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, Mrs. Marshall, Mr. Martin, Mrs. Miller, Mr. Newberry and Mr. Robinson present. Also present were Mayor Lorentz, Safety Service Director Mr. Ferguson, City Auditor Miss Pittenger, City Law Director Mr. Webster, and Clerk of Council Mrs. Meredith. Absent from the September 22, 2014 meeting was Treasurer Miss Martin and Councilman Mr. Gilbert.
At this time, Mr. Neff asked that everyone please stand 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 September 8, 2014, 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 presented his report.
September 9th marked the kick-off for the 2014-15 United Way campaign. I attended the breakfast and met the new director. Hopefully everyone on council will consider pledging this year. Many of our residents, as well as your city, benefit from this worthwhile effort. On the 16th I was able to attend a reception for Joyce Mather to celebrate her retirement from United way.
My wife and I attended the Gathering at Civitan Park. It was good to see all our churches come together for fellowship and fun activities at the park.
The Chamber of Commerce with the cooperation of Kraton sponsored a luncheon on September 17th. It was nice to see a few new business owners as well as prospective business owners in attendance.
Thursday evening I travelled to Williamstown to assist with packing food items for Blessings in a Backpack. This small group makes sure that our young students in various districts have something to eat over the weekends.
Saturday from 10 am until 2pm is a drug take back day. The Belpre location is at the Sr. Center.
Projects and or activities in the city include a groundbreaking ceremony at the nursing home on October 8th; lift station improvements at Kraton, water pressure issues at Farson St Area, and the sewer line extension north of town.
Safety Service Director Mr. Ferguson stated that he would like to have some time during the third reading of A RESOLUTION SUPPLEMENTING YEAR 2014 APPROPRIATIONS for discussion.
Mr. Ferguson also announced that he had received a letter from Robert Stallman, in reference to the City of Belpre Electricity Government Aggregation Program. There was a meeting held today at 4PM and another meeting to be held tomorrow morning stating that customers can still choose their electric company. You can either stay with your current provider or you still have the opportunity to change to DP&L. The letter also states that DP&L would like to provide you with three options:
- You may remain with DP&L Energy’s Program at a stable, Fixed Price of $0.0930/kWh through May 2017. There is nothing you have to do to remain on the Program.
- If you would like to be removed from the Program and return to AEP Ohio Columbus Southern’s SSO tariff service, you must call DP&L Energy at 1-888-674-3753.
- You can go to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Apples to Apples website at http://www.energychoice.ohio.gov/and review offers from other Competitive Retail Electric Suppliers (CRES) and select another CRES offer. To select this option, you must contact the selected CRES to enroll with them.
If you select option 2 or option 3, DP&L Energy will waive the contract termination fee of $150 so that you can transition to that option without additional expense.
We hope that this clarifies any confusion that may exist about the advantages of the Program, and would appreciate the opportunity to continue serving you through May 2017. As a gesture of our continued commitment to customer service, DP&L Energy will issue you a bill credit in the amount of $20.00, which will appear on your AEP monthly statement within the next 60 days.
Ms. Abdella asked where this letter came from and where did it originate.
Mr. Ferguson stated that this letter had been forced out by PUCO.
Mrs. Marshall asked if she needs to go back and do this all again. Mr. Ferguson stated that if you are happy stay there.
City Auditor Miss Pittenger reported that 7 people attended the Ohio Sunshine Law Seminar. In our last audit we got dinged because no one from this council attended. If you attended and have your certificate please give me a copy for file for next year’s audit. Mrs. Marshall stated that she had planned to attend but due to a death in her family she was unable to attend. She contacted the folks at Washington State and they told her that she could attend in one of the other areas. Ms. Abdella asked the clerk if she kept track of who attends these seminars. The clerk stated that she did not but we could document in the minutes.
Mr. Webster stated that if you get the chance to attend the Attorney General’s Seminar it is a much better one to attend.
This year’s 2013 Audit has been posted on line. The City of Belpre did really well.
The budget that we approved this spring had some capital improvements for the Sewer Department. In the repairs line they have $15,000 left of the $75,000 that was appropriated for this project. In order to finish the repairs we need an additional $26,000. They will be in the hole by $11,000 on that line item. They saved 22,000 on the roofing project. Under the lift station we appropriated $200,000. They are going to spend everything but about $108,000 of that and the project is complete. They would like to spend $70,000 of the $108,000 for the lift station at Boulevard Sands. This is something other than what was approved in April. We are asking permission of council to approve repairs on the Boulevard Sands lift station. Mike Betz stated that he would like a stand by generator for Boulevard Sands and use the trailer mounts for other places. Mr. Betz stated that we are trying to omit sewage back up.
Miss Pittenger asked if we needed a voice approval. Mr. Neff stated that if council has appropriated the money then council has done their job. Mr. Neff appreciated Miss Pittenger informing council.
City Law Director Mr. Webster had no report.
Treasurer Miss Martin was absent. No report was given for the Treasurers Report.
Communications and Petitions: none
Report of Standing Committee:
Ms. Abdella, Finance Audit Committee had no report.
Mr. Gilbert, Police and Fire Committee was absent. No report was given in his absence.
Mr. Martin, Streets, Sidewalk and Storm Sewer Committee had no report. Mr. Martin stated that he was tickled to death that CSX has fixed the railroad crossings. Mr. Martin asked the SSD if he had received any quotes on the cost of salt for our city streets. Mr. Ferguson stated that we should have a quote by the end of the month.
Mr. Robinson, Utilities Committee had no report. Mr. Robinson made a motion to add to tonight’s agenda for first reading AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF TITLE TO 1980 FORD FIRE ENGINE/PUMPER. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Marshall, Parks and Recreation Committee had no report.
Mr. Newberry had no report for Planning and Zoning Committee.
Mr. Newberry had no report for the Economic Development Committee.
Mrs. Miller had no report for the Rules Committee. Mrs. Miller did state that she is gathering information on inoperable vehicles.
Persons Appearing Before Council – Agenda items only. None
Unfinished Business:
Ms. Abdella brought before council for third reading A RESOLUTION SUPPLEMENTING YEAR 2014 APPROPRIATIONS. Mr. Ferguson stated that there are several items needed for the street department that consist of the purchase of a 2006 Model truck from Zanesville to replace the old blue water truck that died, snow blades, tractor repairs, cost of salt, soft patch to repair holes in our city streets, etc. Miss Pittenger stated that $14,000 was needed in Fund 602. Miss Pittenger stated that additional amendments would be needed for the Street Department. Ms. Abdella brought before council for third reading A RESOLUTION SUPPLEMENTING YEAR 2014 as amended. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella moved this be Resolution 8, 2014-2015 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mr. Neff gave Miss Pittenger verbal approval to transfer $10,000.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for third reading 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. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella moved this be Resolution 9, 2014-2015 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
New Business:
Mr. Robinson brought before council for first reading AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF TITLE TO 1980 FORD FIRE ENGINE/PUMPER. Mr. Neff explained that this had to be done to correct the year of the Ford Truck. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mr. Robinson moved to suspend the rule of council on three different days to allow for the second and third readings of AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF TITLE TO 1980 FORD FIRE ENGINE/PUMPER. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mr. Robinson brought before council for second and third readings of AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF TITLE TO 1980 FORD FIRE ENGINE/PUMPER. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mr. Robinson moved this be Ordinance 10, 2014-2015 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Persons Appearing Before Council-
Rick Walters who is running for Washington County Commissioner came to council, spoke briefly about himself and asked for support at the elections.
Mr. Ferguson reminded council of the Manpower Ordinance. The clerk was informed to add to the next meeting of council.
Mr. Martin spoke to council about Active Shooter Scenario.
Mr. Robinson asked if the fire siren at the west end of town was going to be put back up. Mayor Lorentz stated that it could be put back up.
Mrs. Marshall moved to excuse Mr. Gilbert from this evenings meeting. Per Mr. Neff, Mr. Gilbert had an excusable absence. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Adjourn
Mr. Robinson made a motion to adjourn at 8:25. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.