Mount Vernon News

FREDERICKTOWN — Fredericktown Village Council had a busy night Monday, passing two resolutions and planning for several more.

Councilman Alan Kintner told council that the Bicentennial Committee met in January to tie up loose ends. Kintner said the committee donated $1,500 to the Tomato Show Board. The committee said it felt the bell auction at the bicentennial may have meant less money raised by the Tomato Show Board because its plate auction was held at the same time.

Kintner said the $3,000 that remains in the bicentennial fund will be used to create a media item of some kind to commemorate the events of last year. He said the committee has many pictures and extensive video of the events.

“We’d like to turn that into something useful,” Kintner said.

He said that CDs and DVDs and possibly a book were all ideas that the committee had discussed.

“We need to do something to at least archive it,” Kintner said.

He asked council to consider a resolution honoring the Bicentennial Committee for its hard work, and said Tom Updike of Foote Foundry should also be mentioned because he donated so much of his time to pour the bells for the celebration.

Council approved the appointment of Mary Lou Hannan to the Regional Income Tax Agency. Pat Stelzer was appointed as the alternate delegate to the agency.

Fiscal Officer Pat Stelzer said she needs a written copy of the village’s policy regarding requests for public documents. Because the village has not officially put a policy on paper, Village Solicitor Todd Drown said he would need to draft an official written policy. The policy will remain 5 cents a page for copies of public documents.

Resolution 2008-3, creating a law enforcement assistance fund, was passed. Drown explained to council beforehand that a special fund had to be created in order to be able to apply for state grants to pay for continuing education for police officers.

Village Administrator Gary Gallogly told council that an additional $60,000 was needed for re-engineering headworks at the sewer plant. He explained that the money would not be added to the loan; rather, it would be taken from the contingency fund. Gallogly said the re-engineering would save money in the long run. Resolution 2008-4 passed, allowing the use of the extra money.

Gallogly told council about a 3.02 acre parcel of land on the west side of Ohio 13 available for $60,000. Another 3/4 acre parcel is available for $50,000. Council is looking at properties suitable for future construction of a water tower. Gallogly said the town would need two water towers in the next 15 years.

“We’ve got to have that infrastructure in place,” Mayor Roger Reed said.

“We need to move on them,” Council President Dave Glass said. “We’ve been talking about this for six or seven years.”

Gallogly said protective posts will be installed around the Webb C. Ball clock that stands in front of the municipal building. He said gravel around the clock complicated the installation of posts.

The village still has not taken delivery on its new snow plow truck, which is months overdue. Gallogly said the truck has been expected since last fall, and that Newell Equipment in Galion has not made good on any of its delivery promises.

“We’ll not work with them again,” Reed said.

Council discussed a request by Deb Burgholder of Designs by Deb to pay plumbing and cleaning bills that resulted from a clogged sewer line. Gallogly said he had not been notified until Jan. 10.

“I don’t see why we should pay for a situation we were not aware of,” he said.

Bills from March and November 2007 for plumbing work to unclog the line, and cleaning bills to clean up after the overflow in the basement, were not approved for payment.

“I can’t see any reason in the world for paying that,” Gallogly said.

The cleaning bill from January was approved, but the plumbing bill was not.

Gallogly said that when the village was contacted, village officials brought their camera to see video pictures inside the pipes. Roots were discovered to be the problem and were removed with an auger. Gallogly said he corrected the problem as soon as it was brought to his attention, and he felt paying the rest of the bills was unnecessary.

Reed requested that council adjourn into executive session to discuss a contract and possible litigation. No action was taken.