Mayor Justin Cline called the 22nd Regular Session of Council to order on Monday, November 18, 2024.  Mayor Cline began the meeting by asking Council person Josh Smith to say a prayer, then led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.  This public meeting is being recorded.  Members answering roll call were Carla Carl, Joe Kammer, Abigail Caldwell, Daniel Rouse, Josh Smith and Molly Lehman. Also attending the meeting were Fiscal Officer Kim Meek-Obed and Village Solicitor Attorney Terry Seeberger and village residents Chauni Skirtich & Ryan Shanower.

Mr. Smith made the motion to approve the minutes of the 21st session of council held on November 4, 2024 and Ms. Lehman seconded. Carl yes, Kammer yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes. Six yes votes.  Motion carried.  Minutes approved.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mr. Shanower thanked the village on behalf of the Navarre Area Business Association (NABA) for the Navarre Christmas in Bethlehem celebration and parade.  He stated that they are looking forward to this being an annual event.

FINANCE

Kim Meek-Obed reported there may have been a mis-communication and she found out that RCAP didn’t know we had passed a resolution to do the water rate study.  She just found this out last week so she sent them a copy of the resolution that was passed on October 21^st.  RCAP will be sending a contract later this week for the water rate study.  Ms. Meek-Obed reported that she and Heather have been working with RCAP to provide them information they need for the sewer rate study.

Ms. Meek-Obed reported that Mr. Bob Fay was in to talk to me and had asked a lot of questions about what the concerns are.  He has said he is willing to work with us as much as possible.

Ms. Meek-Obed reported that she had communicated with Mrs. Magaret Cotton regarding needing a receipt from he showing that she paid the band that played for the Christmas in Bethlehem celebration before we could reimburse her and that council would need to approve that reimbursement since they had originally approved paying the bank directly.  Mrs. Cotton did submit an email receipt from the bank so a motion is needed to reimburse Mrs. Cotton.

Ms. Lehman mad a motion to reimburse Mrs. Margaret Cotton for the payment she made to the bank that played for the Christmas celebration and Mr. Smith seconded. Smith yes, Lehman yes, Rouse yes, Caldwell yes, Kammer yes, Carl yes.

Conversation ensued about how much Mr. Fay would come in to assist with things.  Ms. Meek-Obed stated that she didn’t know what his plans are.

SOLICITOR

Mr. Seeberger presented Ordinance 14-2024, an ordinance enacting new Codified Regulation 30.09 for third reading and passage.

Ms. Lehman made a motion to have third reading and passage of Ordinance 14-2024 and Ms. Carl seconded.  Lehman yes, Rouse yes, Caldwell yes, Kammer yes, Carl yes, Smith yes.  Six yes votes. Ordinance passed.

Mr. Seeberger reported that there is nothing new on the Hudson Energy matter.

Later this week I will work with Kim to submit the reimbursement request to Department of Transportation for the Fohl-Sterilite project.  Mr. Seeberger reported that the project is almost done.  Mr. Smith stated that he is of the understanding that Fohl Road is supposed to be open by Thanksgiving.

Mr. Seeberger reported that the WWTP design is close to submission.

ADMINISTRATOR

Mr. Dibell was not in attendance.

MAYOR

Mayor Justin Cline stated that he doesn’t have anything to report except that he thought the Christmas in Bethlehem celebration went really well.

MISCELLANEOUS

Mr. Smith reported that the Finance Committee met on the 12^th and Ms. Meek-Obed will give financial reports to the other council members.  He also reported that we are putting the lift truck on hold that Blake had talked about at the last meeting.

Mr. Smith reported that we were notified that we could be awarded a partial amount of what we had originally asked for from the Nature Works grant, so we have to decide whether we want to accept the partial award, which would mean that we either have to find other funding sources or we have to commit to pay the remainder of the project.  The award would be in 2025 and the project needs to be completed by the end of 2026.

Mr. Smith made a motion to approve Resolution 2024-30 accepting the Nature Works grant of $39,087.00 as an emergency and Mr. Kammer seconded.  Kammer yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes, Carl yes.  Six yes votes. Resolution passed.  Note, Mr. Seeberger will prepare this resolution and send to Ms. Meek-Obed for her and Mayor Cline to sign and send to Ms. Burlison at ODNR for the Nature Works grant.

Ms. Lehman reported that she did speak to Bob Fay and he has confidence that Kim knows what she is doing and with some assistance to get some stuff figured out. He said the biggest challenge is getting reports from the old software for 2021 & 2022.  She would like to propose to ask Bob Fay to come back and look at the software.  Ms. Lehman would like to propose that we authorize to spend some money to get someone with the old software company to get some information from the old software.

Ms. Lehman made a motion to authorize an amount not to exceed $1,000.00 to contract software support to get reports from the old system and Mr. Smith seconded. Carl yes, Kammer yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes.  Six yes votes.  Motion passed.

Ms. Carl asked if we have anyone else that knows how to do things in the financial office.  Mr. Seeberger stated that part of the problem that small villages have is that the workforce is typically small so there aren’t a lot of people to do things.  Ms. Meek-Obed stated that she does make notes of things that she does and why she has done it and that once she understands things she does she intends to make instructions of what is done so that when she retires, she will be able to leave instructions for the next person.

Ms. Lehman stated that she will be scheduling a “Coffee with Council” in the new year.

Mr. Shanower asked if there is any further information on the “DORA” (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area).  Ms. Lehman stated that there are no immediate plans to set up a DORA.

Ms. Lehman made a motion to go into executive session to discuss imminent court action and Ms. Carl seconded. Lehman yes, Caldwell yes, Carl yes, Smith yes, Rouse yes, Kammer yes. Six yes votes. Motion approved.  Into executive session at 7:58 pm.

Ms. Lehman made a motion to return from executive session and Mr. Kammer seconded. Kammer yes, Carl yes, Smith yes, Lehman yes, Rouse yes, Caldwell yes. Six yes votes.  Return from executive session at 8:33 pm.

BILLS AND CLAIMS

Mr. Kammer made a motion to pay the Bills & Claims and Ms. Lehman seconded. Kammer yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes, Carl yes.  Six yes votes.  Motion passed.

Mr. Kammer made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Carl seconded. Carl yes, Smith yes, Lehman yes, Rouse yes, Caldwell yes, Kammer yes. Six yes votes. Meeting adjourned at 8:34 pm.

______________________________                        __________________________   

Kim L. Meek-Obed, Fiscal Officer                             Justin G. Cline, Mayor

 Next Council Meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday, December 2, 2024 @ 7:00pm