Continental Village Council met in regular session on August 22, 2023 in the fire station meeting room with Mayor Miller presiding. Members present were: Knipp, Varner, Bartley, Armey, Streicher & Sullivan. Also present were Mayor Miller, Administrator Prowant, Fiscal Officer Darby, Police Chief Hardy & Solicitor Welch.
Visitors were: Toby Sullivan, Rowdy Howell, Jim Fry, Benjamin Sullivan and Trevor Williamson.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Varner made a motion and Knipp seconded to approve minutes of previous meeting, six yeas, motion carried. Armey made a motion to pay all the bills and Streicher seconded, six yeas, motion carried. Streicher made a motion and Varner seconded to approve the receipts since the last meeting, six yeas, motion carried. Then & Now Purchase Orders over $3,000: J & M Excavating, storm sewer repairs on N. Main St. near ball diamond, $4,893.89. Varner moved to approve the purchase orders and Bartley seconded, six yeas, motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS:
Continental Lifewise Academy held their Open House on Sunday, August 20 and held classes today for the first day of school. Congratulations and thank you to all who worked on this project.
Proposal: A proposal from Sidney Electric for a new electric panel for the water plant for $22,325 was reviewed. Sidney has all of the parts to start this project except for the panel cover. Armey moved to proceed and Knipp seconded the motion. Six yeas, motion carried.
Water Main Leak Update: Hydrants have been flushed in key places around town to pull the chlorine through the system and to level out the levels. Samples have been taken throughout the Village and it is leveling out.
BUILDING PERMITS
Three permits were reviewed by council, 503 W. Forrest for a new portable shed on skids, a new deck and concrete at 5122 SR 634 and roof and siding replacement at 107 N Elm Avenue. Armey moved to approve all the permits and Sullivan seconded the motion, six yeas, motion carried.
Recent State Legislation Update: The Governor recently signed a bill and it included increasing the threshold for required bidding from $50,000 to $75,000, In recent discussion with other villages, it was found that the Village Council needs to set the not to exceed amount for blanket purchase orders per ORC 5705.41(D)(3). Discussion held on whether it should be set at the new bid threshold of $75,000. Tabled for later discussion.
Resolution Accepting Rates: Varner made a motion to suspend the rules requiring three reads and Streicher seconded. Roll call vote: Knipp: Yea; Varner: Yea; Bartley: Yea; Armey: Yea; Sullivan: Yea; and Streicher: Yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
Armey made a motion to approve the Resolution and Bartley seconded. Roll call vote: Knipp: Yea; Varner: Yea; Bartley: Yea; Armey: Yea; Sullivan: Yea; and Streicher: Yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
Zoning Board to be convened: Mayor Miller would like to convene a zoning board meeting in two weeks, hopefully September 5 @ 7 p.m. to discuss updating the Mobile Home Ordinance.
Special Assessments: A property owner had sold a home on land contract but the people reneged on the contract and he now has the property back. They left behind a large water/sewer bill and Prowant was going to put it on the property taxes as per normal but the original owner said he would not pay the bill and would take the village to court over this. So, she contacted Welch to see if she should proceed. He suggested presenting it to Council to see what they wanted to do. Council was of the opinion that the original owner received payments for the property and ultimately received the property back so he is responsible for the bill and she should proceed as normal with the Special Assessments.
Health Insurance Update: Welch contacted UIS about getting a quote for health insurance and at the same time our current carrier was trying to update the quote. The insured completed the FormFire information for their current insurance but need to find out if UIS can get access to that information or if the employees will have to fill it out again. Mayor will call tomorrow. In the meantime, the new policy renews on September 1, 23. Armey made a motion to approve the renewal for the insurance unless UIS comes in at a lower rate. Streicher seconded the motion, six yeas, motion carried.
Solar Update: Mayor Miller had a group call with the solar company and he found out that the permit for the AEP Interconnect approval is pushed back to November or December. They asked him for details about a building permit for the proposed solar farm and he told them the village is in process of changing some of the zoning. Since the new zoning ordinance has not yet passed, he could not comment on pending legislation.
Maintenance Update: Sparling Park, the Mayor is ordering a new sign to state that NatureWorks Grant money that was used in the recent upgrades to the park. Buckeye Park, a new chain will be put in place and the poles will be straightened and leveled. Park committee will get ideas on the pole toppers.
Pending Litigation: Armey made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and Bartley seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Knipp: Yea; Varner: Yea; Bartley: Yea; Armey: Yea; Sullivan: Yea; and Streicher: Yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
Bartley made a motion to come out of Executive Session and Streicher seconded, 6 yeas, motion carried. Let the record show that no action was taken.
HEARING OF THE PUBLIC:
Jim Fry asked council since you now have the authority granted under the House Bill to say No to a solar field, why don’t you? Mayor stated we need to regulate what size constitutes a solar field as some residents do have their own solar panels. We also need to tread lightly as we are under contract to annex the solar field to the south and west of the village. We do not want to break the terms of the contract by saying no to all solar within the Village corporation.
Next Council meeting: Wednesday, September 12 at 7 p.m. in the fire station meeting room.
Bartley made a motion to adjourn with no further business; Armey seconded it. Six yeas. Meeting adjourned.
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