December 18th, 2017 Council Minutes
Once approved, a link to the official council minutes will be at the bottom.
COUNCIL MINUTES
DECEMBER 18, 2017
St. Clairsville City Council met in Council Chambers on Monday, December 18, 2017, with the following present:
Jim Weisgerber, Council President Terry Pugh, Mayor
Mark Bukmir, Council 3rd Ward Jim Zucal, Service Director
Linda Jordan, Council-At-Large Jeff Henry, Police Chief
Beth Oprisch, Council-At-Large Cindi Henry, Finance Director
Jake Olsavsky, Council 1st Ward Richard Myser, Law Director
Frank Sabatino, Council 2nd Ward Tom Murphy, Planning & Zoning Administrator
Mike Smith, Council-At-Large
John Tomlan, Council 4th Ward
The meeting was called to order by Council President Jim Weisgerber.
MINUTES
Minutes of the December 4, 2017 regular meeting were distributed to Council. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Linda Jordan and seconded by Beth Oprisch
Roll Call Vote:
Bukmir Yes Sabatino Abstain
Jordan Yes Smith Yes
Oprisch Yes Tomlan Yes
Olsavsky Yes
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) Yes Zero (0) No One (1) Abstain Motion Approved
CITIZENS HEARING: Officer Mike Clark, St. Clairsville Police Department
For over 40 years, our dispatchers have served not only the public, but also many City employees and departments. They provided an invaluable service behind the scenes. Keeping our patrolmen safe is a job that cannot be underestimated. Not only are they an important part of our team, they are an important part of our family as well. The patrolmen would like to extend our deepest thanks for their constant watch and support. Our families are also most grateful for the calls to home to let them know we were working over unexpectedly, or that we were safe during some very terrible situations we take care of. Over the years, these dispatchers took thousands of calls from the public. We are thankful for their many services: taking care of City Bonds, parking tickets, citizen and city visitor inquiries, notary services, report writing and proofing, answering after-hour calls for all the city utilities and other departments, and many other duties. It is with utmost gratefulness that we offer our sincerest thanks to these city employees, and pray that their talents of community service will continue to be a benefit to others. Jim Weisgerber: We appreciate the comments.
REPORTS:
Service Director: Jim Zucal
We do have a new Water/Wastewater Superintendent, Kendal Weisend, he did start today. He brings experience to the city as a class III water operator and a class I wastewater operator. We are excited about having Kendal onboard with the experience and knowledge he brings to the Utility field. We also had a young man Nathan Teater fill the position as a laborer in the Electric Department. He showed up to work today, today is his first day. He brings experience to us, he has an Associate Degree, pole climbing and lineman experience. Hopefully he will move up to a Journeyman Lineman.
We also have undertaken some storm sewer repairs recently, we do have a contractor in town. We had an issue on Harbel Avenue for Mr. Bugala. We put in two new catch basins and fixed the problem. We are doing other small problem areas in the City. It think it is a successful venture to take on these water issues, there are plenty of them out there.
We had several water breaks recently, I want to complement the crews they did go out and tackle those breaks and they are doing a fine job. Those are the first two breaks we have had in over eight months. Freezing and thawing is a bad cycle of weather events for utilities. We will continue to provide the quality service that we always do. Beth Oprisch: I received an email about a boil order for 48 hours. I just wondered how we communicate that information for something like that.
Jim Zucal: That is a good question Beth. There is a procedure in place, we have got to make that a little better. That came up unexpectedly, it is pretty much the call of the Superintendent. We contact the media and we are also looking at the 911 system to see if they can follow up on that. Ohio Law on boil orders there is some criteria there. You have to have 100 customers that it effects or a square mile area. We didn’t feel that it was a major impact. We can also chlorinate the line by putting chlorine tablets in the line. It was minor but to answer your question right now we have only used the media. Our employees go directly to the properties close by knocking on doors but if it becomes a major problem we will work through the 911 system. Frank Sabatino: Is our new chlorine system in? Jim Zucal: It is not. Of course you know from November 1st to April 1st we have a waiver on the Wastewater. On the Water end we still have the gas system. A contractor is coming in to do some other work. We have some leaking seals, etc. but it is planned to go through here in the winter months.
Mayor Terry Pugh:
Police Report for November 2017
Calls and Complaints 241
Special Teams Call Outs 2
Accidents 17
Arrests 15
Parking Tickets Issued 55
Traffic Stops 72
Miles put on Cruisers 5,032
Gasoline Used 467.7 gallons
On December 6th the District 18 Ohio Public Works Commission had their Executive Committee Meeting in Marietta. Jim Zucal and I attended it and we brought back good news. Our project for the water tank was selected as one of the projects to be funded. We are going to receive a $400,000 low interest loan as well as a $400,000 grant.
We have two vacancies on the Architectural Board of Review and he would like to have Pat Bruhn and Chris Hudson reappointed for three year terms. A motion to reappoint Pat and Chris was made by Jake Olsavsky and seconded by Linda Jordan.
Roll Call Vote:
Bukmir Yes Sabatino Yes
Jordan Yes Smith Yes
Oprisch Yes Tomlan Yes
Olsavsky Yes
Roll Call Vote: Seven (7) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
The Board of Zoning Appeals has one reappointment. Randy Bernard, a Federal Attorney, has been on the Board for about 8 years and would like to be reappointed for another four year term. A motion was made by Jake Olsavsky and seconded by Mike Smith to reappoint Randy.
Roll Call Vote:
Bukmir Yes Sabatino Yes
Jordan Yes Smith Yes
Oprisch Yes Tomlan Yes
Olsavsky Yes
Roll Call Vote: Seven (7) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
I would like to thank all City employees for the water line break on Saturday night into Sunday. It happened about 4:00 in the morning and the Police, the Dispatcher. The water was freezing on Marietta so along with the Water Department we had the Street Department to salt the street down. While that was going on someone hit a power pole and sheered it off at Halloran Park. That required the whole Electric Department to come out. We had to install a new pole and we had to shut down the west side of the city for about an hour to make the switch. Everybody worked together well and again I thank everyone for what they did for the City.
Police Chief, Jeff Henry:
Frank Sabatino: Asked the Chief to comment on the scam phone calls that people in the City have been receiving. Jeff Henry: They are using local phone numbers so you will answer and they are selling cruises or life insurance. They figure you will pick up the phone. We had a citizen call today who had a call that her Grandson was in an accident and was locked up in jail.
Finance Director, Cindi Henry:
The first meeting in January is the 2nd and we might need to have a special meeting.
Planning & Zoning, Tom Murphy:
The meeting to approve the final plat for the St. Clair Commons has not been rescheduled. There are some items that still need to be addressed first.
Jim Weisgerber: All of you have the new committee assignments for the New Year. They are going to be in place. The Mayor and I sat down and discussed the committees and this is what I came up with.
COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
Finance, Mike Smith: No Report
Utilities, Frank Sabatino:
Just like to welcome the two new Gentlemen who started today I am sure they will be a fine addition to our Utility Department. I appreciate all that our employees did over the weekend. The next meeting will be Tuesday, January 2nd at 6:30.
Police, Mark Bukmir: No Report
Street North Side, Jake Olsavsky: No Report
Street South Side, Linda Jordan: No Report
Safety, Beth Oprisch:
There will be a Safety Meeting on Thursday at 9:00 at the City Garage
Building & Grounds, Mark Bukmir: No Report
Planning Commission, Mike Smith: No Report
Fire District, Frank Sabatino:
The Fire Board met in regular session on November 29th, discussed the renewal of the Health Insurance Policy. Met this morning and the Insurance was approved by the Union. Next meeting will be January 10th at 3:00 P.M.
Recreation, Linda Jordan:
They are in the process of Hockey and Indoor Soccer signup. They are also in the process of planning Community Day. It will be held on June 30th next year. We do need people to rent tables for $10. Next meeting will be January 15th.
Park District, Linda Jordan: Next meeting will be January 8th.
ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
Law Director, Richard Myser:
The only thing we have tonight in the way of legislation is the third reading for Ordinance No. 2017-49. This is the Ordinance prohibiting the medical marijuana cultivation, process and retail distribution. This Ordinance was read for the first time on November 6th, the second time on November 20th and it was read for the third time on December 4th. At the December 4th meeting we made a motion not to act on it. Tonight it will come up for a vote if Council so wishes. It will take a vote of four Council Members to pass this Ordinance.
There was presented to Council, ORDINANCE NO. 2017-49. A motion was made by Beth Oprisch and seconded by John Tomlan to table Ordinance No. 2017-49.
Roll Call Vote:
Bukmir No Sabatino No
Jordan No Smith Yes
Oprisch Yes Tomlan Yes
Olsavsky Yes
Roll Call Vote: Four (4) Yes Three (3) No Ordinance Tabled
NEW BUSINESS:
Jim Zucal: I want to let the Public know that I have had several questions and phone calls recently from people who have been contacted by a vendor door to door or through the mail about purchasing insurance for water line breaks. The City does not indorse or suggest water line insurance. A water line break from the main line back to the home does not happen very often.
Jim Weisgerber: Tonight is my last meeting with the City Council. I have appreciated the 20+ years that I have put in here. I have appreciated the Council’s work over the years. Beth Oprisch: I would like to extend best wishes to you and also the two Councilman who are leaving Jake & John.
NEXT MEETING:
The next Council meeting will be Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. in Council Chambers.
There being no further business to come before Council a motion to adjourn was made by John Tomlan and seconded by Mike Smith