Drake announced that there would be a meeting on Wednesday at 2 PM for the purpose of brainstorming.

Mrs. Drake, Economic Development Committee had no report.

 Mr. Turrill, Rules Committee had no report for the Rules Committee.

Persons Appearing Before Council – Agenda items only.  None

Unfinished Business:  None

New Business: 

Ms. Abdella brought before council for first reading AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE 2016 MANPOWER ROSTER.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.  This will lie over until the next meeting of council.

Persons Appearing Before Council:  

Michael Matheny, 185 Woodlawn Avenue, Belpre is a member of the Belpre Volunteer Fire Department and has run EMS for the past 13 years.  I have been talking to the Mayor as to how we can fix the problems with the EMS in our area.   With support from the fire department I would like to take over the business and offer services as a private venture.

Mr. Neff asked for the status of the Wirt Street Bridge.  According to the Mayor there is no new information at this time.

Mrs. Drake announced that she has received her certification regarding the Sunshine Law.  A copy of the certificate has been given to Miss Pittenger for the State Auditor’s.  Miss Pittenger stated that Mrs. Drake is the Belpre City Council Guru for the Sunshine Law.

Mr. Neff went over the Committee Assignments.

The clerk asked the Council President about the status of the Part-Time Sanitarian. Mayor Lorentz stated that he doesn’t have a proposal at this time.

Mrs. Miller asked the auditor to explain the entering error.  Miss Pittenger stated that $52,00 was the entering error and the remaining is for a one-time adjustment per year for leaks, pool filling, etc.

Chief Williams reported that last week he went to Marietta for training on the Narc Cam.  This is for drug over doses.  Last year we collected $23,000 worth of drugs at a traffic stop.  The Police Department will receive $17,000 of that money to be placed in training fund per the Ohio Revised Code.

Mr. Webster stated that the defendant pled to that charge.

Adjourn

A motion was made by Ms. Abdella to adjourn at 8:00 PM.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.