Mayor Nathan Frisch called the September 14th, 2023 Village of Attica Council regular meeting to order at 7:35 PM.
Roll Call: Owen Best, Keith Hopple, Nicole Lenhart, Louie Sanders, Kirk Stanfield
Others Present:
Approval of Warrants: Motion by Councilman Sanders, seconded by Council Best to approve the warrants for payment. Vote: 5-0. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by Councilman Best, seconded by Councilwoman Lenhart to approve the minutes. Vote: 5-0. Motion carried.
Written & Oral Communication: Denise Fredritz of 116 E Tiffin St. discovered a leak after her consumption was 1200 in July and 3000 in August, almost double/ triple what it had been. They discovered the leak was in the crawlspace. Mayor Frisch confirmed the water didn’t go out through the sewer then, Denise agreed. The billing clerk left a print out of Denise’s bill, stating she usually uses 5 to 7 units. The sewer portion amounts to $230.64. Mayor Frisch asked how Council felt about forgiving the sewer portion. Councilwoman Lenhart moved to forgive the sewer portion in the amount of $230.64, Councilman Hopple seconded. Vote: 5-0. Motion carried.
Public Safety: None.
Streets & Properties: Councilwoman Lenhart was asking about trash at a property on Liberty St. She stated there was someone living in a tent at one point. The tents are gone, but there is a lot of trash piled up. Councilman Best was curious whether the village had any prohibitions against living in a tent. Council believes the property in question is now owned by the County Auditor. Councilwoman Lenhart stated there was a car in the drive way. Councilman Sanders stated 211 E. Tiffin Street has high grass as well as the property next to the bank.
Mayor Frisch let Council know we have two lawn mowers being repaired. He said they were not being maintained properly. Darin was going to have a talk with the employees who use them about having pride in the equipment.
Parks: None.
Trees: None.
Fire: None.
EMS: None.
Cemetery: Councilman Sanders stated the new groundskeeper at the cemetery is doing an amazing job.
Personnel: Mayor Frisch stated he would like to hire two part-time employees to help us catch back up on mowing. Their names are Rick Dentinger and Levi Webster and he would like to hire them at $19 an hour. They both work for the Village of Bloomville and are highly recommended. Councilman Best moved to hire Rick Dentinger and Levi Webster part-time at $19 an hour effective immediately, Councilwoman Lenhart seconded. Vote: 5-0. Motion carried.
Fiscal Officer Hatfield informed Council that she received the handbook amendments for water and sewer certification pay from the Solicitor. This amendment would change the eligibility to full-time employees and only after successful completion of their probationary period.
1st read of 2023-9 Amendments to the Personnel Handbook
Zoning Commission: None.
Finance and rule: Cash balance: $1,558,130.08 All funds include CDs and reserved or restricted funds, and debt reserve funds. August bank reconciliation was presented for approval. FO Hatfield let Council know she received 2024 Rates and Amounts and she would like to have the 1st reading.
1st read 2023-8 Resolution Accepting Rates and Amounts.
Water & Sewer: Councilman Stanfield reported he visited Diego Sandina’s residence to inquire about his water issue. Councilman Stanfield believes after two people showed up and didn’t find anything, Dakota went and replaced the meter causing it to shoot water. The Mayor asked Councilman Stanfield if this was secondhand information. Councilman Stanfield explained he was standing in front of the new meter getting a report from the property owner. Councilman Stanfield went on to state he believes Dakota installed the meter wrong. Mayor Frisch asked if Councilman Stanfield saw Dakota install the meter. Councilman Stanfield stated he spoke to Diego who was there. The Mayor stated Dakota did tell him he initially put it in backward. Councilman Stanfield asked how is it that nothing is leaking when he was standing there. The Mayor said they were going to move on from the conversation, the old meter is being sent off to be tested. Councilman Stanfield stated, like you did with all of the other old meters. The Mayor replied that Diego is the one who requested they check the meter. Councilman Stanfield stated what was leaking was not the valve, but all of the other connections from a meter that has been wrongly installed. Councilwoman Lenhart reiterated it was clear Councilman’s Stanfield’s account is second hand information. Councilman Best spoke up stating he appreciates Councilman Stanfield looking into the situation especially since Mr. Sandina had been in a few times and nobody wants him to have to pay for an issue with the meter. Councilman Best continued saying, let’s see what happens with the meter testing and hopefully we get an answer. Councilman Stanfield replied stating, council made other bill adjustments in the past year and never sent in the meter for testing.
Councilman Sanders talked to Gary Click concerning regionalization with Willard. Mr. Click suggested to Councilman Sanders that Council talk with the County Commissioners to possibly present to the state to possibly receive funding in the budget next year. Mayor Frisch stated we are working on the Governor’s Grant, which will be available after the first of the year. The Mayor is planning to meet with the State Reps and County Commissioners at that time.
Councilman Stanfield asked about bulk sales and why the readings were blacked out. Councilman Best stated he doesn’t believe they were being tracked. FO Hatfield stated they are being tracked very closely now.
Village Website & IT: Councilwoman Lenhart is assisting with updating the website. She asked if anyone was opposed to changing the logo. Mayor Frisch stated we should keep it, because it was part of a contest years ago. Councilwoman Lenhart is planning to get pictures around town to update the website. This prompted the Mayor to compliment the events committee group on the uptown fall decorations, he said it looks really nice.
Unfinished, Old Business and New Business: None.
Executive Session: Councilman Sanders moved to go into executive session at 8:15 pm to discuss personnel and utility billing, Councilwoman Lenhart seconded. 5-0. Motion carried.
Councilman Best moved to exit executive session at 8:40 pm, Councilwoman Lenhart seconded. Vote:4-0 with Councilman Stanfield exiting during executive session. Motion carried.
Next meeting: Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 7:30 PM.
Motion by Councilman Hopple, seconded by Councilwoman Lenhart to adjourn the meeting. Time: 8:40 PM. Vote: 4-0 with Councilman Stanfield exiting during executive session. Motion carried.
