WAUSEON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 5:00 P.M.
　
This meeting of the Wauseon City Council was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Council President Shaw.　 Following the Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence, roll was called by the Clerk of Council.　 Present were Councilor President Shaw, Councilors Chamberlin, Huner, Krumm and Stiriz to constitute a quorum for the transaction of City business. Mayor Dehnbostel and Councilor Mathews was absent.
APPROVAL OF PRIOR MEETINGS’ MINUTES
Councilor Stiriz made a motion and seconded by Councilor Huner to approve the previous meetings’ minutes.
VOTE: 5 Yeas 0 Nays – Motion Carries
Committee Reports
Utility Committee
Councilor Stiriz reported on the committee meeting of May 4, 2009. The committee discussed storm tap fees. The current storm tap fee is $500 plus $35 for inspection. Councilor Stiriz said that homeowners who live in the older section of town may have their storm and sanitary sewers tied together. The committee said they would like to encourage residents to separate their storm and sanitary sewer lines. If they would be willing to separate them, then they would not be charged for the storm tap fee when there is going to be a complete separation taking place. We are recommending waiving the storm tap fee in these situations.
Councilor Stiriz said the committee also discussed a future project to construct a larger tile underneath the railroad by the high school. This is a seven to eight year project. The committee felt this is something that should be started and we should begin researching what we need to do.
Councilor Huner made a motion and seconded by Councilor Chamberlin to waive the storm tap fee ($500.00) for homes built before 2009, in the cases where the storm and sanitary are tied together and where there is going to be a complete separation taking place. The homeowner will still be responsible for labor and materials to come up to the tap and the inspection fee ($35.00).
Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Motion Carries
Building and Grounds Committee
Councilor Huner reported on the Building and Grounds committee meeting held on May 15, 2009. Councilor Huner said that Marc Robinson, Superintendent of Wauseon Exempted Schools, had come to the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 14, 2009, to inform the City that they wish to erect a fence by the property line which is adjacent to the City’s bike path. They had explained to Council that they want to grade and feather the area near the fence. Trees that will be removed will be replaced at that location. If Council did not give their permission they would put in a concrete retaining wall with a fence on top of that to curtail water runoff. The committee said that they had no objections to the school’s proposal to place the fence by the property line.
Councilor Krumm asked if anyone knew if Mr. Robinson had met with the property owners at this location. Councilor Huner said that Mr. Robinson did say he will be meeting with them but she was not certain if that has happened as of yet.
Councilor Stiriz made a motion and seconded by Councilor Krumm to grant permission to the Wauseon Exempted Schools for them to place a fence by the property line adjacent to the bike path for the new track project with the understanding that they will grade and feather the area and that the school will replace trees at this location.
Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Motion Carries
Department Head Reports
Steve Brown, Regional Planning Director
Mr. Brown reported that the Maple St. Sidewalk Project will be bid out next month. There may be a possibility to do some other projects with block grant funds. Mr. Brown also gave updates on other projects pending.
Marv Wheeler, Fire Chief
Chief Wheeler said he submitted the Assistance to Firefighter grant. The Wauseon Firemen’s Association received a $1,000 grant from Wal-Mart. This will go toward the purchase of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for our fire prevention program. The RIT training went very well.
Councilor Huner asked about when the smoke detectors will be distributed? Chief Wheeler said they will be distributed in the fall to the schools.
William McConnell, Sergeant
Sergeant McConnell explained that the Wauseon Police Department will be participating in the "Click it or Ticket" program which starts May 18, 2009 and runs through May 31, 2009 to raise awareness to the use of seatbelts throughout the State of Ohio.
Tom Hall, Code Administrator
Mr. Hall reported on the new house permits for this year. We’ve had three permits this year which is down like everywhere else. He received a notification from the Lender Processing Services that they are holding a free seminar in Cleveland to put people in housing enforcement in touch with people that are the service people for these repossessed houses. This is good information for the agencies that are holding title to these properties. He has started to send out grass letters and have received good compliance from them.
　
Dennis Richardson, Director of Public Service
Mr. Richardson said we are continuing to work on the plans and specifications for the improvements at the Water Reclamation Plant. We have proceeded with the company that is interested in leasing property from the City for the lot we own next to the railroad tracks adjacent to Elm St.
Mr. Richardson said he has instructed the Parks Department to contact the schools about using some of the trees that they will be removing with the track project for use at Dorothy Biddle Park.
Jon Schamp, Director of Finance
Mr. Schamp reported on the gross revenue receipts for year to date. He is working on completing the GAAP report that is due the end of May.
Thomas McWatters III, Assistant Director of Law
Mr. McWatters asked for clarification concerning the recommendations regarding the fence by the property line for the school track project. Tom Hall said that the fence the school plans to place there will be drilled three to four inches from the property line and the code does allow this type of fence to be placed on a property line.
Dennis Richardson added that temporary easements may need to be granted for construction.
FIRST READING OF LEGISLATION OR EMERGENCY
Council President Shaw read out loud by title the following legislation presented for first reading or emergency:
Change Name on Ohio Enterprise Zone Agreement from Lear Corporation to IAC Wauseon, LLC
Resolution 2009-15 – Authorizing the Mayor to Assign and Transfer Lear Corporation’s Rights, Duties, and Obligations Contained in the Ohio Enterprise Zone Agreement between the City and Lear Corporation to IAC Wauseon, LLC
Councilor Krumm made a motion and seconded by Councilor Huner to place Resolution 2009-15 on first reading and that the first reading be passed.
Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays First Reading Passes
Transfer of a Portion of Dorothy Biddle Park to the City
Resolution 2009-16 - Authorizing the Mayor to Accept the Wauseon Rotary Club’s Transfer of Legal Title to a Portion of Dorothy Biddle Park; and Declaring an Emergency
Councilor Huner made a motion and seconded by Councilor Stiriz to suspend the rules requiring three readings and declare an emergency on Resolution 2009-16.
Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Motion Carries
Councilor Krumm made a motion and seconded by Councilor Chamberlin to place Resolution 2009-16 on final passage whereas an emergency was declared.
Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Resolution 2009-16 Passes and is in Effect
SECOND READING OF LEGISLATION
Council President Shaw read out loud by title the following legislation presented for second reading:
Acceptance of Grant Procedure
Resolution 2009-13 – Authorizing the Mayor or his Designee to Make Application for Grant Programs, and to Accept Grant Awards Upon Motion of Council
Councilor Stiriz made a motion and seconded by Councilor Huner to place Resolution 2009-13 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
Waive Storm Tap Fee at 219 W. Leggett St.
Councilor Chamberlin made a motion and seconded by Councilor Stiriz to waive the storm tap fee for 219 W. Leggett St.
Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Motion Carries
Downtown Project
Council President Shaw read out loud a letter addressed to the Mayor and City Council from Charles and Jennifer Bryan. The letter talked about the challenges they faced and their efforts in rebuilding downtown. They conveyed their appreciation and thanked the Mayor and Council for their continued support on this project.
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

ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before this session of the Wauseon City Council, Council President Shaw asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilor Krumm made a motion and seconded by Councilor Chamberlin to adjourn this meeting at 5:25 p.m. Vote: 5 Yeas – 0 Nays Motion Carries