The Council of the Village of Riverlea met on the above date at the Sharon Township Hall. The following Council members were present: Mayor Dan E. Schlichting, Jeffrey Amick, Nicholas B. Bartels, Janet Heidkamp, Leah M. Pyter, and Suzanne Surface. Also present were Joshua C. Mehling, Clerk-Treasurer, Leah Reibel, Solicitor, and Gregory Bonk, Web Manager. At 6:54 p.m., the Mayor called the meeting to order.
Swearing In of New Mayor
The Solicitor swore Daniel E. Schlichting in as the Mayor of the Village.
Appointment of Clerk-Treasurer
The Mayor appointed Joshua C. Mehling to fill the Clerk-Treasurer position for a four-year term, expiring in December 2027. The Solicitor swore Mehling in as the Clerk-Treasurer of the Village.
New Council Members
The Mayor stated that he had heard from two people who were willing to fill the open positions on Village Council. Information on these applicants had been distributed to Council members prior to the meeting and there were no questions or comments from members. The Mayor appointed Jeffrey Amick and Suzanne Surface to four-year Council terms, which expire in December 2027. The following vote was recorded on these appointments: Yes: 3 – Bartels, Heidkamp, Pyter; No: 0. The motion was approved unanimously (3-0). The Solicitor swore Amick and Surface in as members of the Village Council.
Election of President Pro Tempore
Pyter nominated Emily Saving as President Pro Tempore of Council for 2024 and Heidkamp seconded the motion. The motion was approved (5-0).
Resolution 2024-01
Resolution 2024-01, A Resolution to Adopt Rules of Council for 2024 and to Provide for Certain Other Organizational Matters was introduced by Pyter. Pyter moved and Heidkamp seconded the motion to waive the three readings of this resolution in order to have the Council rules in place for the beginning of the year. The motion carried (5-0). Heidkamp moved and Bartels seconded the motion to approve the resolution. The motion carried (5-0).
Resolution 2024-02
Resolution 2024-02, A Resolution to Confirm the Interim Appointment of William Charles as Street Commissioner was introduced by Pyter and had its first reading. The Mayor indicated that Charles is again willing to serve as full-time Street Commissioner for the Village.
Resolution 2024-03
Resolution 2024-03, A Resolution to Re-appoint Chris Bedell as a Member of the Planning Commission was introduced by Pyter. Pyter moved and Bartels seconded the motion to waive the three readings of this resolution in order to have the members of the Planning Commission in place in a timely manner. The motion carried (5-0). Bartels moved and Pyter seconded the motion to approve the resolution. The motion carried (5-0).
Planning Commissioner
The Mayor appointed Bryce Jacob as Planning Commissioner for 2024.
Resolution 2024-04
Resolution 2024-04, A Resolution to Reauthorize the Infrastructure Committee to Support the Work of Village Council and to Appoint Members Thereto, and to Declare an Emergency was introduced by Bartels. Bartels moved and Heidkamp seconded the motion to waive the three readings of this resolution in order to have the Infrastructure Commission in place in a timely manner. The motion carried (5-0). Bartels moved and Pyter seconded the motion to approve the resolution. The motion carried (5-0).
Minutes
The minutes of the Council meeting of December 18, 2023 were not read since each member had received a copy. Pyter moved and Bartels seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The following vote was held on the motion: Yes: 3, Bartels, Heidkamp, Pyter; No: 0; Abstain: 2, Amick, Surface. The motion carried (3-0-2).
Report of the Clerk-Treasurer
Pyter moved and Bartels seconded the motion to approve the payment of bills and to accept the financial reports for December 2023 as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion carried (5-0).
Report of the Mayor
- The Mayor confirmed that William Charles is willing to serve the Village again in a full-time role as Street Commissioner when he is re-appointed to the position.
- The Mayor stated that he and the Clerk-Treasurer had attended a meeting on State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds reporting and that the annual report for 2023 is due April 30, 2024.
- The Mayor stated that the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission had requested that a representative attend the February Council meeting to discuss the
- The Mayor noted that the December meeting was the last Council meeting for Scott Gordon after having served on Council for 15 years. He requested that the Solicitor draft a resolution of appreciation for Mr. Gordon on behalf of the Village. The Solicitor will draft this for the February meeting.
Report of the Solicitor
- The Solicitor reported that she had been working with the Worthington Law Department on a new Police contract for 2024 and that she had drafted a resolution of adoption for this contract to be addressed later in the meeting.
- The Solicitor stated that she continues to work on drafting an ordinance to prohibit the feeding of deer for Council to review.
- The Solicitor stated that the Ohio Municipal League has training for newly elected Council members coming up on three dates. She had distributed this information to Council members.
Report of the Street Commissioner
There was no report from the Street Commissioner.
Report of the Planning Commissioner
The Planning Commissioner was not in attendance. The Clerk-Treasurer reported that a swimming pool and privacy fence had been approved for 5775 Carrington at the January meeting.
Comments from Residents on Agenda Items
There were no comments from residents on agenda items.
Old Business
- Committee on Infrastructure
- Schlichting, the Chair of the Committee, reported that the Committee did not meet in January as it waits for the results of pressure and materials testing on the relined sewer lines from Burgess & Niple.
- The Chair reported that a soffit has fallen off the lift station, causing risk of exposure to the elements for the equipment in the building. The previous Street Commissioner had attempted to find someone to repair this but was unable to find someone to complete a project of this small size. The Chair requested that Council approve funds and he would attempt again to find someone to do this. Heidkamp moved to approve up to $2,000 for lift station repairs and Amick seconded the motion. The motion was approved (5-0).
- Web Manager
The Web Manager stated that the incoming Mayor has been set up with email and access to the Village phone number. He stated that he will need information from the incoming Council members to get them set up.
- Communications Committee
Pyter, the Chair of the Committee, reported that the Committee is working on finalizing the Village directory and there is no printer for this project located yet.
New Business
- Resolution 2024-05
Resolution 2024-05 – A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor of the Village of Riverlea, Ohio to Contract with the City of Worthington, Ohio and the Worthington Police Department to Provide Police Services in the Village was introduced by Bartels and had its first reading. Bartels moved to waive the three readings of the resolution in order to sign the contract in a timely manner and Pyter seconded the motion. The motion was approved (5-0). Pyter moved to approve the resolution and Bartels seconded the motion. The motion was approved (5-0).
- Resolution 2024-06
Resolution 2024-06 – A Resolution to Adopt the Solid Waste Management Plan for the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio was introduced by Pyter and had its first reading.
Expenses
Bartels moved and Pyter seconded the motion to authorize the following expenditures:
- $100.00 – Ohio Utilities Protection Service – 2024 Assessment
The motion was approved (5-0).
Comments from Residents on Non-Agenda Items
There were no comments from residents on non-agenda items.
Next Meeting Announcement
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at the Old Worthington Library.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Bartels moved and Heidkamp seconded the motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously (6-0). The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
Joshua C. Mehling, Clerk-Treasurer
Daniel E. Schlichting, Mayor