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00:00Good evening, everyone. Welcome tonight. This is our 8th regular session for the year 2025.
00:11Let's get a roll call to get us going.
00:13Joel Alhouser. Present.
00:15Steve Fox Broker. Present. David Beasley. Present.
00:18Steve Walter. Present. Chad Miller. Present.
00:21Craig Wren. Present. Omni Tudor. Present.
00:24Robin Jones. Here.
00:25John Schwimmer. Present.
00:26Lynn Webb. Here.
00:27Cindy Merton. Here.
00:30Thanks, Emma.
00:31I'd like to ask all of you to please stand in my prayer and in the Pledge of Allegiance.
00:39We gather today to seek wisdom and understanding as we make decisions for our residents, businesses, and visitors.
00:48May we work together with respect and compassion for our community, striving for the common good.
00:54Amen.
00:54Amen.
00:55I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands,
01:04one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
01:10All right.
01:19Well, again, good evening, everyone.
01:21Welcome to our meeting tonight.
01:25Not too bad on an agenda, so we'll get right at it.
01:28Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes as they were provided to you all?
01:36All right.
01:37Hearing none, I'll stand approved and submit.
01:39We do have, next section, citizens requesting time to speak.
01:47We do have a gentleman on the agenda tonight, Anthony Taylor.
01:53If you want to come forward and again, state your name.
01:59All right, my name is Anthony Taylor.
02:02Let me get my notes here.
02:05All right, so this is all last year.
02:08I bought a house in January, the end of January 2024.
02:13We weren't doing much work to it.
02:15We were putting a tenant in it in March.
02:18So all utilities were shut off.
02:20I went in like a week before the tenant was moving in to find a flood in the house.
02:29So obviously I shut the water off.
02:31I called the water company and I asked, like, why is the water on?
02:35And it turns out that they shut the wrong water off.
02:39I have the work orders here for you that they shut the water off to the wrong house.
02:45So 32,000, from my understanding, 32,000 gallons of water dumped into my house.
02:49That's three four-foot swimming pools, 20-foot wide, just for reference, right?
02:56So I met with, we filled out a reimbursement form, which the safety service director put into insurance.
03:04Their insurance denied it because they said my winterization of the house wasn't done properly.
03:10And I can agree with it to an extent because if the water was shut off, it would have been done properly.
03:15But they said that my, it was a boiler system and it had floor radiators.
03:22And they said I didn't drain the boiler.
03:25The boiler has 10 gallons in it and it's in the basement.
03:28If you know anything about water, it does not flow up without help.
03:32And more than 30 gallons in the whole system, right?
03:37That's not going to cause the damage.
03:39So after the insurance denied it, I met with John Schwimmer, the mayor, and the safety service director.
03:46And I got the legal answer to why the city wasn't going to pay.
03:52It's because the city is not held accountable for any wrongdoing.
03:58And that's just how it is.
03:59I could sue, but it's going to cost me a lot of money and I would never get enough back to make it work.
04:07So I'm pretty much here to put this on the table to you because it's my last option.
04:15And I think it's the right thing to do.
04:18A couple things for reference.
04:19I want to make sure that I said here, from my understanding as well, this is all just things that I was told.
04:32I was told this by people that work at the water company, that a policy has been changed because of this incident
04:38where no shutoffs or turn-ons are done without somebody home to sign off on them.
04:44So that pretty much admits that something happened and something needed to change, right?
04:50So I am 100% an innocent bystander in this event.
04:55I'm a tax-paying citizen and I have been harmed by the city's negligence.
05:00And I hope, I'm just putting it in your court, that you do the right thing and pay for the damages to my house.
05:08There was a lot of damage.
05:09I've had estimates from anywhere from $8,000 to $35,000 to get it fixed.
05:15So far, I've filed my own insurance claim.
05:17My water, my insurance only paid out, I think, $2,800.
05:23So I have so far spent $2,000 on repairs and it is surface level.
05:28But 32,000 gallons of water soaks a lot of things.
05:32There is, at this point, structural damage to the plates, to the rim, the joists, everything.
05:40Mortar out of my foundation.
05:43A lot of damage.
05:44And I just did surface level because people live there and I don't rent bad houses.
05:49So that's pretty much all I have to say.
05:54Thank you for listening.
05:56Can I have this back, please?
05:58Anyone have a question?
06:00Robin, would you like it?
06:01Okay, when you're coming out.
06:03Anyone have a question?
06:04I've got it all, too.
06:05Okay.
06:06He just wants that back when we're done.
06:08Okay.
06:13My address is 501 West Franklin.
06:15Okay, thank you.
06:16And I guess I could discuss the reason that my name isn't on there is because I never put
06:21the water to the previous owner.
06:24He shut the water on.
06:25I never put it in my name.
06:26He was putting it in there.
06:27So you had the water shut off or the previous tenant had the water shut off?
06:32If there's going to be some rest, you can come up and get on the mic.
06:36I'm just trying to get some understanding.
06:39So when we bought the house, they turned off all the utilities.
06:43I didn't turn them on because we were putting a tenant in there and the tenant puts them
06:46in their name.
06:48That's how that worked back then.
06:50So they shut it off and I also called to have it shut off.
06:54But since they already did it, it didn't matter.
06:56But the water department guy that I talked to also told me that the water was supposed
07:02to be off since November for a non-payment.
07:05So even when I did my walkthrough in mid-January to look at the house, the water was on.
07:16And he said it wasn't even supposed to be on then.
07:18So none of that do I know the answer to why the water was on, especially when we called
07:23to have it shut off.
07:27So it was still on in January when you walked through, hon?
07:30Correct.
07:30Is that right?
07:30Okay.
07:32All right.
07:33Okay.
07:33I thought you just said it was off.
07:36So you requested it?
07:38There were no leaks when you walked through in January, let's put it that way.
07:41The water was on, but it wasn't flooded.
07:43Right.
07:44The water was on, yeah.
07:45And then after I purchased it, I was actively working in that house for probably three weeks.
07:49So I think the water was probably only running into the house for a week, but that's a long
07:57time.
07:59So your walkthrough was in January.
08:00Your work order was for February 24th.
08:03So there's like at least a month between...
08:0512th.
08:06Oh, I'm sorry.
08:0724th.
08:08And the closing date was January 29th, like when I got possession.
08:11And then they were asking if I was putting the water in my name and I said no.
08:16So that's when they called to have the water shut off.
08:19But at that time, I was in the house where it wasn't leaking.
08:23So what happened was one of the radiators right in the kitchen busted because it was
08:28cold.
08:29And that's where all the water dumped out.
08:31So you didn't have any heat on in the house either?
08:38Nope.
08:39Okay.
08:42So if the heat would have been on in the house, would the radiator have busted?
08:45Probably not.
08:47But I see where your head's going.
08:50But 32,000 gallons wouldn't have pumped into the house regardless if the heat was...
08:54If the heat was off and the water was off and that pipe busted, maybe 30 gallons.
09:01So the problem is that the water was on.
09:04Okay.
09:04The water was supposed to be turned off.
09:06Correct.
09:09And since, you know, I made the point that water does not flow up, the boiler itself is
09:14in the basement.
09:15The only thing that was above that point that would drain down was one radiator which might
09:19hold five gallons.
09:22So, I guess, Cindy, did we neglect to turn the water off or did we turn somebody else's
09:28the wrong address off?
09:29From what I understand, we turned somebody else's off.
09:33That's why we implemented the process of somebody has to sign, whether it's turning on or turning
09:40off, to verify that it is on and everything's okay or that it is actually off.
09:46I guess, I guess, at that point, why didn't we kind of recognize, well, we turned off the
09:50wrong person.
09:51We should have turned this off.
09:51There was nobody there to verify whether or not it was on or not.
09:56So, the house we turned off, nobody was there either, I'm taking it.
10:00Actually, I think, if I remember right, they went down to where this person moved into,
10:05Dustin Watkins, which is on someplace else.
10:10It's a total mix-up.
10:13It was a total mix-up.
10:14I mean, so, obviously, we didn't correct it and do the right address once we realized
10:22we got the wrong address.
10:24That's my question, I guess.
10:26I don't know that.
10:27It was 24?
10:28I mean, obviously, if it wasn't turned off, we must not have corrected it, I guess, is
10:34my point.
10:35Well, they assumed it was off.
10:38He had been shut off.
10:40This address had been shut off.
10:41So, when he called in...
10:44So, you're saying they assumed it was off from, like, November of...
10:46Yes, whenever they turned off 501, Wes Franklin.
10:50Cindy, where did the gallons number come from?
11:02Was our meter showing that?
11:06Angelica's got...
11:07Yeah, that's what Angelica said.
11:09So, with that number of gallons, she's got a reimbursement form of $162.36, which we never
11:17processed.
11:18And then, if I remember correctly, our insurance company, when we turned it in to them, they
11:23said that they would pay your deductible.
11:25Is that correct?
11:27From my memory, I think they offered me $500.
11:32And I just...
11:34And I didn't take it.
11:35A standard insurance procedure under sovereign immunity would require the responsible government
11:41party to pay the deductible, whatever that is.
11:44Just from my personal insurance experience.
11:50I...
11:50That's an insurance thing.
11:52That's not city.
11:53That's...
11:53And, you know, another thing that is unfortunate for me about this, I had to file an insurance
11:58claim, and I own multiple properties.
12:01So, now my insurance across the boards goes up, because now I am a higher risk.
12:08Yeah, and, you know, that's unfortunate for me.
12:12John, I mean, I guess I'd like to hear you kind of weigh in on, like, the legalities of
12:21it.
12:21If we acknowledge we turned off the wrong address, I mean, we're, in essence, admitting
12:27fault, right?
12:27I mean, we're, well, I think everyone's, Cindy, correct me if I'm wrong, but, you know, it
12:34was just an error with the mistake, and it resulted.
12:38So, the question is, you have sovereign immunity.
12:42It's a statute, 2711, of the revised code, you know, basically states the city's not liable
12:50for that, and, you know, that's what Dave was mentioning, the immunity.
12:55So, it's just a matter of, it doesn't mean we can't pay it, but it means, you know, you
13:03sue in court, and it's probably not going to go your direction, unless there's some exemption.
13:11So, legally, we would not have to pay, but, yes, you know, there's legalities.
13:19And I was thinking through, is this something we want to talk about?
13:23So, you know, that's the discussion.
13:26You know, you, we obviously can't appropriate and pay for the loss, but, again, it wouldn't
13:33be something we would probably be forced to do, something we'd have to voluntarily do,
13:38and then you just always got to be...
13:40And then you establish precedent for any subsequent sovereign immunity-type claims.
13:47Right, yes.
13:48So, that's the legality, you know.
13:52My feeling is, again, if it goes to court, it would probably be thrown out, but that's
13:58my opinion, and I don't want to tell you something because...
14:01No, I talked to several lawyers, and they told me that chasing bad money was good, and
14:04I don't want to.
14:06And I'm not trying to disrespect you or anything.
14:09I'm just saying that's the way I see the legal analysis.
14:13It's a business decision and also precedent on, you know, what we would want to do.
14:21So, I don't know if you want to think about this or talk about it or have a, you know, discussion,
14:28but that's the analysis, in my opinion.
14:33I would make a suggestion, since this was brought before council, that council members make them refresh
14:43their memory or read that section of the Ohio Revised Code.
14:46So, John can provide, he'll probably be able to do it here in just a minute, but if not, by email,
14:53he can provide us with the exact...
14:55If you want to write this down, it's 2744.01 of the Ohio Revised Code.
15:07277...
15:082744.01.
15:12And by reading that section, we will also probably gain insight as to why that is in there.
15:21It's a very broad, it applies to, you know, the water, the sewer, our police, our fire, you know,
15:27and we've had issues...
15:29Even our street department operating snow plows, et cetera, et cetera.
15:33Right.
15:33It's very broad.
15:34Mm-hmm.
15:36And very frustrating when you're on the consumer side.
15:40Okay.
15:40So, is that fair enough for all council members, yourself, if...
15:52Well, David, do you have another question?
15:54I do.
15:54The only thing I was going to suggest to Anthony, for our consideration, if you could firm up the number,
16:02you've got from 8 to 35.
16:05Yeah.
16:05Right, yeah.
16:05I think that all depends on who the contractor is.
16:12Yeah, I mean, I really don't know where to go from here, so...
16:18People don't like to go out and just hand out free quotes.
16:21Okay, good.
16:23And I really don't know what I'm, like, monetarily looking for out of this.
16:27Because, like, I spoke to Mr. Schwimmer, and I understand I have no leg to stand on legally.
16:35It's just very frustrating, and I've sat on it for a year, but I just can't let it go.
16:42But I just can't.
16:43So I don't understand...
16:46I don't know exactly a number in my mind where I'm, like, this will make me whole or anything like that.
16:54If, like, just getting it fixed would be good with me, and I don't know how much that exactly is going to cost.
17:00So you haven't fixed anything, it's...
17:07I have.
17:07I've spent $2,000 on ripping out the subfloor, replacing the radiators in that space because they busted.
17:17And you say you received the $500?
17:19I did not.
17:20I did not take that.
17:21Okay.
17:21I initially turned down my own insurance as well because I was hoping that the city's insurance was going to come through, but then that didn't.
17:33Well, your insurance company would have had the opportunity to subrogate.
17:36Yeah, they were.
17:37Or they had to work together, yeah.
17:40And then I ended up, I think it was six months, and then I ended up going back and getting my insurance.
17:45I spent $2,000 on the subfloor, new flooring, and radiators, and trim in that area.
17:54But, I mean, the...
17:55So you've received zero compensation.
17:58You declined the...
18:00From the city.
18:01I cashed my own insurance company.
18:03I think it was $2,800.
18:05You went back there and received that.
18:06Okay.
18:08Just trying to gather facts.
18:09Yeah, yeah.
18:09But, like I said, that was surface level, so their structural things, like the joists, they were...
18:21I mean, I have a lot of pictures and things like that of soaking wet.
18:26The rim boards, the plates, the mortar in my foundation, just all washed away.
18:32Right now, it's fine, but, you know, in the future, that's something that is also going to have to come out of my pocket.
18:41I'm not a slumber out.
18:43I don't let my houses fall apart, so I'm going to have to, you know, address that at some point in the near future.
18:49Okay.
18:53Anthony, what was the number that your insurance company settled on based upon?
19:01Was it a limit to the policy, or was it...
19:02Yeah.
19:02It was a limit to the...
19:04Yeah, I think they did...
19:06I don't want to misquote numbers.
19:09I can get an email that my insurance gave me and send it to you, but it was a...
19:15The policy was limited to, I think, $3,500 minus my $1,000 deductible, so they landed around $25,000, $28,000.
19:23So maybe it was $3,800 and then the $1,000 deductible was $28,000.
19:27Okay.
19:31That would probably be a limit, like, to water damage.
19:33Typically, there is a water backup work, but that's back up through sewers and drains, as opposed to water damage, which is not typically as limited in the policy, but not having seen the policy in the language, I could not quote authoritatively on this particular one.
19:58I have no problem.
19:59I can't afford you a copy.
20:00I can send it.
20:01You can walk it across the alley if you want.
20:04All right.
20:04I'll bring it over.
20:05I'll get one of those burgers you guys are going to ask.
20:10Any other questions?
20:12So, we'll either take this up again in two weeks, or I was going to look and see when the utilities meets again, but we just might as well take it.
20:2214th, I believe.
20:24Yeah.
20:24Pardon me?
20:2514th, I believe.
20:26May 14th.
20:28May 14th, public utilities.
20:30Yeah.
20:34Anthony.
20:35Anthony.
20:35Anthony.
20:36We'll meet before then.
20:37Anthony.
20:38Anthony.
20:39Here's your paperwork.
20:41Thanks.
20:41You're welcome.
20:43Am I allowed to speak for this issue?
20:45You can.
20:46You can.
20:47Sure.
20:48Okay.
20:48Okay.
20:49Hi, everybody.
20:56I'm Scott Johnson.
20:58Many of you may or may not know, but this is my son-in-law.
21:01And I appreciate you working with him and with my daughter Shannon.
21:07I appreciate the spirit of the meeting tonight, because it wasn't their fault.
21:12But you know, some of you know, what a joy it is when your kids move back to Kenton and
21:20they want to invest in Kenton and make Kenton a great place to call home.
21:24And so I thank you for working with them and I hope for some sort of a balance.
21:30I know there's laws and you can deviate to a law, but you can also say, but what's the
21:35right thing to do?
21:36And so thank you very, very much, all of you, and I appreciate that.
21:40And it's so wonderful to have the young people back and helping our community.
21:45So thanks.
21:45Just wanted to say that.
21:47Thanks, Scott.
21:53Okay.
21:55We'll move on to communications.
21:57I'll just remind everyone else here there will be time for additional comments later on
22:04under comments from the public at the end of the meeting.
22:09So under communications, we do have the Hardin County Council on Aging April-May newsletter.
22:18I have that right here.
22:19And I have Ohio Health's 2024 social stewardship report for fiscal year 24.
22:27Those are available if anyone wants to take a look at them.
22:30Any other communications to be shared at this time?
22:41I'm not aware of any petition, so we'll move on to administrative reports.
22:47And we'll start with our municipal court judge.
22:51One last time.
22:59Well, you should have in your possession a copy of the yearly report that goes to you all as
23:06well as to the across the street to the commissioners.
23:11And it also, we generally send copies to their villages as well that have law enforcement
23:19especially.
23:22We've had a, for half this year, we had almost a full staff.
23:27We're just down half a person now.
23:29And I think that's the number we're going to keep at this point in time compared to what
23:34we've had before.
23:35We're missing a half-time person.
23:37But we've got a full, we operated really shorthanded for quite a while once COVID started.
23:46We're now kind of back up to staff.
23:48Our numbers were six cases down last year from the year before.
23:53However, we collected $123,500 more than the year before.
24:02Our, to show you that our collection agency is doing stuff, they collected $54,000.
24:10And I generally turn over our worst case scenarios to them as far as collection fines and stuff
24:22that are generally $3,000 to $4,000 and over three or four years old.
24:28We're just spinning wheels and spending money trying to collect it.
24:32So we turn it over to them.
24:35We get our money first before they get their money fee.
24:38So we don't lose anything by turning it over to them.
24:42We also accept payments online now, which has helped with collection quite a bit.
24:47And if you look on that third page, it gives the case numbers and just shows the breakdown.
25:00One nice thing, no appeals filed again this year.
25:04I think over 20 years, there's only been like two or three.
25:06So that's kind of a good number to have if you're a judge.
25:13Number of waivers processed, that's 883 cases.
25:18That means that people paying their fines and costs without coming to court.
25:21It's an offense such as speeding, a stop sign violation, or disorderly conduct,
25:28where we have a bond schedule as to what they can pay without showing up to court.
25:34Now, when you turn the next thing, it shows our collections over the months.
25:41It depends on the time of year and how many tickets are being written and so forth.
25:46But $1,166,000 plus was collected by the court last year.
25:56And then it shows disbursements.
26:00The funds go to the state of Ohio and how they're broken down.
26:04The funds that go to the city of Kenton and how they're broken down.
26:09Some of those funds go to general fund.
26:13And some of them go to specific different areas as well.
26:20All the tickets that are written by the city of Kenton, at least under a city ordinance,
26:28those fines and stuff get shifted towards the Kenton Police Department to help with their line item budget,
26:37whatever those figures are.
26:40As you all are aware of, there's quite an up, if you've been reading the paper, uptick in cases.
26:49I mean, there's some days that we've had 125 to 150 people on Tuesday mornings in court.
26:57Our total figure last year for cases was 2,600.
27:03At the end of March, which is only a fourth of the year, we've already processed 1,500 cases.
27:09So there should be an uptick in total monies for everybody, but especially in the city department
27:20because most of those upswinging tickets deal with truck drivers.
27:24And they are paying the maximum fine, is what they're being fined, at court costs for that situation.
27:37So, and then if they're sheriff, there's miscellaneous ADA, they get the same thing for their police department
27:44for the tickets that they write under their ordinances.
27:48Forrest writes the same thing.
27:49So, there are specific items that we have collected that stays in our own pot of things.
28:01Special projects is an example of that.
28:05There's a separate line item in the auditor's office, but it's actually the courts.
28:11And it's set up by the legislature and the Supreme Court.
28:15And courts use that for special items that they are, projects they have in the courts.
28:23And that's their money.
28:24Some of them have saved large amounts and the millions of dollars and built new buildings with it.
28:32We've generally used it for computer upkeeps and stuff.
28:36We try and keep our supplies down to a large degree.
28:40We, this is my 20th year on the bench, my last year.
28:44I could have run again because I'm only going to be 69 at the time the actual election occurs in November.
28:52But, 20 years is long enough.
28:56I appreciate the time.
28:59And I appreciate the trust put in me by the citizens of Hardin County.
29:05The court has evolved a lot in those 20 years.
29:10Computer system has changed.
29:11Basically, just as all of you in your own businesses and lives understand the things and how computers have changed things.
29:21And there's a lot of positives to those advances, but it's not always positive.
29:29And it's like, fortunately for me, I won't have to deal with implementing the new ones after December 31st.
29:36Just a reminder, for all, that the election is, in May, the primary.
29:44And there are two people running, so it is going to be a contested election, which is always good instead of having it not.
29:53Though once you're in, the fact that I didn't have to run the last three times with my opponent was nice.
29:58But, no matter who is elected at this point in time, they will serve Hardin County well.
30:08And they will take the steps to take this court to the next level.
30:12There are a few things that are going to be changed, mandated.
30:16One of those is going to be electronic filing.
30:19Unfortunately, it's not happening in line in there, but the next person will have to accept electronic filing.
30:26They are doing that across the street already.
30:29So, it's now filtering down to the municipal court level as well.
30:35There are some municipal courts that are already doing that.
30:39Again, we don't have an email address.
30:45We do, but it's not given out to the general public because we deal with so many out-of-state tickets and so forth
30:53that if we had one that they could contact directly, we'd have to have someone answering that two or three times a day.
31:02We'd have to hire another person just to monitor that because if they were sending to us, we'd have to respond almost immediately to their request.
31:10A lot of these truckers that have been coming through have been out of country.
31:16We've had a lot of Canadians and so forth.
31:19The thing is, though, we're getting the money from them because they want to keep their CDLs.
31:26So, they end up paying.
31:30So, you know, hopefully there should be an influx of some money coming in.
31:35Nothing to cover the expenses the city's, unfortunately, had to bear in all the stuff that's been going on with that.
31:42Are there any questions from the council?
31:45I want to commend my staff.
31:50Emily Kisling is here now.
31:51She is the chief clerk.
31:54She's been here for several years at this point in time.
31:58She has worked diligently and efficiently under staff for almost three and a half years.
32:06And the court is very appreciative of all that.
32:09Again, just a reminder, even though we are considered by lots of people to be the Kenton Municipal Court,
32:18we are actually the Hardin County Municipal Court, and it's a county-wide elected position.
32:25Two-thirds of the salary is paid for in a judge's salary by the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio.
32:32You guys pay a portion then of the rest, and the county commissioners pay the other.
32:38So that's basically you guys split a half between the two of you, and then the state pays the other half.
32:48Of your position or of my position?
32:51Your position.
32:52My position.
32:54Emily's position is paid by the county, a small portion, and the city.
33:00So is the probation officer.
33:05But the clerks are employees of the city, per se.
33:10So they are paid 100% by the city.
33:13But the court is set up by statute, and the salary is dictated, the percentages is dictated, all that is taken care of.
33:24Right now it appears that there is going to be a judicial increase that goes through.
33:29It will end up being close to 20% over five years for the new judge.
33:38I've had one raise in 20 years, so it doesn't happen very often.
33:44So unlike the other employees in the court that got cost of living, the judges never get that.
33:53But they are pushing that hard, so I imagine that the share is going to go up a little bit instead of staying what it was.
34:02We've tried to buy most of our own equipment.
34:10I think that the only thing that we have spent city money on is the phone system, which you guys bought a whole new phone system and put in for the whole building.
34:25And then we have asked for some help on occasion when we bought one vehicle.
34:34And other than that, we try and use special project funds to cover stuff.
34:40We do have a computerization fund, too, which takes care of most of our software and the IT.
34:47Because we don't use the city IT guy, we have a separate computer system.
34:52It's through Henshins, which is, there's basically two providers in the state of Ohio.
34:59Henshins is one of them, and I couldn't tell you the name of the other one.
35:03But we've always used Henshins back when Judge Hart was here.
35:07That's who they used.
35:08And that's who the county uses as well.
35:11And they're based out of Bowling Green.
35:14And they provide our technical service and our software updates and so forth.
35:22So, there'll be no questions.
35:26Thank you very much.
35:28Thank you, sir.
35:32Okay, we'll move on to the police department.
35:36I don't know anything about it, thank you.
35:37All right.
35:38Fire.
35:38Chief, I just want to let you guys know, from the 5th through the 9th, we're going to be flowing the hydrants.
35:51We're going to be doing the southeast section.
35:54So, you'll probably get complaints with the water being dirty.
35:57It just flushes out over time.
35:58Other than that, had one guy resign, working on ironing another guy.
36:06So, I think, as Chief would say, it's kind of the new thing.
36:10It's kind of a revolving door anymore.
36:13But, hopefully we'll get some guys that want to stay and stick around.
36:17Any questions or anything?
36:19Thank you, Kevin.
36:20All right.
36:20Thank you, Kevin.
36:21Thank you, Kevin.
36:21All right.
36:29I think we can jump all the way down to Law Director.
36:31John, anything?
36:32No.
36:33Yes.
36:35So, the Dura Patch will start next week in Ward 3.
36:41So, the month of May, they will be in Ward 3.
36:44And I just, again, want to remind everybody that there is an ordinance.
36:51about throwing grass out into the street.
36:56And if the penalty is a minor misdemeanor and fine not more than $150 for a violation.
37:10Any questions for Cindy?
37:14Lynn?
37:15Just on the same kind of, our voucher is going to affect Thursday.
37:21So, let the junk start flowing.
37:26One, I want to back up to Cindy.
37:29After third Ward, you'll continue?
37:32Yes.
37:32A different Ward.
37:33I just don't know where they go next.
37:34That's fine.
37:34Or they go next.
37:35I understand.
37:35I just, yeah.
37:36It should take all the way through August.
37:39Perfect.
37:40Award a month is usually the goal.
37:43Understood.
37:43Thank you, ma'am.
37:44Good.
37:44Good.
37:45Okay.
37:48All right, then.
37:49Let's move on to committees.
37:50Finance?
37:51Finance held a meeting this evening.
37:53And we talked about a few things that will be coming in legislation at our next meeting.
37:58as well as progress on getting hires and people in and up to speed.
38:06Okay.
38:07Thank you, dear.
38:07Mop, anything?
38:08Mop has not met as anything.
38:12Okay.
38:12Public utilities?
38:14Our next meeting is the 14th.
38:15We did meet on April 20th.
38:21We met in April.
38:22It was, it was, it was like the, it was an off date.
38:28It was like the 4th or something.
38:30The 9th.
38:31The 9th.
38:31It would have been the 16th.
38:32Yeah.
38:33We were early with that meeting.
38:35It was the 9th.
38:38Okay.
38:38Nothing to report or talk about that.
38:41All right, then.
38:42How about streets, alleys, and sidewalks?
38:44Yeah, we have a meeting on April 30th.
38:47It's Wednesday.
38:48And finally, legislation.
38:50We have a meeting on April 30th, also.
38:54Okay.
38:55This week.
38:56Wednesday.
38:57All right, then.
38:58Anything for regional planning?
39:00That's our last meeting, sir.
39:02Parks and Rec?
39:03Parks and Rec did meet April 16th on the quarry side.
39:08Their free fish day is May 18th, and their memorial tournament that they fundraise,
39:13and a lot of that money goes back into the, you know, the upkeep of the quarry or new projects
39:19that they have.
39:20That will be June 8th.
39:22So the quarry and the campground slash is doing very well.
39:25It's ahead of the game from last year.
39:27They just have a couple full hookups left.
39:30There's a veteran circle out there.
39:32We talked about it.
39:34It's gated, and it's kind of hard to get back there.
39:36So Don and Deb were thinking, and they maybe would like to leave, move the gate a little
39:42bit back farther.
39:43There's a place they can put it so the veterans can actually drive in there and use that circle
39:46if they would like to.
39:47So that was a discussion.
39:49The AM vets are donating all the flags for the veterans circle.
39:52And on the pool side, all the employees, guards, slide attendants, and concession people have
40:02been hired.
40:03Kenley Howe's working to recertify, relicense any guards that need that done.
40:09And swim champs have released their dates that they need to have, so the pool will close
40:15early on those dates at 3 o'clock.
40:18And that is it.
40:22All right.
40:23Thanks, gentlemen.
40:25Grove Semperator.
40:26We have our next being next Tuesday, which I think is May 6th, if I remember correctly,
40:31on the date.
40:33LA Tree Commission.
40:35Yeah, they met on the 23rd of April at 530 at the library.
40:40And I was just going, Michelle went over, like, these spreadsheets that she has started
40:46that have trees that need trimmed, trees that need cut down, dangerous trees, and everything
40:52is out in a spreadsheet.
40:53And I believe they have HALT is going to be the one that's going to determine which ones
40:58you do.
40:59And he's come back with his quote, I think they had 17 or 18 projects on there.
41:04And we're going to be able to do the majority of those.
41:07And so we're talking down at final numbers, but that's a big chunk.
41:11And I don't know when the next meeting is.
41:13Did you decide to meet quarterly?
41:15Yeah.
41:16Okay, so it'll be a little while.
41:18And anything else, too?
41:21That's it.
41:22As far as the BKP and West District, I have nothing to do to report this.
41:28Any old business?
41:30New business?
41:32All right.
41:33Ordinances and resolutions.
41:35A couple changes.
41:36We're going to add the one that was at your station tonight, and that's Resolution 18-25.
41:46That will have an asterisk.
41:48And we'd ask you also to place an asterisk by 17-25.
41:54We'll get into that as soon as I'm going to read the header.
42:00Resolution number 017-25, a resolution authorized by the Safety Service Director of the City of
42:07Princeton, Ohio, to enter into a Professional Services Agreement for Main and Detroit Street
42:12Lighting and Main Street Signals.
42:14Construction Services with the OHM Advisors and be planning an emergency.
42:20If you recall, we had quite a few two weeks ago.
42:22We missed one.
42:23Cindy has more on that.
42:25Yeah, so this one we missed getting into the packet for the last time.
42:30So this is basically for OHM to oversee and do the construction services for, with Miller Construction,
42:40for the installation of the lighting and the signals.
42:44Mr. President, I would move that we suspend the three-read rule for Resolution number 017-25.
43:01I'll second that.
43:02Then moved by David, seconded by Robin.
43:04There's no discussion, so we'll vote on suspension of the rules.
43:07Sue Fox Broker.
43:08Yes.
43:09David Beasley.
43:10Yes.
43:10Steve Walter.
43:11Yes.
43:12Chad Miller.
43:13Yes.
43:13Peg Wren.
43:14Yes.
43:15Alma Tudor.
43:16Yes.
43:16Robin Jones.
43:17Yes.
43:18That passes 7-0, so.
43:21I would make a motion that we adopt Resolution number 017-25.
43:26I second that.
43:27I second that.
43:27Thank Sue and seconded by Peg.
43:29Is there any discussion?
43:32Okay, we'll move.
43:33David Beasley.
43:34Yes.
43:35Steve Walter.
43:36Yes.
43:36Chad Miller.
43:37Yes.
43:38Peg Wren.
43:39Yes.
43:39Alma Tudor.
43:40Yes.
43:41Robin Jones.
43:41Yes.
43:42Sue Fox Broker.
43:43Yes.
43:44Passes 7-0.
43:49Resolution number 018-25, a resolution tentatively awarding the contract for the construction and
43:57replacement of Water Main on North Detroit Street, Phase 1, and declaring an emergency.
44:02This is me.
44:06So, this is the project where ODOT did all the bidding and bid opening and awarding of the
44:14contracts.
44:15And for us to get the EPA loan, they need something from Council tentatively saying that we authorize that Helms and Sons will be the contractor for this project so that we can get the loan money for this project.
44:33And as a refresher, their bid came in approximately half a million dollars less than the projected contract cost.
44:43Yes.
44:43Mr. President, I move for a suspension period rule for resolution number 018-25.
44:52I'll second that.
44:53Thanks, David.
44:54Seconded by Onda.
44:55We're going to vote then on suspending the rules.
44:58Steve Walter.
45:00Yes.
45:00Chad Miller.
45:01Yes.
45:01Craig Wren.
45:02Yes.
45:03Onda Tudor.
45:04Yes.
45:04Robin Jones.
45:05Yes.
45:06Sue Fox Broker.
45:07Yes.
45:08David P. Smith.
45:09Yes.
45:09That passes 7-0.
45:12Yes.
45:19Do I have a motion to consider?
45:22So moved, Mr. President.
45:24Seconded.
45:25Seconded by Robin, I think that was.
45:27Yes.
45:28Any discussion?
45:30Okay.
45:31Chad Miller.
45:32Yes.
45:33Craig Wren.
45:34Yes.
45:34Onda Tudor.
45:35Yes.
45:36Robin Jones.
45:37Yes.
45:37Sue Fox Broker.
45:38Yes.
45:39David P. Smith.
45:42Yes.
45:43Steve Walter.
45:44Yes.
45:45That passes 7-0 as well.
45:49All right.
45:50That takes care of our first reading.
45:51We have one from the last two weeks ago.
45:54Seconded.
45:55Resolution number 014-25, a resolution authorizing the mayor and or receiving service director of
46:02the city of Kenton, Ohio to enter into an interlocal contract for cooperative purchasing with the
46:07Houston-Youtston Area Council and declaring an emergency.
46:11Have any questions developed in the two weeks since we first read this?
46:17Still no timing issue on this?
46:18Still no timing issue on this?
46:20So we'll read that again in the next week.
46:23I did find out that that sewer along Morningside was installed in 1973.
46:28I'm sorry.
46:2873.
46:2973 is when that sewer was installed.
46:31Okay.
46:32All right.
46:36We'll have that again in a couple weeks then.
46:39Other matters?
46:42There's anything anyone has that we didn't think about, didn't remember to discuss.
46:50Comments from the public?
46:55Comments from the news media?
46:58You seem to be the lone ranger here.
47:08Comments from council members of the administration?
47:10Captain, anything more from fire?
47:15Oh, I'd switch gears on you.
47:17I started with Kyle.
47:19I go first.
47:23I think that was maybe me, not you, Kyle.
47:27Chief?
47:28Did anybody let the phone rang about out in the hallway, possibly?
47:31Check the phones.
47:35That's all I got.
47:37All right.
47:38Captain?
47:38Thank you, sir.
47:41Judge, Amy, and Dad?
47:43Now forever hold your peace.
47:46Okay.
47:47Well, I will say we've had an adornment amount of weddings this year.
47:52Really?
47:53I'm averaging three weeks.
47:56Wow.
47:57I hope a lot, but it's just me.
48:00Let's hear it for holy matrimony.
48:02That's interesting.
48:03Sue?
48:04Well, I would just like to thank Judge Grimsley for all the years you've been put in and probably
48:10really earned that retirement coming up.
48:13Two things, Mr. President.
48:18I would remind everyone that the issue two is on the May ballot.
48:23We passed a resolution as a group in support of that.
48:26I urge you all to go out and vote your conscience on that.
48:30The second thing is our next meeting is two days, excuse me, one day after Mother's Day.
48:35So remember that.
48:38Remember the sacrifices your mother has made and respond accordingly.
48:42Thank you, Judge Grimsley for serving.
48:50We appreciate it.
48:52And enjoy your retirement, whatever that might be.
48:54Well, I've told you that I can apologize.
48:55Okay, there you go.
49:00Yes, it's been a pleasure working with you.
49:02So, bilking the public otherwise.
49:06So, say no as on the rate.
49:08No.
49:08Well, I'd echo that.
49:14Judge, a lot of things had to work through, but you always are easy to talk with.
49:24You have a lot of, a big compassion for the court, and I've always appreciated your accessibility.
49:34And we, we've had a lot to learn about how the municipal court works.
49:39We still have a lot more to learn about it.
49:41You've helped us to understand it a lot better.
49:43Well, it's not an easy situation, because you guys are saddled with a situation that most counties around here don't have county-wide jurisdiction.
49:55But we've found it all ways that both run with the county commissioners, and in fact, they're housing, not the care house.
50:01How it ever ended up years ago, if I was a judge, being underneath the city, none of us was around here to go and understand our lives.
50:13We're just lucky that way.
50:16But, yeah, judge, you're always a great source of legal knowledge, and I appreciate it.
50:22So, our next meeting, May 12th, and again, echo David's thoughts, thank you for your mother, and we won't meet before then, so here's to everyone's mothers.
50:39With that, we're adjourned until then.