Village of Attica

Regular Council Meeting Minutes

July 23, 2026, 7:30 AM

I. Call To Order – Roll Call 

The meeting was called to order and roll call was conducted.

Present: Jim Gray, Nicole Lenhart, Steve Tanner, Keith Hopple, Kirk Stanfield

Absent: Ed Beamer

Others Present: Village Administrator Shock, Maintenance Supervisor Scott, Fiscal Officer Phillips

II. Approval Of Warrants And Minutes 

Councilman Gray made motion to approve the minutes as presented, Councilmna Lenhart seconded the motion, vote 4-0 with Councilman Stanfield abstained. 

Councilwoman Lenhart made motion to approve warrants, Councilman Gray seconded the motion, vote 4-0 with Councilman Stanfield abstained.

III. Written & Oral Communication 

Brush Pickup Service

Resident, Chris Armitage addressed the committee regarding the suspension of the village's brush pickup service, expressing interest in knowing when the service might resume and suggesting that even a single trial pickup before year's end would be beneficial from a public relations standpoint. He noted that many residents have accumulated significant amounts of brush.

Councilman Gray responded that two primary obstacles are preventing resumption: staffing limitations and the need to verify the truck's roadworthiness. Temporary employees have been occupied with blacktop patching and other priority work and are not available on Fridays for brush pickup. Councilman Gray emphasized a desire to resume the service in a sustainable way—so that once it restarts, it does not have to be suspended again.

The council discussed longer-term ideas for improving the program, including scheduling pickup once a month (such as the first Friday of each month) rather than every Friday, and offering residents a village-branded plastic barrel to standardize and simplify the collection process. The goal of resuming a regular schedule by next spring was mentioned as realistic, contingent on staffing improvements expected to follow the decommissioning of the water plant.

Resident, Chris Armitage also raised the topic of a potential future street levy, noting that visible responsiveness to residents—such as restoring services—builds public goodwill ahead of any ballot measures. Councilman Gray confirmed that plans for a levy are being discussed, with a possible target of the first or second quarter of next year, but that the water plant decommissioning must be resolved first, as it has significant implications for the village's financial picture.

Village Administrator Shock presented multiple cases of inappropriate communication from a resident to Utility Billing Clerk Mason. The committee agreed that the solicitor should be contacted to send the resident a formal letter requesting that the behavior cease, with a warning that further action may be taken if it does not.

IV. Committee Matters 

1. Public Safety

Two new speed limit signs have been installed and were noted to be bright and visible. A concern was raised that nearby tree branches are partially obstructing the view of the signs, and it was noted that this had already been discussed with the responsible parties.

2. Streets And Properties

Grass Ordinance Violation – East Tiffin Street

A property on East Tiffin Street had been cited for excessive grass growth. It was noted that the grass had since been addressed. Discussion followed regarding the village's enforcement procedures. The committee noted that a new judge now requires that delivery of ordinance violation notices be video-recorded in order to be accepted by the court—a departure from the prior practice of including notices with water bills. Members acknowledged the tradeoff but agreed the new requirement provides clearer proof of receipt.

Street Mapping Issue – High Street

A concern was raised that East High Street and West High Street do not appear as distinct streets on Google Maps or navigation apps such as Waze—both display only as "High Street." This has reportedly caused delivery problems for residents on West High Street. The committee discussed that the proper channel for correcting this is likely involves the county auditor's office, and a council member agreed to make calls to confirm the process.

3. Parks

Legion Park Naming

Councilwoman Lenhart raised the need to officially name the park currently known informally as "Legion Park" or "the old school park." It was suggested that the American Legion, which funded the softball field and is assisting with a new t-ball field, be included in the naming process. Councilwoman Lenhart proposed formalizing the name—potentially "Veterans Park"—and getting it registered on official maps to prevent others from assigning an unofficial name. The plan is to incorporate the naming into a broader announcement tied to the completion of the t-ball field project.

T-Ball Field Progress

Topsoil has been spread on the new t-ball fields. Additional topsoil is still needed before field construction can begin. Grass seeding is targeted for mid-to-late August.

Lighting at the Park

When the pool building was demolished, electrical service to that area of the park was cut, leaving the playground and pavilion area without lighting. A council member requested authorization to contact North Central Electric for a quote to restore power and lighting at the pavilion. The committee agreed. The concession stand was noted to still have power.

Trash Management at the Ball Fields

A complaint was received about trash accumulation at the ball fields during baseball season. The possibility of adding a small dumpster for next season was discussed, with the suggestion that the baseball board be responsible for emptying it after games. Concerns were raised about potential misuse. A secured enclosure with a lock and possibly a camera were mentioned as possible deterrents, with no final resolution reached.

4. Trees

A council member identified a walnut tree on private property near the corner of Liberty and Eden Streets, behind the post office, whose branches hang heavily over the alley and a stop sign—so much so that the council member's truck scrapes them when passing through. Since the tree is on private property inside a fence, the village cannot remove it outright, but members agreed that any branches extending over the public alley can and should be trimmed by village crews.

5. Fire

There were 26 total calls for the month of June. Nine of those were rescue calls within the village.

6. EMS

It was noted that a new EMS fiscal officer for the county is taking over full-time starting next month, completing her transition period.

7. Cemetery

No new items to report.

8. Personnel

New staff shirts are to be ordered.

9. Zoning Commission

No report.

10. Finance And Rule

Ordinance 2026-6 – Amending Employee Handbook – Adding Juneteenth as a Holiday (3rd and Final Reading)

Councilman Gray made motion to approve Ordinance 2026-6 on its third and final reading with Councilwoman Lenhart seconding the motion, vote 5-0. 

It was clarified that Juneteenth would be treated as a floating holiday, applied retroactively for the current year.

Resolution 2026-7 – Amending Appropriations (Emergency 1st and Final Reading)

The committee discussed Resolution 2026-7, which amends the village's appropriations. Key points of the discussion included:

• A capital expenditure for repairs to the sewer lagoon aerator, classified as capital equipment due to its useful life.

• A current cash balance showing approximately -$68,000 for the water operating fund, which was explained by the Fiscal Officer as reflects the fact that a cash transfer appropriated at the beginning of the year has not yet been executed; the current balance does not reflect total available resources.

• Additional appropriations related to the contract water operator, who has been working more hours than originally budgeted for, which is offset by less employee worked hours.

Councilwoman Lenhart made motion to suspend the three-reading rule and adopt Resolution 2026-7 as an emergency measure, Councilman Gray seconded the motion. The motion carried 4–1, with Councilman Stanfield voting in opposition. 

11. Water And Sewer

Councilman Gray reported a change in the planned route for the new water line along State Route 224. Upon further investigation, significantly more fiber optic and gas infrastructure was found on the north side of the road than anticipated. As a result, the line will now cross to the south side of Route 224 earlier than originally planned. The route change requires some additional design work but is not expected to cause any project delays.

Additionally, Councilman Gray clarified the purpose of the 6-inch distribution line that will run from the water tower under the railroad tracks, connecting to Miller Drive and tying into Buckeye Drive—creating a looped system for Buckeye Village. This loop eliminates dead-end water lines, which are known to cause water quality issues such as sediment and discoloration. The design change also moved the meter and chemical feed location to the base of the water tower rather than on a private property, saving approximately $100,000.

Village Administrator Shock reported that an entity from Toronto, Canada has offered $740,000 for all equipment inside the water plant upon decommissioning. They are expected to send a formal contract within the coming week. Village Administrator Shock noted that the buyer has been informed repeatedly that they cannot take possession of the equipment until decommissioning is complete. The contract will be reviewed by the village solicitor upon receipt. It was noted that because the buyer is a government entity, a formal public bid process is not required. The lab equipment is to remain with the village.

12. Village Web Site & IT

No report.

13. Train Derailment

No new updates.

V. Unfinished – Old Business – New Business 

Maintenance Supervisor Scott reported ongoing work on water meter replacements, curb stop replacements, and pothole patching. 

Councilwoman Lenhart mentioned that the farmer's market will begin the first Saturday of the month from August through October. It was also noted that Sweetums, a local t-shirt shop, is repainting the exterior of their building, and that their plans may eventually include a coffee shop and upstairs apartments—the latter of which will require attention to water meter arrangements in the future.

VI. Next Meeting Announcement 

The next council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 7:30 PM to be preceded by a public hearing on the 2027 tax budget. 

VII. Executive Session (If Needed)

No executive session was held.

VIII. Adjournment Of Meeting 

Councilman Gray made motion to adjourn, Councilwoman Lenhart seconded. The motion carried unanimously at 8:29 PM.