WAUSEON CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, September 15, 2008 at 5:00 P.M.

This meeting of the Wauseon City Council was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Dehnbostel. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence, roll was called by the Clerk of Council. Present were Councilors Mathews, Stiriz, Chamberlin, Huner and Krumm to constitute a quorum for the transaction of City business. Council President Shaw was absent.

APPROVAL OF PRIOR MEETINGS' MINUTES

Councilor Stiriz made a motion and seconded by Councilor Mathews to approve the previous meetings’ minutes.
VOTE: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays – Motion Carries

Committee Reports

Park Board
Councilor Huner reported on the August 19, 2008 Park Board Meeting. The Park Board discussed the financial reports and questioned the size of the electric bills at Biddle Park since there is little or no usage. The City will be contacting Toledo Edison about this. The Board discussed the tennis court project, irrigation progress at Biddle Park, review of the July 4th festivities, pool attendance this year, and maintenance issues and repairs at the shelter houses.
Mayor Dehnbostel said regarding the mention of lights at Biddle Park, there are plans to turn on the lights at Biddle Park to test everything out. I think it will be a pretty awesome sight.
Finance
Councilor Krumm reported on the meeting of September 12, 2008. The committee discussed two matters. The first is a property owner on Third St. who is interested in purchasing a small part of the City owned lot next to the bike path. The committee will continue discussion again at another meeting. Chief Torbet had brought quotes to the committee for a new video monitoring system for the municipal building. The processor is not working in the system right now. We need to replace that and that would be the proper time to upgrade the system for the entire building. The quotes come to over $5,700. We will look at that again a little later in the year.
Personnel
Councilor Mathews reported on the meeting of September 12, 2008. Councilor Mathews said that Council President Shaw brought up to the committee two items for discussion. The first matter was higher insurance co-pays for new hires. Changes like this have been occurring industry wide. Keith Torbet advised the committee that any changes would need to come before the police contract which currently goes to 2009. If there are any proposed changes he would like to know several months ahead of time so he knows where you want them to be at. The committee will continue discussion at a later date.
Councilor Mathews said the second matter we discussed was pay scale for transfers. Job responsibilities vary within different departments and some duties are considered more labor intensive. The committee discussed whether different compensation should be considered. There are situations where some employees are called out to help in another department and this has worked out very well. So there are different situations to consider. There was general discussion but no recommendation.

Department Head Reports

Steve Brown, Regional Planning Director
Mr. Brown said that the Issue II Committee met and reviewed 17 applications submitted to the county. The city received 20 points for the Franklin St. CSO project which was for the 2nd highest project. He gave updates on the Formula II and Housing grant. The paperwork for Wauseon Machine has been finalized.
Marv Wheeler, Fire Chief
Chief Wheeler said that the Fulton County fair went very well. He announced that Brent Kolb was hired as the new Emergency Service Coordinator.
Keith Torbet, Police Chief
Chief Torbet said that we did not receive enough applications for the Citizens Police Academy so that has been cancelled this year. Those that had applied will be contacted for next year. He said we did not get much of an opportunity to try out the T3 electric vehicle at the Chili Cook-Off because of the heavy rains.
Chief Torbet said there is a motion later in this meeting to allocate for Civil Service Testing for the Lieutenant/Sergeant positions due to the vacancy of Lieutenant Bingham.
Dennis Richardson, Public Service Director
Mr. Richardson said that Franklin/Walnut St. CSO elimination project is estimated to cost $400,000 including engineering. If we are successful with the Issue II grant, the grant amount will be in the vicinity of $196,000. We normally appropriate $200,000 for sewer construction every year so this project will fall within our normal budget. Mr. Richardson said that curbs were poured on the west side of Fairway Drive along with some approaches this week. Regarding the new school project he has been working primarily on drainage issues in the vicinity of Glenwood and Oak St., where the new road comes down off of the creek crossing.
Jon Schamp, Director of Finance
Mr. Schamp explained Resolution 2008-15 regarding the tax levies. He said the amount the City will be receiving is $393,413 which has increased from the previous year due to the increase in county valuations.


Stephen Buehrer, Director of Law
Mr. Buehrer had no new reports for this meeting.

FIRST READING OF LEGISLATION OR EMERGENCY

Mayor Dehnbostel read out loud by title the following legislation presented for first reading or emergency:
Resolution 2008-15- Accepting the Amounts and Rates as Determined by the Budget Commission and Authorizing the Necessary Tax Levies and Certifying them to the County Auditor and Declaring an Emergency
Councilor Krumm made a motion and seconded by Councilor Stiriz to suspend the rules requiring three readings for Resolution 2008-15 and an emergency be declared.
Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Motion Carries
Councilor Huner made a motion and seconded by Councilor Chamberlin to place Resolution 2008-15 on final passage whereas an emergency was declared.
Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Resolution 2008-15 Passes and in Effect

SECOND READING OF LEGISLATION

Mayor Dehnbostel read out loud by title the following legislation presented for second reading:

Outside Storage Regulations

Ordinance 2008-12 - Amending Sections 1110.01; 1130.02 and 1130.03 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Wauseon
Councilor Krumm made a motion and seconded by Councilor Mathews to place Ordinance 2008-12 on second reading and that the second reading be passed.
Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Second Reading Passes

THIRD READING OF LEGISLATION

There was no legislation presented for third reading.

NEW BUSINESS

Time Warner, Inc./Fox Toledo
Mayor Dehnbostel said he distributed a copy of a letter from Fox Toledo informing the city that they are in negotiation with Time Warner for continuation of their station on this cable system. The agreement goes to October 2, 2008. He wanted us to know if no agreement can be met then their station will be removed.


Reallocate $2,000 for Civil Service Testing
Councilor Krumm made a motion and seconded by Councilor Huner to authorize the Director of Finance to reallocate $2,000 from the General Fund account entitled Contingencies (101.998.52750) to the General Fund account entitled Civil Service (101.706.52390).
Councilor Chamberlin asked Chief Torbet in filling the vacant Lieutenant position, is there anyway you can generate the basis for Lieutenant? Chief Torbet said the lieutenant is third in command when he is not here. He is also the liaison for the auxiliary. Chief Torbet said through the terms of the union contract, we are required to fill that position. Legally we are bound to fill that position.
Councilor Chamberlin asked if there is a timeframe to fill that position? Chief Torbet said that he has no specific timeframe. Councilor Huner asked for clarification, saying you have to fill the position but once it’s filled, then you had the option to determine if the position is needed? Chief Torbet said he is with the understanding that you can only get rid of a spot while there is someone in the position. Other places have two or three lieutenants or sergeants that work on a shift. He prefers a direct chain of command where there is a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd position chain of command.
Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Motion Carries

APPROVAL OF BILLS

Motion made by Councilor Huner and seconded by Councilor Stiriz to approve and pay the bills as presented. Vote: 5 Yeas - 0 Nays Motion Carries

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mayor Dehnbostel said he would like a motion to enter into Executive Session regarding Pending and Threatening Litigation. He asked for legal counsel and Chief Wheeler to also attend.
Councilor Chamberlin made a motion and seconded by Councilor Mathews to enter into Executive Session regarding Pending and Threatening Litigation at 5:28 p.m. Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Motion Carries
Councilor Stiriz made a motion and seconded by Councilor Mathews to exit out of Executive Session at 5:40 p.m. Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Motion Carries

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before this session of the Wauseon City Council, Mayor Dehnbostel asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilor Stiriz made a motion and seconded by Councilor Mathews to adjourn this meeting at 5:40 p.m. Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Motion Carries