Greenfield council discusses plant upgrades, ordinance revision

In their first meeting held since legislation was passed authorizing council to meet on Wednesday evenings, the Greenfield Village Council met and considered a notice to proceed from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on the ongoing wastewater treatment plant upgrades. 

Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop reported to council members Wednesday evening that the village had received a notice to proceed from the EPA regarding a UVA lighting system. 

"If you will remember, this is the add-on system we proposed after (the) EPA gave us notice that it needed to be done," Bishop said. "The notice from EPA was given to us the very day we signed contracts for Phase II with Peterson Construction, and they were willing to help make it happen."

Bishop said that despite the extra requirement, they are trying to keep the costs down. 

"Trying to stay on budget and on time caused us some extra engineering, change orders, search for additional equipment and EPA approval caused us additional time," Bishop said. 

The anticipated completion date has been moved from Sept. 13 to Oct. 28, 2012.

"We have been very happy with the way all have worked on the project and are very thankful for how the budget of the project is working out," Bishop said. "We are very close to budget. Decisions still need to be made on blacktopping, and we have experienced some change orders nearing the end of the project."

In monthly reports, village finance director Carolyn Snodgrass reported that at the end of April, Greenfield's general fund was at $587,338. The month-to-date expenditures for April were $961,456. Receipts were $1,080,628, and the bank balance was $1,717,703. 

Council member William Redenbaugh asked when the village's debt payment on the bond for the city building was due, and Snodgrass said it had to be paid by May 30. That will take the general fund balance down to $500,000, she said. As it has been previously reported, the village is making a concerted effort to pay down what is left from the 20-year loan on renovations to the building. 

Redenbaugh later reported on the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District Board of Trustees meeting, saying that operations were continuing smoothly following the addition of Paint Creek to the district. 

District trustees are continuing to work with the Paint Township trustees on locating and acquiring property where a permanent sub-station in the township can be located. Currently, the district is utilizing the township building off US 50 east, with personnel housed in the camper on the property. 

"Those boys are doing an excellent all-around job," Redenbaugh said. 

The district's goal is to have a permanent sub-station before cold weather sets in, Redenbaugh said. However, a priority has been placed on finding property that will benefit all of the townships that comprise the district. 

"We can't forget that we are a district," Redenbaugh said. 

Work is currently under way to purchase a "slightly used squad." Redenbaugh said that brand-new squads cost approximately $280,000, with the "slightly used" version costing half as much. They are also looking at purchasing a rescue vehicle or brush truck which would "serve many purposes between the two stations." 

Prior to Wednesday's council meeting, the ordinance committee met to discuss repealing outdated ordinances and bringing other ordinances up-to-date. Council President Betty Jackman reported that council was trying to meet EPA compliance standards, and part of the ordinance update included consideration of adding additional personnel, such as a "nuisance officer." 

Jackman said the officer would handle issues such as compliance with the ordinances that regulate noxious weeds, pets and upkeep on yards. 

Council member Chris Boreson disagreed with adding the position, saying he felt the city should not create jobs through ordinances. 

"I don't think we should do it. It's permanent stuff," he said. 

Boreson said the only way he would be on board with the hire would be if council would revisit it in two years. Jackman said that she had never heard of creating a temporary job and felt that it should be on a permanent basis because a "nuisance officer" would always be busy and could do good work in the village.
 
"These kinds of problems aren't going to go away," Jackman said. 

Bishop suggested that if council creates the position, they can review yearly within the budget parameters and keep it if the funding exists. 

Boreson said, "I don't like the idea of it sliding through the cracks in a budget." 

Jackman said the ordinance will hold another meeting on the matter and that they will confer with village law director Brian Zets before it is officially presented to council for consideration. 

In other business: 

• Council voted to waive the three-reading rule and voted 4-0 to pass a resolution authorizing city manager Betty Bishop to submit a new application to the EDA for the rail line repairs and improvements. 

Bishop said, "We hope we can convince them of our economic condition in Greenfield and Highland County."

• Council voted to waive the three-reading rule and voted 4-0 to pass a resolution accepting a bid and executing an agreement with Jonn Kinzer to lease 11 acres of village property in Ross County. 

• Bishop reported that the village signed a contract with McCarty Engineering for a blacktopping and repair project in the 600 block of McClain Avenue. 

• Greenfield Boy Scout James Looney, of Troop 22, attended the meeting, asking village officials questions regarding government and public service. He also led council members in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

• Bishop said that "no fishing" signs have been posted at Mitchell Park, as fish will be added to the pond in preparation for the Daryl Unger Memorial Fishing Derby on June 2. 

• A cleanup week will be held in the village May 7-12. All residents who pay Greenfield water bills will be permitted to drop off trash from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the industrial park on May 12.

• Bishop reported that a contract has been signed with One Call Now for a village "all call" system that will alert Greenfield residents of emergencies and other important information. Phone numbers from utilities have already been submitted to the company, but anyone whose phone number has recently changed can contact the city or visit Greenfield's website.