GAMBIER — An apartment complex in violation of village zoning was a major topic of discussion at Tuesday’s Gambier Village Council meeting.
Village solicitor Ken Lane said the complex located on Meadow Lane is in violation of the zoning ordinance requiring owners to keep the exterior conditions of buildings in good order. He said he spoke recently with the owner, Bob Rauzi, who told him of plans to have a contractor fix the gutters, downspouts and roofs. Rauzi also reported the hiring of a manager who resides in the apartment, and who will keep an eye on the buildings.
Lane said Rauzi is aware repairs are long overdue; he said he was unable to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Rauzi over the holidays, but may be able to do so at the end of January.
Mayor Kirk Emmert said he and Rob McDonald, village administrator, have taken pictures of the apartments and plan to present Rauzi with a list of specific maintenance problems that need to be fixed.
Councilman Lee Cubie said there is also a problem of brick siding on the apartment buildings. The siding appears as if it is ready to fall off the buildings in areas, and poses a safety risk.
Lane said Rauzi could be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for violating the village’s zoning ordinance and subject to daily fines for each day the apartments are in violation, but added that a local judge may not hand down such a stiff verdict, asking why village officials failed to resolve the problem with the owner before taking legal action.
McDonald said a neighbor also recently reported trash problems at Rauzi’s apartment complex on Duff Street. Rauzi had the property cleaned up in the spring of 2006 after the Knox County Health Department made a visit and assessed the problem. The neighbor recently said the property has been reverting back to its former state. McDonald said he contacted Rauzi and spoke to him about the problem. The same neighbor called the village administration office Tuesday morning and said a maintenance crew came and cleaned up the property.
The long-discussed and long-planned deer hunt in and around the village was addressed. Council adopted an ordinance stating that council discourages the feeding of all wildlife in the village, with the exception of birds. Emmert said council has to pass the ordinance before the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife will issue the village the deer hunting permits needed.
The mayor said he hopes to get deer bow hunters in the field in January. He and McDonald have recruited the aid of local resident Gordon Laymon, an experienced bow hunter, and plan to verify that any other hunters who volunteer are skilled with a bow. Emmert said the village will not give away deer permits to individuals who cannot prove their skills.
Local resident Richard Baer said the abundance of wildlife is just a part of living in the area of Gambier and doesn’t understand why the village officials see the need to murder deer.
“Approximately 50 years ago, we chose to move into a fairly wooded, rural community, located on a hill, in the center of a farming area,” he said. “I enjoy watching the wildlife.”
Baer said he thinks most of his neighbors enjoy the wildlife as well, but sympathizes with those who do not, as well as those whose flowers and gardens are ravaged by deer.
Council President Tom Stamp said the local deer problem goes beyond the destruction of a few flowers. He said the population is growing out of control and something must be done to control it.
“I sometimes have 12 deer in my yard,” he said. “That was not the case 24 years ago when I moved here. A lot of people in town feel the deer are a nuisance.”
Stamp said the overabundance of deer put local motorists at risk; he had two encounters with deer on the road last year.
Resident Ron Davidson said the deer seek refuge in Gambier because they are being driven out of their habitat in places like Yauger Road and Apple Valley. Resident George Sims said his son was able to protect his garden from deer by surrounding it with a small electric fence.
After much discussion, council voted to adopt the ordinance.
Emmert reported the administration is taking steps to establish its storm water utility and plans to hire a Kenyon student this month to digitize an aerial map of the village to determine the areas of impermeable surfaces.
The mayor said the administration is pleased with the work of Denny Phillips, the new deputy assigned to the village. Phillips has been worked well with Kenyon security and has met with students who have been issued party permits, before the party takes place. He said the deputy’s efforts have reduced the amount of underage drinking, drinking on public property and litter on the roads leading away from party locations.
McDonald said the village water overfill protection system is complete. He recommends testing it in early summer, when demand for water is low and weather is not favorable to water leaks.
He also said village staff have applied brine twice to help prepare village streets for winter weather and make them less icy in the event of snow or ice. It takes about 500 gallons to cover Gambier.
In other business, council:
•Adopted a resolution establishing the village’s membership to the Knox County Regional Planning Commission.
•Scheduled the annual budget committee meeting for Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m.