GAMBIER — The Gambier Village Council met Thursday evening in a meeting that had been rescheduled in order to pass its 2010 budget before the July 10 deadline.
A 15-minute budget meeting was held before the regular session to give council members a chance to review and ask any questions they had about the budget. Aside from a few minor questions regarding numbers, the session ended and the regular meeting began.
The budget was the main order of business for the meeting. Clerk/Treasurer Mary Samuell told council there were few really large items on the budget and relatively few changes from the 2009 document. She did note there would be less carry over from the 2009 budget than in previous years.
Mayor Kirk Emmert noted there were several projects included in the budget for consideration or full funding. These were replacement of 1,800 feet of water main on Meadow Lane; reconditioning or replacement of pumps and motors at the waste water plant, a significant start on implementation of the village’s parks plan, addressing the storm water overflow on Acland Street between Brooklyn Street and Scott Lane, replacement of the storm water pipe on the south side of Brooklyn Street between Acland Street and Gaskin Avenue and continued construction of sidewalks. The 2010 budget was approved by council.
One ordinance prohibiting the installation or use of outdoor wood furnaces was given a third reading by title only. The reading was approved and the ordinance was passed by council.
A resolution authorizing the village administrator to enter into a contract with C.F. Bird and R.J. Bull Inc. for engineering services for main water line replacement along Meadow Lane was approved by council. These services were for engineering plans.
In the mayor’s report, Emmert touched on the financial problems of the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County.
“Because of the reduced funding in the state budget,” he said, “the Mount Vernon library is considering limiting our Gambier library’s operation to just one day a week.”
Discussion centered on ways for the village to help make it possible for the branch to stay open at least two or maybe three days a week. The role of volunteers to keep the branch open so it could offer services other than the lending of material was the main focus of this discussion. Council members decided to watch the situation and to propose the use of volunteers to the library should the situation require it.
Village Administrator Suzanne Hopkins gave the administrator’s report. She reported village residents will see an increase in their next water and sewer bill. Water rates will increase by 3 percent, matching the rate increase the village got from Mount Vernon which provides water for Gambier. Sewer rates will increase 2 percent just barely matching the increases in the cost of operating the sewer system.
Hopkins also reported the village is in the process of repairing a fire hydrant by Gund Commons which had been damaged about a year ago by a village maintenance truck.
There will also be a warranty inspection of the Gambier water tower sometime in July. This is an external inspection that will not require emptying the tank.
In other business:
•Approved the expenditure of $17,492.31 to Small’s Asphalt Paving Inc. for paving on North Acland Street.
•Approved the expenditure of $4,292 for the replacement of heating equipment at the Gambier maintenance barn.
•Appointed Robert Tier and Mark Ramser to the Income Tax Appeal Board.
•Tom Stamp of the zoning commission reported Kenyon will begin tearing down Ernst Center on or about July 13. The initial work will be completed by the end of August.
Stamp also noted the big pile of dirt from construction of the Kenyon Athletic Center will be removed.
