Garrettsville – Village officials present at the village council meeting on December 11th were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Fiscal Officer Deb (Glass) Wordell, Mayor Rick Patrick, and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, John Chambers, Jeff Kaiser, Larry Beatty and Tom Collins. Councilperson Chris Knop was absent.
Minutes from the November 13 meeting were reviewed, and approved with an amendment correcting a paragraph referring to Sergeant Keith “Juan“. The spelling of the police sergeant’s name has been corrected to “Whan”. Following approval of the minutes, the bills were paid as presented; revenue, cash balance, and income tax reports were reviewed.
Council was presented with information packets regarding health insurance benefits for 2020. Their agent Debbie thanked council for completing the applications online this year. This allowed her to pull together information more easily for the meeting. Currently, the village is looking at an insurance increase from Medical Mutual totaling 36%, which seems high until you take a look at the cost savings measures Council approved in 2018. In 2018, insurance payments were projected to total $27,847/mo. in 2019; by enrolling in a multi-employee welfare system under COSI, the actual payments totaled $17,170/mo. With the increase, the current projection would total $21,679/mo. for 2020 (which is still lower than 2018). Other insurers were reviewed, with United Healthcare being $29,000 a month, and Anthem being 57% higher than Medical Mutual. The move to Medical Mutual for 2019 was the most beneficial, and continues to offer the most savings to the village. Debbie does not anticipate any major change in the structure of plans until at least 2022. Hardesty asked if it was possible to offer multiple alternatives as a way to allow the village to choose a higher deductible policy (at lower cost), and let village employees choose to purchase better coverage at a lower deductible rate. Debbie confirmed that this is indeed an option and a popular strategy known as a “defined contribution.” This encourages employees to determine for themselves whether they really need a $500 deductible, or if $1,500 deductible would be okay for them. Council was encouraged to review the options and ask questions as the deadline to transition to a new plan is December 31, though approving a plan by the 18th would avoid interruption with insurance cards and the holidays.
Following the insurance presentation, Council moved on to regular business.
Ordinance 2019-38 was approved and enacted on second reading. The ordinance amends sections 301.12, 375.03(a), 505.11(a), 517.01(vv), 549.10(a), 549.11(a) and 949.01(a) of the Village of Garrettsville codified ordinances, and repeals sections 549.01, 549.02, 549.03, 549.04, 549.05, 549.06, 549.07, 549.08, 549.09, 549.12, 549.13, and 549.99 of the Village of Garrettsville codified ordinances related to the ownership, possession, purchase, other acquisition, transport, storage, carrying, sale, other transfer, manufacture, taxation, keeping, and reporting of loss or theft of firearms, their components, and their ammunition. This change comes as the Ohio General Assembly has amended Ohio Revised Code section 9.68, which becomes effective on December 28, 2019, and which on its face removed from Ohio municipalities the right to enact and enforce laws relating to the previously mentioned aspects of firearms.
With the enacting of Ordinance 2019-38, section 301.12 of the Village of Garrettsville’s codified ordinances is amended to read:
301.12 EXPLOSIVES. “Explosives” means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is intended for the purpose of producing an explosion that contains any oxidizing and combustible units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion or by a detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects, or of destroying life or limb. It shall in no instance mean any firearm as defined in ORC §2923.11, part of a firearm, its components, or its ammunition.
Manufactured articles shall not be held to be explosives when the individual units contain explosives in such limited quantities, of such nature or in such packing, that it is impossible to procure a simultaneous or a destructive explosion of such units, to the injury of life, limb or property by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion or by a detonator, such as fixed ammunition for small arms, firecrackers or safety fuse matches.
Section 375.03(a) is amended to read as follows:
375.03 CODE APPLICATION; PROHIBITED OPERATION. (a) The applicable provisions of this Traffic Code shall be applied to the operation of snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all purpose vehicles; except that no snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all purpose vehicle shall be operated as follows:
(1) On any street or highway except for emergency travel only during such time and in such manner as the State or local authority having jurisdiction over such street or highway shall designate, and except as provided in Section 375.04;
(2) Upon any property owned or leased by the Municipality except in areas designated for such purposes;
(3) On any private property, or in any nursery or planting area, without the permission of the owner or other person having the right to possession of the property;
(4) On any land or waters controlled by the State, except at those locations where a sign has been posted permitting such operation;
(5) On tracks or right of way of any operating railroad;
(6) During the time from sunset to sunrise, unless displaying lighted lights as required by Section 375.02.
Section 505.11(a) now reads:
505.11 HUNTING
(a) No person shall hunt, kill or attempt to kill any animal or fowl within the corporate limits of the Municipality by any means other than the lawful use of a firearm as defined in ORC 2923.11 and in compliance with all relevant provisions of state and federal law.
Section 517.01(vv) is amended to read as follows:
517.01 GAMBLING
(vv) “Merchandise prize” means any item of value, but shall not include any of the following:
(1) Cash, gift cards, or any equivalent thereof;
(2) Plays on games of chance, state lottery tickets, bingo, or instant bingo;
(3) Tobacco or alcoholic beverages; or
(4) A redeemable voucher that is redeemable for any of the items listed in subsection (vv)(l), (2) or (3) of this section.
Sections 549.01, 549.02, 549.03, 549.04, 549.05, 549.06, 549.07, 549.08, 549.09, 549.12, 549.13 and 549.99 of the Codified Ordinances of the Village of Garrettsville are repealed.
Section 549.10(a) is amended as follows:
549.10 DISCHARGING FIREARMS
(a) No person shall unlawfully discharge any air gun, rifle, shotgun, revolver, pistol or other firearm within the corporate limits of the Municipality.
Section 549.11(a) is amended as follows:
549.11 THROWING OR SHOOTING MISSILES.
(a) No person shall throw, shoot or propel an arrow, missile, pellet, stone, metal or other similar substance capable of causing physical harm to persons or property, in or on any public place, in or on the property of another, or from any private property into or onto any public place or the property of another. This section does not apply to supervised archery ranges or instruction nor when otherwise lawfully authorized, nor to the lawful use of firearms as defined in ORC §2923.11 nor any component of or ammunition for the same.
Section 949.01(a) is amended as follows:
(a) The unlawful possession, use or discharge of any type of a firearm, or the possession of any knife, switchblade, bow and arrow, air gun, paintball gun, BB-gun, spring-operated gun, slingshot or other offensive weapon within a village park or recreation area is strictly forbidden. The throwing of stones or the use or launching of fireworks or other harmful projectiles within a Village park is forbidden. The term firearm as used in this section shall have the same meaning as in section 2923.11 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Resolution 2019-39 was passed. The resolution expresses the intent of the council of the village of Garrettsville Ohio to dispose of property owned by the village which is no longer needed for public use, where it is obsolete or unfit for the use of which it was originally acquired, by Internet auction for the year 2020. The resolution, made yearly, provides blanket authorization for the village to periodically auction off equipment on eBay. In this particular case it was coupled with ordinance 2019-40 which authorizes the village to conduct an eBay auction lasting 10 days for the sale of the Water Department’s 2004 Ford F150, with VIN # 1FTRF12W04NA56395. There is a starting bid of $1000.00.
Ordinance 2019-41 was approved and enacted. It sets the compensation rates for the employees of the village and the employees of the board of trustees of public affairs, and repeals prior inconsistent ordinances.
Ordinance 2019 –42 was approved and enacted. It appoints Nancy Baldwin as part-time assistant fiscal officer for the village of Garrettsville, and establishes the terms of her employment and a formula for her compensation.
Ordinance 2019 –43 was approved and enacted. The resolution authorizes patrol officer Christopher Dynys of the Garrettsville Police Department to seek an administrative search warrant for the property located at 8135–8141 Windham Street. This resolution was brought to council as the village has become aware that the property located at 8135–8141 Windham Street has undergone significant interior construction modification which may have created a dangerous environment in the case of a fire, or emergency and appears to be in violation of the Ohio Fire Code, Ohio Building Code and/or Ohio Residential Code. Council believes the situation to pose a risk to the safety of the inhabitants, the public, and to the adjacent properties. The search warrant is being pursued as it would enable the Portage County Building department, and Garrettsville-Freedom-Nelson Fire Department to be directed to search and inspect the buildings/structures for the purpose of determining whether there are code violations.
Ordinance 2019-44 was approved and enacted. The ordinance makes a temporary appropriation for the current expenses and other expenditures for the village of Garrettsville during the first quarter of the year ending December 31, 2020. According to Hardesty, it is common to set the budget for the first quarter using the current known rates which are then amended March with the new rates.
Ordinance 2019-45 was approved and enacted. The ordinance amends ordinance 2019 –11 entitled “Annual Appropriation Ordinance“ to make appropriations for the current expenses and expenditures for the village of Garrettsville during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. This ordinance balances out the books as there can be no over-appropriation at year end.
With regular council business out of the way, the floor is open to those in attendance at the meeting.
Mark Holcomb and Mark Bailey from Garrettsville Youth Softball and the Kenny Evans foundation were present to present the village with a second AED device for Hardesty park on Brosius Road.
Police chief Tim Christopher asked counsel to amend the official start date for Jeremiah Poole’s full-time position to read January 5 instead of January 1 to avoid conflicting with pay periods.
Round Table Wrapup
Hardesty announced that due to winter weather the village would not be finishing the sidewalk projects this year. He also shared that he is still working on streetlights. He found that Ohio Edison has alternatives to a straight swap out to LED, including grandfathered rates, pilot programs and replacing lights as they burn out. He also mentioned that there are at least two streets in town with no overhead lighting (Clover Lane, and Meadow run). Patrick suggested that counsel and Garrettsville Police Department look at areas that don’t currently have street lights.
Chambers thanked the emergency services for running their training activity at the schools. Chief Christopher reported that the director of the county Emergency Management Agency spoke highly of their training event. The police are in the planning stages for another event that will include other municipalities.
Patrick thanked the Garrettsville Police Department for running the annual Fill A Cruiser event which collected over 2,000 items for the Nelson Garrettsville community cupboard, and raised $728 for the Garrettsville-Hiram “shop with a cop” program.
Wordell shared that the plan is for the new village website to be live for January 1.
Collins shared that he received a quote for the installation of swings at the park, but with the winter weather, things would have to wait until spring before proceeding.
The meeting was adjourned following the roundtable session.
Want to know more about what goes on in our community? Council meetings are the second Wednesday of the month and start at 7 PM.
