Present at the Village Council Meeting were Council President Tom Hardesty, Councilpersons John Chambers, Sheri Johnson, Richard Beatty, Mark Brady, Solicitor Michele Stuck, Fiscal Officer Donna Love, and Mayor Rick Patrick.
Sheri Johnson was sworn in for her term on the council. Benjamin Coll was sworn in for his term on the Board of Public Affairs. Deb Wordell was appointed to Garrettsville Village Council and sworn in as a member, filling the seat previously held by Chris Knop. Tom Hardesty was nominated by Johnson and appointed as the President of the Village Council.
The minutes from the December 13, 2023, meeting were approved as presented; financial reports and income tax receipts were reviewed. Hardesty mentioned that income tax revenue is up $105,000 over the prior year. Closing out this portion of the meeting, the bills were accepted for payment in a motion made by Brady.
Council approved the following recommendations from Mayor Patrick for 2024 committee assignments:
Streets and Properties: Hardesty; Parks and Utilities: Beatty; Cemeteries: Johnson; CRA Housing Officer: Deb Wordell; Fire District Rep: Chambers; EMS Rep: Beatty; Portage County Regional Planning: Patrick (alternate Brady); Village Planning Comission & Board of Zoning Appeals: Chris Knop (appointed resident); Income Tax Review Board: Brady
ORD 2023-37: An ordinance setting forth the compensation rates of the employees for the village and the employees of the board of trustees of public affairs, repealing prior inconsistent ordinances, and declaring an emergency (second reading). Language modified to be retroactive to January 1st, 2024. The ordinance passed unanimously at the meeting.
RES 2024-01: A resolution converting the balance of an advance from the general fund #1000 to the cemetery fund #2031 to a permanent transfer (first reading). This is to cover the costs of the two columbariums in Park Cemetery. Patrick requested suspension of the rules to allow passage on the first reading. The resolution was passed and enacted on the first reading.
RES 2024-02: A resolution honoring Chris Knop for his many years of outstanding service to the village of Garrettsville and the community (first reading). Patrick requested suspension of rules to allow passage. The resolution was passed and enacted on the first reading.
RES 2024-03: A resolution expressing the intent of the council to dispose of property owned by the village, which is no longer needed for public use, or is obsolete or unfit for the use for which it was originally acquired, by internet auction for the year 2024 and declaring an emergency (first reading). The resolution was passed and enacted on the first reading following a suspension of the rules.
RES 2024-04: A resolution declaring the 2010 Ford Ranger pickup truck owned by the village of Garrettsville to be no longer needed for municipal purposes, authorizing the mayor to dispose of this equipment by internet auction and declaring an emergency (first reading). This was the Garrettsville Water department’s work truck and has reached the end of its useful life in the village. The resolution passed on the first reading.
Sabrina Christian-Bennett was present to pass out business cards and share a new program called “Coffee with Commissioners” to give residents of Portage County a chance to meet with the commissioners on a one-on-one basis. Stay tuned for updates on when the commissioners will be in Garrettsville for the event.
The week of January 22, the MARCS tower will be constructed on the JAG Campus. Towers in Deerfield and Suffield will follow. The towers are part of an updated network, providing better emergency service communication as well as school communication for the buses in rural communities. Bennett shared that the commissioners paid for the towers out of the county’s general fund for the benefit/safety of all county residents. Once MARCS towers are built, they are turned over to the state of Ohio.
During the round table session Wordell thanked the rest of the council for welcoming her back to council.
Hardesty would like to purchase a used roller for the street department. The Board of Public Affairs authorized paying 1/3 of the price ($18,500). The village would fund the remaining 2/3rds of the purchase. This will come in handy for road patches due to emergency waterline repairs. The last roller owned by the village was purchased in 1898. “Too bad we couldn’t get a few more years out of it,” joked Mayor Patrick. The request was approved unanimously.
Hardesty would like to tackle paving projects on Garfield Drive and Village Green this year. He does not foresee needing a full-depth repair on Village Green as there should be a substantial base. There are also some construction projects coming up on Wheeler Road, so Hardesty would like to do some patchwork where necessary.
The estimated cost for paving this year is anticipated to come in around $240,000 (barring any unforeseen full-depth repairs). Grindings from the projects on Village Drive and Garfield Drive would be used to make repairs to Davis Street.
Stuck informed council it is time to start taking applications for her replacement as village solicitor. She would recommend sending out an email to the Portage County Bar Association to seek applications to Patrick or herself. Council authorized her to send out an email to the Bar Association, and a post will also be made on OML. Applicants will be directed to deliver applications, letters of interest and resumes to Village Hall in person, email them to Tom Hardesty or Rick Patrick, or mail them to the Village.
Mayor Patrick asked Chambers if the fire department performs tornado siren drills. Chambers will find out and report back to council. He also shared that the columbariums and stamped concrete are complete. Landscaping will be completed in the spring in time for the village’s Memorial Day services.
Mayor Patrick also attended the Chamber of Commerce’s board meeting and told council about plans for replacement of the Garrettsville pole banners this year. The Chamber is purchasing the banners, and asked if the village would purchase replacement brackets for the poles as needed. While reviewing the list of personalized bricks for the Buckeye Block Amphitheater at the same meeting, Mayor Patrick noticed that a brick was purchased celebrating the establishment of the Water Department. Patrick asked if Council would be willing to purchase a brick for the Village of Garrettsville. Stuck will prepare legislation for the donation for the February meeting.
The meeting was adjourned following the round table session. The next meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm on Wednesday, February 14th.
