The Village of Hicksville, Ohio

Minutes of Regular Council Meeting

June 4, 2012 at  7:00 p.m.

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, Mick Pocratsky, Ron Beverly, Mike Headley, Ron Jones and Mike Barth;  Clerk/Treasurer, Diane Collins;  Administrator, Kent Miller and Solicitor, Troy Essex. There were 7 visitors present.

Haver moved to approve the May 21, 2012 minutes.  Headley seconded.  All voted yes.

Jones moved to approve two sets of bills.  Barth seconded.  All voted yes.

Water/Sewer/Refuse:   Pocratsky reported a study session was held at 5:30 May 22 on Haver Drive.  He would like Kent Miller to make copies of the DVD’s which show the inside of the Haver Drive sewer lines.  He would like everyone to view them.

Miller reported that Jeff Rumple passed the test for his Class I Wastewater Operators License.  Beverly moved to increase Rumples pay by fifty cents per hour as policy states effective today.  Barth seconded.  All voted yes.  Jones moved to request Rumple continue to study and test towards obtaining a Class II Operator’s License.  Headley seconded.  All voted yes. 

Cable TV Committee:  Minutes from the April and May meetings were in the council packets.

Police/Fire/EMS Committee:  Headley called a meeting for June 6 at 5 p.m.

Administrator’s Report:    Miller reminded council that fluorescent lighting is being phased out.  RCAP has offered to do a study to report the cost to swap all the fluorescent lighting out with T8’s or T4’s.  Their fee would be $3500.  AEP is offering grants to pay for some of the expense to switch.  The AEP grant application is due in November.  Beverly moved to hire RCAP for the study.  Pocratsky seconded.  Since some council members did not read the RCAP or AEP information Mark Haver suggested Council wait a couple weeks to give those council members time to read it before voting. .

Miscellaneous: 

Water Superintendent, Jessica Elson would like to replace 60 meters downtown with radio read meters. Mayor Haver reported that he went with Water Superintendent, Jessi Elson while she read some meters last week.  They covered the downtown area, out towards the school, Columbus and Rock Streets.  He stated it took a total of two hours however he does foresee some problems.    Reading some meters required her to go inside the buildings while the businesses were open.  You need to actually get inside some of the buildings, crawl in closets, and use outside stairs in bad weather just to name a couple problems.  Headley suggested a little wire just be run to a more convenient place.  Elson pointed out that running a little wire isn’t the answer. She did not want to go with old technology that is not there.  Elson stated the cost of the old remote meters is going up as there is not much stock left and the companies can sell them for whatever they want. They are not always accurate. 

Elson stated previously she heard there was a concern that the water employees would not be getting into the neighborhoods any more.  The garbage truck would still be in the neighborhoods weekly. 

Elson listed a few advantages as:  we would be taking out the estimate issues; leaks would be caught sooner; we wouldn’t have to come in after hours to read certain meters because that is the only time residents are home nor return to businesses that aren’t open; using radio reads would reduce time spent reading meters; and she would like to get the best bang for our buck and the best technology going forward.

Elson pointed out that with only two employees in the water dept. they need to stick with best practices.  They are not getting things done that should be getting done because there are daily service calls that need tending to at the same time they need to be doing projects.  She stated the two water employees are being asked to do more than has ever been done before.

In some cases the inside meter reading doesn’t match the outside dial reading because the pulse does not always get through to the dial. Elson said the ones they have already changed out are off  by thousands of gallons. Currently when they take out a dead meter they take the final reading off of the meter and then resident gets this big balloon bill for water actually used but not billed because the reading did not match the dial reading.  Headley disagreed and did not think the resident should pay for the water used because it did not show on the outside dial.  He also feels the meters could be wrong.  Elson disagreed as it would not be fair to everyone else that has to pay for used water.  Elson stated this has been on the table for six weeks and no one asked her any questions.

Resolution 2012-05 to approve the purchase of radio read meters from EJ Prescott was read by caption only for the third reading.  Pocratsky moved to approve.  Jones seconded.  Headley, Beverly & Haver voted no.  Barth, Pocratsky & Jones voted yes.  Mayor Haver voted no.

Ordinance 2012-06 to allow Ohio Gas to maintain a gas distribution system in Hicksville was read by caption only for the second reading.

Essex said he was asked if smoking in the park could be banned.  He stated that it could if we passed legislation but then there would be the enforcement issue.  A lengthy discussion took place.  Barth had some sample “no smoking” signs that could be posted.  Someone said that they heard the problem was coaches smoking in the dugouts and suggested that could be addressed in the Baseball Association contracts. Park Director Val Shull was present and stated the coaches were asked to stop smoking around the children but the coaches did not comply.  Posting signs was discussed as an option but not enforceable without legislation.  It was noted that common sense should dictate to people that they shouldn’t smoke around children.  Mark Haver suggested the park board canvas the park for a couple weeks, find out what the people want and take action accordingly.   Mayor Haver told Val to post signs and then if that doesn’t work she should come back to council and let them know.  “This is a smoke free park” sign was suggested by Essex.

Clerk/Treasurer’s Report:  Collins shared the MYD/YTD Cash Report and Income Tax Report.

Police/Fire/EMS:  Lieutenant, Doug Willis asked council if he could replace himself when he becomes chief and nothing additional.  Headley told him that the committee told him that would be fine.  Willis stated he did not see it noted in the last council minutes and wanted to be sure.  Headley reminded Willis that the Mayor did say he wanted to see the police dept. have an auxiliary.  Headley reiterated to Willis that he would be taking care of his own department.

EMS Chief, Wendy Jenkins was present and informed council that the current EMS class is going very well and moving right along.

Mayor’s Report:    Mayor Haver congratulated the HHS senior class.  He also presented a Black Swamp Safety Council Achievement Award to Kent Miller.  It recognized Miller’s effort in preventing accidents and injuries in the workplace.  The May Court Report were in packets.

Headley moved to adjourn.  Beverly seconded.  All voted yes.

MAYOR  ________________________   CLERK/TREASURER___________________