Continental Village Council met in regular session on July 18, 2023 with Mayor Miller presiding. Members present were Knipp, Varner, Bartley, Armey, Streicher and Sullivan. Also, present were Mayor Miller, Administrator Prowant and Fiscal Officer Darby. Solicitor Welch was absent. Visitors log attached. Mayor Miller opened the meeting with the pledge of allegiance.
Mayor Miller explained to the visitors how the meeting will be conducted and especially the Hearing of the Public portion, where only actual residents of the Village may speak and then for 5 minutes after being recognized. Varner made a motion to accept the minutes from the regular session meeting held on June 27 and Bartley seconded to approve minutes of the meeting, six yeas, motion carried. Varner made a motion to accept the minutes from the Special Session meeting held July 5 and Sullivan seconded, six yeas, motion carried. Varner made a motion to pay all the bills and Streicher seconded, six yeas, motion carried. Armey made a motion and Knipp seconded to approve the receipts since the last meeting, six yeas, motion carried.
Building Permit: Streicher made a motion to approve a building permit from residents at 201 W. Maple to enclose a porch. Armey seconded the motion, six yeas, motion carried.
Transfer: Darby asked for permission to transfer $22,472.75 from the General Fund that includes the Fire Department money to the Debt Service Fund to pay the biannual loan on the fire station. Bartley made a motion to allow and Armey seconded, six yeas, motion carried.
Then & Now Purchase Orders over $3,000: Huntington Bank for fire station loan payment with $5,820.24 extra principal payment for a total of $22,472.75. Bartley approved the Purchase Order and Streicher seconded, six yeas, motion carried.
Management Reports presented, approved by signature.
Old Business
Budget: Council reviewed the budget for 2024. Darby stated there were no attendees for the Budget Hearing held prior to this meeting. Armey made a motion to approve the budget and Knipp seconded, six yeas, motion carried.
Ordinance 93-413: During the recent Zoning Board meeting and reviewed the advice from the Village’s outside counsel and they recommended changing the language within the ordinance and to add another zoning district designation of Commercial C. The following language will be added to the ordinance:
SECTION 1. Definition: Unsafe Buildings, Buildings Unfit for Human Habitation, Occupancy or Use and Nuisance.
- Unsafe Buildings – A building is unsafe when it is not maintained in good repair, is not structurally sound, is not adequately secured, lacks adequate egress, is not sanitary, constitutes a fire hazard, or is otherwise dangerous to human life by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or infestation, as defined by the International Property Maintenance Code.
- Buildings Unfit for Human Habitation, Occupancy or Use – A building is unfit for human occupancy whenever the Village Review Board finds that because of the degree to which the structure is in disrepair or lacks maintenance, is unsanitary, vermin or rat infested, contains filth and contamination, lacks other essential equipment required by the International Property Maintenance Code, or because the location of the structure constitutes a hazard to the occupants of the structure or to the public.
- Nuisance – All such Unsafe Buildings, or Buildings Unfit for Human Habitation, Occupancy or Use are declared to be public nuisance and shall be abated by repair and rehabilitation or by demolition in accordance with the procedure of this Ordinance.
Section 2 –All inspections performed shall be in accordance with the guidelines and mandates from the International Property Maintenance Code.
Bartley 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; Streicher – Yea. Six yeas, motion carried. Streicher made a motion to pass the Amendment of the Ordinance as an emergency and Sullivan seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Knipp – Yea; Varner – Yea; Bartley – Yea; Armey – Yea; Sullivan – Yea; Streicher – Yea. Six yeas, motion carried.
First Street Waterline Change Order 2: Received a change order after the fact for $17,784.99 for extra repair work after the Village approved change order # 1 to increase the size of the waterline. This work was to tie in the residents into the new line and to locate a valve that was not where it was indicated to be located which involved digging up grass covered stone driveways. Darby did not have a purchase order for this work and will need to open a new one for this change order. Bartley moved to approve the change order and allow Darby to open a purchase order for the difference and Knipp seconded, six yeas, motion carried.
2nd Read of Renewable Energy Ordinance: Welch had a family health emergency today and could not be here but he authorized the Mayor to present the second reading in his absence. Mayor Miller stated the County Commissioners are close to a decision on a ruling to limit any new solar fields in the County and it is still unclear if Senate Bill 52 allows Villages the same ability as Counties and Townships so he feels the Village should proceed with self-rule and pass this Ordinance. Members of the public voiced their concerns about how solar might affect the health of the residents and the plummeting of property values in areas that have allowed solar. The residents in the Cardinal Lane area and Grove Street area presented petitions asking the Village to veto any solar fields within the village corporation. Varner made a motion to pass the second reading of the Ordinance and Bartley seconded the motion. Four yeas and two abstains with the abstains counted with the majority, motion carried.
Leak Reduction Request: Prowant presented a letter from a resident at 508 N. Main that had a substantial leak that has been repaired. They are asking for a one-time reduction to an average bill. Armey made a motion to approve and Bartley seconded, six yeas, motion carried.
OPWC Projects: New projects are due in August for consideration. Mayor Miller would like to put in for a grant for the Lakeland Project again. He will have more information next meeting.
Ballistic Vests: Police Chief Hardy displayed the two new ballistic vests that he received with grant money.4
Clean-Up Day: There will be a second clean up day on Thursday, July 27 & part day on the 28. This will be a manned event and proof of residence will have to be provided. It will be held at the Water Plant.
ODOT: ODOT is jetting on Main Street and our two seasonal workers are helping with traffic control. Hopefully, this will help with some of the water issues we have had during times of heavy rain.
The next meeting will be July 25, 2023.
Bartley made a motion to adjourn with no further business; Armey seconded it. Six yeas. Meeting adjourned.
