Continental Village Council met in regular session in the Fire Station Meeting Room on July 28, 2020 with Mayor Miller presiding. Members present were Armey, Bartley, Knipp, Varner, Streicher and Sullivan. Village Solicitor Welch, Fiscal Officer Darby, Administrator Prowant, Village employee Thompson, were also present. Visitors: None. The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance.
Minutes, Bills & Receipts since the last meeting were reviewed and approved. No Then & Now Purchase Orders over $3,000.
OLD BUSINESS:
Retroactive motion to July 14, 2020 to amend the estimated resources for the Fire Department Debt Service fund after the transfer in to make the fire station payment approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
Building permits: Resident on W. Rice submitted a permit for new building. Approved.
OPWC/WSRLA/Water Tower Update: Approval given to the Village for a $420,000 OPWC Grant. The grant is supposed to be fast-tracked and the project will be going out to bid in August with the bid opening in September. Unfortunately, with the late start to the bid process, ground will probably not be broke until next spring. In addition, word received that the Village was approved for a WSLRA 0% loan on the balance of the project. Part of the requirements for the loan is a title search and Welch suggested purchasing title insurance because of the cost of the project. Discussion held and council agreed with his suggestion and told him to proceed.
An Executive Session to discuss possible litigation held. Went back into Regular Session with no action taken.
Darby laid Resolution 2020-04 An Emergency resolution authorizing the Mayor of the Village of Continental to apply for, accept and enter into a water supply revolving loan account agreement for planning, design and/or construction of water facilities and designating a dedicated repayment source for the loan before Council. Approved.
Review Board Update: An Oak Street property has been posted as unsafe to enter. Welch has researched the title on the property and found a state tax lien on it but it appears the Village could purchase the property and tear down the house. The Mayor will contact the owner to purchase the property. He is also getting a quote to tear it down.
Maintenance Update: Thompson stayed in town after work today and worked on a call out for a water line that was mistaken for a sewer line and cut for a tap-in. The maintenance department did not have any other update.
A resident who has property adjacent to Sparling Park approached Mayor Miller about selling it to the Village.
An Executive Session to discuss possible purchase of property held.
Returned to Regular Session with no action taken.
A motion to allow the Mayor to enter into negotiations with property owner on N. Main Street was approved.
Darby gave each Council member a copy of the two emails she had received concerning delayed and possible losses to the Village’s Municipal Income tax due to the pandemic. In April, the potential was for an approximately $30,000 in delayed collections and a potential loss of $15,845. The updated numbers from July 22 has reduced the potential delayed collections to $6,000 and losses to $4,000.
Meeting adjourned.