Belpre City Council Minutes
Council President Mr. Martin called the February 22, 2021 meeting to order at 7:30 PM. If you aren’t a member of council please mute your computer so it will cut down the background noise. Due to COVID-19 our council meetings are being conducted through ZOOM. The roll was called with the following members present: Mrs. Drake, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Gant, Mr. Locke, Mrs. Miller, Ms. Riffle, and Mr. Shutts present. Also present was Mayor Lorentz, Safety Service Director Mrs. Hoblitzell, City Auditor Miss Pittenger, City Law Director Mr. Webster, Treasurer Mrs. Copeland and Clerk of Council Mrs. Meredith.
Council President Mr. Martin asked that everyone please rise for the Prayer and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Lorentz gave the invocation and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
A motion was made by Mrs. Drake to by-pass the reading of the February 8, 2021 minutes and accept as presented. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Reports of City Officials:
Mayor Lorentz – Thanks to our Police Officers and Sheriff Mincks, we removed a bunch of drugs and some of the people peddling it on Tuesday the 9th. Thank you, Chief Williams and Sheriff Larry Mincks.
February 11th was our biggest snow so far and the street department employees were out bright and early making sure all were safe. A good job and well appreciated. To date I have received many comments stating our streets are cleared much better than surrounding areas.
The agreement between the city and our high school for use of Civitan Ball Fields is signed and delivered. All we need now is warm weather.
Kiki Angelos contacted my office and invited any of us to join her in Parkersburg for the Annual Easter Parade. This year’s event will be March 20th at 2PM.
Much time has been spent of late with our health board. With the resignation of our commissioner both Mayor Schlicher and I will be assisting with a transition plan to assure all are taken care of. Dr. Michael Brocket will assume the Health Commissioners role temporarily until a replacement can be named. Everything possible will be done to continue the vaccine clinics and care for our residents.
The Service Director and I are working on ARC Grants for the upcoming water improvements on Farson Street. We met with Burgess & Niple Engineering today so to continue progress.
Safety-Service Director Mrs. Hoblitzell announced that she met with Lisa Savicky today with Burgess and Niple to try and finalize the plans for the 10” water line on Farson Street. Hopefully this will be started by the fall.
I also met with Toni Tiano regarding various grants to help out with the docks and perhaps additional docks next year.
Mrs. Hoblitzell addressed roads during the snow season. She reported that the city building have been receiving calls from citizens wanting their road plowed. Some of the calls are not for city roads. We have also been receiving calls that basketball hoops and other objects have been hit however citizens are putting things on the city right of ways that should not be there. During snow season vehicles need to be off the roads along with objects that should not be on city right of ways.
City Auditor Miss Pittenger had no report.
City Law Director Mr. Webster had no report.
City Treasurer Mrs. Copeland had no report.
Communications and Petitions:
Council President Mr. Martin stated that the only thing he has is three pieces of legislation that was sent from Tom’s office that needs to be assigned to committee. Below are the three pieces of legislation that was assigned to committee.
Mr. Ferguson, Chairman of the Finance/Audit committee – A RESOLUTON AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE BELPRE SENIOR CENTER.
Mr. Ferguson, Chairman of the Finance/Audit committee – A RESOLUTION SUPPLEMENTING YEAR 2021 APPROPRIATIONS.
Mrs. Drake, Chairman of the Utilities committee – A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE WASHINGTON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
Report of Standing Committee:
Mr. Ferguson Finance/Audit Committee had no report.
Mr. Gant, Police and Fire Committee had no report.
Ms. Riffle Streets, Sidewalks and Storm Sewer had no report. Ms. Riffle said she would like to compliment the street workers for keeping are streets as clean as possible with everything that is going on.
Mrs. Drake Utilities Committee had no report.
Mr. Shutts, Parks and Recreation Committee had no report.
Mr. Locke Planning and Zoning Committee had no report. Mr. Locke did announce that he would be meeting this Thursday at the Chamber of Commerce Building to discuss the Burton Plan.
Mr. Locke Economic Development Committee had no report
Mrs. Miller Rules Committee had no report.
Persons Appearing Before Council – Agenda items only. None
Unfinished Business:
Mr. Ferguson brought before council for third reading AN AMENDED ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AUTHORIZED MANPOWER FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2021 Mr. Ferguson announced that the correct Exhibit A is dated February 10, 2021. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mr. Ferguson moved this be Ordinance 13, 2020-2021 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
NEW BUSINESS: none
PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE COUNCIL:
Ms. Riffle asked where the $17,311 that the city will pay the district will come from. According to Mrs. Hoblitzell the money will come out of the General Fund.
Mrs. Hoblitzell announced that the bids for EMS in the City of Belpre should all be in this week.
Mr. Gant thanked Mrs. Hoblitzell for the information on the EMS bids.
Mr. Ferguson called a committee meeting for Finance/Audit committee on March 8, 2021 at 6:30 PM to discuss A RESOLUTON AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE BELPRE SENIOR CENTER.
Mr. Ferguson called a committee meeting for Finance/Audit committee on March 8, 2021 at 6:45 PM to discuss A RESOLUTION SUPPLEMENTING YEAR 2021 APPROPRIATIONS.
Mrs. Drake, Chairman of the Utilities committee called a committee meeting immediately following the Finance/Audit committee meeting to discuss A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE WASHINGTON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
Mayor Lorentz stated that there is no change to the Senior Contract.
Mr. Ferguson echoed comments made by Ms. Riffle on how well the Street Department is doing in keeping the streets up during our recent snow storms.
Mr. Ferguson asked about the 2020 Soil and Water contract with Kathy Davis. He stated that he hasn’t been able to locate the contract. In conversation it was announced that this wasn’t passed in 2020 but was in 2019.
Mr. Webster announced that there were either two or three COVID Clinics cancelled. Once the vaccine is received those folks will be contacted and rescheduled.
ADJOURN:
Mr. Ferguson made a motion to adjourn at 7:58 PM. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.