Continental Village Council met in regular session in the Council Meeting Room on December 27, 2022 with Mayor Miller presiding. Members present were Bartley, Varner, Knipp, Armey, Sullivan and Streicher. Mayor Miller, Admin. Prowant, Police Chief Hardy and Fiscal Officer Darby were also present. Absent: Solicitor Welch. Visitors: None. The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance.
Varner made a motion and Knipp seconded to approve the minutes of previous meeting. Six yeas, motion carried. Streicher made a motion to pay the bills and Armey seconded to approve bills. Six yeas, motion carried. Receipt listing reviewed and Armey made a motion to approve and second by Bartley. Six yeas, motion carried. Then & Now Purchase Orders over $3000: None.
Ordinance 755-2022: Third reading of the Sewer Rate Ordinance which increased the rate by twenty-five cents per 1000 gallons usage each year for the next two years (2023 & 2024). Varner moved to approve the third reading and Streicher seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Knipp – yea; Varner – yea; Bartley – yea; Armey – yea; Sullivan – yea; Streicher – yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
Ordinance 756-2022: Third reading of the Water Rate Ordinance which will increase the water rate by twenty-five cents per 1000 gallons of usage each year for the next two years (2023 & 2023), increases the water cost of operations from $35 per quarter to $40 per quarter and will increase the water deposit from $100 to $150 to keep up with the rising quarterly minimum bill. Bartley made a motion to approve the third reading and Varner seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Knipp – yea; Varner – yea; Bartley – yea; Armey – yea; Sullivan – yea; Streicher – yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
Quote for Lighting Upgrades: Council reviewed a quote received from Green Options to upgrade the lighting in the Maintenance Building for $3950 and the quote from Highland Electric & Green Options for the Fire Station for $7295. Varner moved to accept the quotes and proceed. Armey seconded, five yeas and one abstain by Dan Sullivan (who is an unpaid volunteer fireman), motion carried.
Building Permits: None
Discussion held about the building on North Main Street that has been sold that is required to alter the entrance to meet current ADA requirements. The current doorway has a setback with a step up and is not handicap accessible. The proposed plan is to build a ramp with entrance points from the north and the south with a railing on the east facing side that will protrude five feet into the sidewalk area. Council does not want to hinder growth in the downtown area but they would like input from the businesses that could be affected by the change so Varner moved to send to the zoning board for their recommendation. Armey seconded and six yeas, motion carried.
Survey Plat Review: Mayor Miller passed around a survey plat that splits a 10-foot section off the width of a lot on East Rice Street. Council reviewed and finding no issues with it, Armey moved to allow the Mayor to sign it. Streicher seconded. Six yeas, motion carried.
Mayor’s Association Dues: Streicher moved to pay the annual $40 dues for the Putnam County Mayor’s Association and Sullivan seconded. Six yeas, motion carried.
Fire Update: The Mayor reviewed information about the fire at the commercial building on South Main Street that burnt on Friday, December 23rd. The good news is there were no injuries and the fire was contained to one building. There was a report in the Lima News that the water tower failed but it actually failed to keep up with the demand and residents were asked to conserve water to allow the tank to refill. The Water Department was able to monitor the pressure in the tower at all times and it never fell below the 35% pressure level.
Everyone was complimentary on how well Fire Chief Williamson organized and managed the scene. Many thanks to all the area fire departments: Kalida, Ottoville, Fort Jennings, Miller City, Glandorf, Ottawa, Leipsic, Oakwood, Defiance and Ayersville for fighting the fire alongside of Continental Fire Department and a thank you to Grover Hill and Auglaize Township for being on stand-by if needed. Also, big thank yous to ODOT, JPS for fueling trucks on the scene, R & B Meats for providing a warm haven with food & drinks, and the Fire Department Wives and volunteers who worked to thaw boots, gloves and hoods. Thank you to H&K and S&S Sanitation for opening their buildings to thaw out frozen trucks, Clubhouse Pizza and the Legion for helping supply food for all the firemen, to the Continental School & the American Legion for mats to help soak up the water inside R&B Meats, to Main Stop for the donation of cups for the coffee and hot chocolate, to 419 Towing, Chris Skiver Excavating and Tracy’s Hardware for their help. Big thanks to Putnam County EMA, Putnam County EMS, Continental EMS, Kalida EMS and Ottoville EMS, to Putnam County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and to the Police Chief Hardy and Continental Water Department Maintenance men, Trevor Leis & Westin Okuley for their help on the scene and monitoring the Water situation.
Armey moved to go into Executive Session to discuss compensation for public employees. Bartley seconded. Roll call vote: Knipp – yea; Varner – yea; Bartley – yea; Armey – yea; Sullivan – yea; Streicher – yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
Varner moved to come out of Executive Session with no action taken and Bartley seconded the motion. Six yeas, motion carried.
Bartley made a motion to suspend the rules requiring three readings and Sullivan seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Knipp – yea; Varner – yea; Bartley – yea; Armey – yea; Sullivan – yea; Streicher – yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
Streicher made a motion to pass a Wage Ordinance 757-2022 with the following increases:
Position Current New
Administrator $14.25/hour $15.42/hour
Fiscal Officer $1025.78/month $1109.89/month
Police Chief $2109.40/month $28.60/hour
Water/Sewer Clerk $1025.77/month $1109.89/month
Part-Time Officers $15.00/hour $16.25/hour
Firemen $10.00/run $12.00/run
Firemen Overtime $3.00/hour $5.00/hour
Fire Chief $100.00/month $150.00/month
Asst. Fire Chief $50.00/month $75.00/month
Part-time Maint. $10.85/hour $11.85/hour
Mike Leis NO CHANGE
Trevor Leis $24.45/hour $26.95/hour (cost of living + Merit of $ .50)
Westin Okuley $20.65/hour $22.34/hour (w/ $1.00 raise when he receives his Water License)
Bartley seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Knipp – yea; Varner – yea; Bartley – yea; Armey – yea; Sullivan – yea; Streicher – yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
Bartley made a motion to suspend the rules requiring three readings and Sullivan seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Knipp – yea; Varner – yea; Bartley – yea; Armey – yea; Sullivan – yea; Streicher – yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
Streicher made a motion to pass Ordinance 758-2022 changing the Police Chief to an hourly pay scale from salary. Bartley seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Knipp – yea; Varner – yea; Bartley – yea; Armey – yea; Sullivan – yea; Streicher – yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
Mayor Miller wished everyone a Happy New Year and reminded everyone the offices will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2023 for the observed New Year’s Day.
With no other business for the good of the Village, Bartley moved to adjourn and Armey seconded. Six yeas, motion carried.
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Next Meeting: Next meeting is Tuesday, January 10, 2023 in Council Chambers at 7 p.m.
