The Village of Hicksville, Ohio

Minutes of Regular Council Meeting

January 3, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Diane Collins swore in Larry Haver as Mayor for his third term in office.

Mayor Haver swore in newly elected council member Mark Haver and council member Mick Pocratsky who has served council since 1997.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larry Haver.

The Pledge of Allegiance was repeated by all present. 

Present were:, Council members, Mark Haver, Ron Jones, Mick Pocratsky, Mike Barth,  Ron Beverly & Mike Headley;  Solicitor, Troy Essex; Clerk/Treasurer, Diane Collins; and  Administrator, Kent Miller.  There were 10 visitors present.

Jones nominated Headley for council President.  Pocratsky seconded.  Pocratsky moved to close the nominations.  Jones seconded.  Beverly, Haver, Pocratsky, Jones & Barth voted yes to close the nominations.  Headley abstained.  Haver, Pocratsky, Jones & Barth voted yes for Headley to be President of council.  Headley and Beverly abstained. 

Jones moved to approve the December 19 minutes.    Headley seconded.  Beverly, Headley, Pocratsky, Jones & Barth voted yes.  Haver abstained. 

Barth moved to approve the bills list.  Jones seconded.    All voted yes.  

Mayor Haver reported that FWT has purchased the Dietrich building on West High Street.  Jared Orzolek was present to give details.  Orzolek reported FWT is making a $15 million investment and will employ 200 people.  A company from Defiance has been contracted to begin remodeling right a way.  Currently One Stop at Defiance is taking applications but Orzolek hopes to have a job fair in Hicksville in the near future.  FWT will also be taking applications when the offices are remodeled and ready for use.  A Plant Manager has been hired from Nebraska and should be in town later this week.  Headley thanked Mayor Haver for working on the project so hard.  Questions were posed as to who has acquired the Trident building on Defiance Avenue and what activity will be taking place there.  Mayor Haver reported that Dan Glore intends to purchase wrecked vehicles from insurance companies and take them apart to resell the parts.

Board of Zoning Appeals:  A public hearing was held December 28 to consider a request for a conditional use permit at 728 Ogen Street.  The minutes were in the packets.  Two reports were passed out.  One was a historical overview of permits applied for since 1992.  The other report listed the 2011 permit and applications applied for along with fees collected and valuations.

Another public hearing is scheduled for January 5, 2012 at 4 p.m. to consider a request for lot splits on East Smith Street by the Hicksville Schools. 

Water/Sewer/Refuse:   Pocratsky reported the committee needs to meet soon.  There are some primary items to discuss.  Presently the EPA is insisting residents get their downspouts out of the sewer system.  We have some legislation passed already but the committee is going to tweak it and add a penalty for not complying.  Miller is waiting to hear from Roberta Acosta (RCAP).  She is going to provide a list of contractors that could do a hydraulics study.  Resident Tom Sholl wanted to know when the Village is going to begin purchasing property to get retention ponds built.  It was noted we need to get engineers in place and consider their recommendations as to how to proceed.  Sholl felt that it  is already known where the ponds need to be.

Sidewalk Committee:  Beverly reported the committee needs to get together following this meeting to set up a meeting date and time.

Mayor Haver filled in empty seats on the Mayor’s Commission for Economic Development and reappointed current members.  The committee had not been active for quite a while.    Members are as follows:  Larry Haver, Troy Essex, Kent Miller, Diane Collins, Mel Fahs and Ron Jones.

Administrator’s Report:    Miller reported the following: 

• Miller asked that WWTP employee Jeff Rumple be taken off probation, increased to a Grade I laborer and his pay increase to $15.12 per hour retroactive to January 1, 2012.  Everyone was agreeable.
• $65,818.80 was received from OWPC on the South Tower project.  We are still waiting to finalize the North Tower project.

Miscellaneous:

Ordinance 2011-13 increasing the bond required prior to curb excavation and road excavation for sewer work was read by caption only for the second reading.  Beverly stated at the last council meeting that he does not like Section 921.01 (e) of the ordinance.  He explained that a toilet flushing would have more force in a four inch pipe vs. a six inch pipe and therefore, keep it cleaned out better.  Miller pointed out that nothing was changed since the first reading.  Council stated they want to take Beverly’s advice and change the ordinance before the third and final reading.  Essex stated he would make the change to read a 4” lateral is acceptable.

Ordinance 2012-01 creating a part-time EMT position was read by caption only for the first reading.  Beverly moved to suspend the rules.  Headley seconded.  Beverly, Headley, Pocratsky, Jones & Barth voted yes.   Haver abstained.  Ordinance 2012 was read by caption only for the second and third readings.  Beverly moved to approve.  Headley seconded.  Beverly, Headley, Pocratsky, Jones & Barth voted yes.   Haver abstained. 

Clerk’s Report:  Collins passed out a MTD/YTD Income Tax report which showed we collected 9% more taxes in 2011 than 2010; a MYD/YTD Cash report for year end; and a copy of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Dependents Fund Certificate of Annual Election of Board Members report that will be sent in.   

Mayor’s Report:    Mayor Haver passed out the new 2012 committee list and MTD/YTD Mayor’s Court Report. 

Jones moved to adjourn.  Headley seconded.  All voted yes.  (7:20 p.m.)

MAYOR  ________________________        CLERK/TREASURER  _____________________

                        Larry Haver                                                                              Diane Collins