The Village of Continental Council held a regular session meeting on March 12, 2019 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers with all members in attendance. Also in attendance were Mayor Miller, Administrator Prowant, Solicitor Welch and Fiscal Officer Darby.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and the passage of the corrected minutes from the February 26th meeting. The bills were reviewed and two extra bills were approved for payment that came in after the Payment listing had been printed. The monthly receipts were reviewed and approved as well as the Management Reports.
Old Business:
Neighborhood Revitalization Grant Update: Now that the weather is beginning to break, the contractor for the sidewalk and park project has been back in town and is bringing in dirt to fix areas that were disturbed during the removal and installation of the new sidewalks. They will also completed the bathroom at Sparling Park and backfill ruts in the park that were made during the project.
Sidewalk Initiative Update: A sample resolution from another Village and specifications were discussed. Tom Armey from the Zoning Committee printed out the current zoning requirements for sidewalks within the Village and calculated the costs of putting sidewalks along the frontage of his home. Using $2.00 per square foot reimbursement by the village would result in a savings to him as a homeowner of approximately one-third of the total cost of the project. Council would like to proceed with a Resolution and setting up an application process.
New Business:
Agricultural District Application: Fiscal Officer Darby received an Application For Placement of Farmland in an Agricultural District and in accordance to the provisions within the Ohio Revised Code, the Village must conduct a public hearing on the application. After reviewing some information, including what the purpose of an Ag District is and the options for the Village, Council set the Public Hearing for Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at 8 p.m. in Council Chambers. Darby will notify the land owner.
Elevated Water Tower Update: The plans for the water tower are currently with the EPA in Columbus for the review and approval process. This is estimated to be a $1,100,000 project. With the current income survey the Village is not eligible for a Community Development Block Grant because it shows the Village below the Low to Moderate Income level of 51% requirement for that grant. Mayor Miller has done some checking into options including, 1) waiting on the next round of Ohio Public Works Commission grants, 2) having an income survey done in the Village. This would consist of a company sending out letters requesting information and tabulating the average income within the village which could possibly put us in the running for $600,000 Critical Infrastructure Grant or 3) taking out a loan for the 1.1 million dollars. Council moved to proceed with an Income Survey. Approximately 300 or the 500 households will receive letters, we would like to see 100% participation out of the residents so that Water rates will not have to be raised to cover the loan payments.
Possible Annexation Requests: Council heard there is a possibility of three annexation requests coming from the area of the Eighth Street extension.
BWC Safety Grant Update: Council heard that the last of the items the Village received with the grant are being delivered and installed. The broom and compactor attachments to the village tractor should be delivered this week and the Village truck has been dropped off to have the new service bed, crane and lift gate installed.
Council went into Executive Session to discuss hiring a public employee and came back to regular session with no action taken.
Administrator Prowant has sent a letter explaining the requirements for clean to the owner of a recent house fire in the village. Council discussed the condemnation process.
Councilman Armey took the opportunity to welcome two new businesses to town. Fort Jennings State Bank is now open on SR. 613 across from Homier & Son and Firehose Car Wash is working on updating the equipment and will open soon.
Meeting adjourned.
Susan Darby,
Fiscal Officer
Village of Continental
