President of Council
The governmental body and those in
attendance recited the pledge of allegiance.
Mr. Knox gave the invocation.
Mr. Knox took roll call. Present were Council members
The minutes of
COMMITTEE AND OFFICIAL REPORTS
Civil Service Commission - no report
Rules and Laws - no report
Public Relations - no report
Public Health, Safety & Welfare - no report
Public Utilities - no report
Capital Improvements – Mr. Danbury stated the traffic has
been moved to the temporary roadway for the CSX construction. There have been a few problems with the Fire
Department toilet room/shower renovation, mainly with the slab floor and
existing metal wall studs. They are finally
finishing this project. Plans for Phase
II of the streetscape program will be submitted in October. Construction should begin late summer.
Finance Committee - no report
Planning Commission – Mr. Galster reported the Kemper Pond
signage package for IHOP and the retail development was approved. A proposed ground sign for TGI Friday’s was
also on the agenda. They had wanted to
take down a 36 inch tree in order to improve their visibility. We suggested that they leave the tree, plant
the 36 inches of trees somewhere else on the lot and we would look at putting
the monument sign on SR 747. Their sign was approved. Approval of an extension of a storage trailer
at the Springdale Hotel was approved until
Board of Zoning Appeals - no report
Board of Health – Ms. Pollitt stated there were eighteen
participants for the mammogram van at the Community Center. New food service fees were proposed. The Public Health Infrastructure Grant has
been increased by $2,288 from last year.
There has been great success with the ServSafe classes and restaurants
are requesting on-site training. The
Health Department is looking to do a
Veteran’s Memorial Committee - no report
O-K-I - no report
Mayor’s Report – Mayor Webster read a proclamation for Fire
Prevention Week.
Clerk of Council/Finance Director – Mr. Knox stated one of
the reasons we requested an increase in taxes in the City was to cover projects
that we could clearly see were not going to be funded under the previous amount
we were receiving. The biggest program
was the street program and it is vital to the City. The funds that will be received in the tax
increase will not be received until mid October at the earliest. Therefore, we are going to borrow the
money. Seasongood and Mayer said they
would purchase the $1.6 million note with one-year maturity rate with an
interest rate of between 1.85% and 2.40%.
I wanted to bring it up now so that the whole Council could hear about
it. We would like to have legislation at
the next meeting.
Mr. Danbury asked could we do something about the Community
Center loan?
Mayor Webster responded that bond is not callable. We are locked in for the duration.
Administrator’s Report – Mr. Osborn reported there was a
public meeting held August 12 where ODOT and a consulting firm made a
presentation on sound walls to the people invited. All those people live within 500 feet of the
highway. I received a call from Hans
Gendl with ODOT indicating that the results are back on the survey. They only received forty-three
responses. As a result Mr. Gendl wanted
to solicit the City’s position on whether or not to construct these walls. I asked if this could be a topic of
discussion for the October 6 meeting and I would get back to him on October
7. Since then we have received another
letter indicating that ODOT is soliciting the same residents that it solicited
in August and giving them another chance to vote.
Mayor Webster said we need to hear from our residents on how they feel about these sound walls. Initially we were told that only these people
who get to vote have a say in it. The
information Mr. Osborn has received says they are 80-20 in favor of it.
Mrs. McNear said I attended the meeting. When you are looking at the presentation and
they showed the decibel reading, they went from 90 to 4. That doesn’t mean that’s where it’s going. It means it is going down 4 decibels from 90. For millions of dollars it only goes down 4 decibels. I thought that was very misleading.
Mayor Webster said I think it’s important that you touched
on the cost. We as
Mr. Galster stated the original letter that went out also
included the survey for the residents to mail back in. You didn’t have to attend the meeting the
first time to have voted. There is a
section heading into
Mr. Danbury said when we have applicants coming into BZA the
variance goes with the land, not the person.
I think it’s ridiculous that people who may not be living here in the
springtime could possibly be deciding what it would be like. It really doesn’t decrease the noise. It just spreads out the noise level.
Mr. Galster said the people who are notified are the people
most affected by the noise on the highway.
There have been advances in the walls.
They are sound absorbing walls. They don’t have gaps anymore. Not that I’m speaking in favor of, but there
have been major improvements. They
don’t reflect back into second or third row houses.
Mr. Wilson said it appears they are experimenting with
design and composition to see what will work.
I go along with the Mayor and say let’s have a public meeting including
those more than 500 feet away who would be adversely affected. I think that would be more representative
than just a small group of individuals who bought their property knowing that
that highway was there and that noise was there and are still living in that
area.
Mrs. McNear responded I think that is a good idea but ODOT
is setting up the rules of deciding whether we get the rules or not.
Ms. Pollitt stated I have an acquaintance that lives near
those walls in
Mr. Vanover said if they want to do something about noise on
the interstate, crack down on the truck drivers with this Jake braking. In the first wave, when we had our meeting
here, they wouldn’t give us trees. One
of the first things they did was plant trees, and they are planning vines. It seems we were in a more correct ballpark
back then than they are now.
Mr. Squires said I got the distinct feeling when I left the
meeting that our residents did not want the walls and they would not be
built. We need to get as many people
here as we can. It’s very important to
Mr. Osborn said I don’t think ODOT is pushing this
project. I don’t think they are going to
try to force it on us. They are only
doing this because it is mandated by the federal government. I
think if the public doesn’t want these walls it won’t happen. I think if there is very little public input
and the cities don’t want them, it won’t happen. I think we have to take the time to put that
point across to ODOT so they have some documentation they can take back to the
federal government as to why there are no sound barriers. In the letter that was sent out and in the
presentation we saw, there were actually three choices: build a noise barrier,
do not build a noise barrier, or prefer vegetation to be planted in lieu of the
noise barrier. (This option would not
function as noise abatement.) If they
feel compelled to do something, why don’t we have them put in more greenery
along the expressway. I would think we
would get a fair shake from ODOT on this.
Mr. Galster said it was my understanding from the meeting
that if 80% of the people who are affected according to the federal mandate
wanted it and the City didn’t, that the City would not be able to stop them
from doing it.
Mr. Osborn responded if only forty-three people voted on it
out of thousands, what kind of mandate is that.
Once we know the numbers after the 30th, there’s no public
input being generated despite their efforts.
Then I think the elected officials of the jurisdictions impacted would
carry significant weight.
Mayor Webster stated I think we should have our solicitor
prepare a resolution of objection, in case we want to object to this, we have a
resolution in hand.
Mr. Danbury said there is a high density of people in the
Knolls Condos and I know a lot of people said it is a problem, but historically
a lot of people don’t live in condos longer than five or ten years. I think it would be a shame that a few could
make the decision for everybody.
Mr. Galster said a few of my neighbors can’t have
conversations in their back yards. They
back up to the interstate. They can’t
sleep at night with their windows open.
I understand their concern. We’re
adding additional lanes to I-275. Traffic
is routing around I-275. There’s more
noise than there ever was so I understand.
Mr. Osborn continued we have been very successful in
soliciting applications for the economic development director’s job. We had 38-39 applications. We have made a tentative offer and the person
has accepted pending a background check and physical examination. The target start date is September 27th.
Law Director’s Report - no report
Engineer’s Report - no
report
COMMUNICATIONS
Letter from nurse at
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - none
ORDINANCE NO. 42-2004 “ESTABLISHING MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR ALL
FULL-TIME CITY EMPLOYEES NOT IN A BARGAINING UNIT, ESTABLISHING A POLICY OF
EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY”
Mr. Danbury made a motion to adopt and Ms. Pollitt
seconded.
Ordinance 42-2004 passed with seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE NO. 43-2004 “AUTHORIZING AN
INCREASE IN COMPENSATION BY ˝% TO ALL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE POSITIONS NOT IN A
BARGAINING UNIT AND FOR ALL PART-TIME FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY”
Mr. Squires made a motion to adopt and Mr. Vanover seconded.
Mayor Webster said we wholeheartedly ask for your support on
this. We think it’s only fair since
every employee in the City started paying another half-percent tax on July 1st,
then to ask them to pay for health insurance is sort of a double dip in a
negative way.
Ordinance 43-2004 passed with seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE NO. 44-2004 “AUTHORIZING
THE MAYOR AND CLERK OF COUNCIL/FINANCE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH
MARKETING DEVELOPMENTS, INC., AND STAN ICHELBAUM FOR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING
SERVICES”
Mr. Vanover made a motion to add the emergency clause and
Mr. Danbury seconded. The motion passed
with seven affirmative votes.
Mr. Danbury made a motion to adopt and Mr. Vanover seconded.
Ordinance 44-2004 passed with seven affirmative votes.
RESOLUTION R21-2004 “APPOINTING TONY BUTRUM AS A MEMBER OF
THE PLANNING COMMISSION SUCCEEDING THE POSITION HELD BY ROBERT APKE”
Mayor Webster announced that Mr. Tony Butrum has agreed to
serve on Planning Commission. He was
born and raised in
Mr. Galster made a motion to adopt and Mr. Vanover seconded.
Resolution R21-2004 passed with seven affirmative votes.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Galster stated that the Planning/BZA training session
was very informative and only two people were unable to attend.
Mr. Galster also stated that the Junior Olympics were also
well attended.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Knox said there was a liquor
license change for The Wine Source.
There were no objections.
MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Board of Zoning Appeals - September 21
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - none
Mr. Danbury made a motion that Council go into executive
session as a meeting of the whole to discuss possible real estate
acquisition. Mr. Galster seconded. The motion passed with seven affirmative
votes.
Council went into executive session at
ORDINANCE
NO. 45-2004 “AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CLERK OF
COUNCIL/FINANCE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT TO PURCHASE WITH BARTON E. FOGEL
AND BARBARA C. FOGEL, FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 11550
SPRINGFIELD PIKE, SPRINGDALE, OHIO 45246, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY”
Mr.
Vanover made a motion to adopt and Mr. Squires seconded.
Ordinance
45-2004 passed with seven affirmative votes.
UPDATE ON LEGISLATION STILL IN DEVELOPMENT - none
RECAP OF LEGISLATIVE ITEMS REQUESTED
$1.6 million note - Oct 6
Objection to sound walls - Oct 6
Council adjourned at
Respectfully
submitted,
Edward F. Knox
Clerk
of Council/Finance Director
Minutes
Approved:
Kathy
McNear, President of Council
__________________________,
2004