CLERK'S JOURNAL OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE COUNCIL

OF THE CITY OF EATON, OHIO, HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS

OF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, AT 7:00 P.M., ON MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2005

Mayor Robert Stonecash called to order the regular meeting of Eaton City Council on Monday, April 18, 2005, at 7:00 .m., in Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. Tom Haynes delivered the invocation and led the pledge to the flag. The Deputy Clerk called the roll and found the following to be:

Present: Joe Renner

Dave Kirsch

Ben Maffett

Gary Wagner, Vice Mayor

Robert Stonecash, Mayor

Absent: None

Also in attendance as Dave Daily, City Manager.

MINUTES

In the March 21, 2005 regular meeting minutes, under Resolution 05-18, it was reported that Councilman Kirsch made the motion to adopt the resolution; it should have been Councilman Maffett. Councilman Renner moved to approve the Clerk's Journal entries for the regular meeting of March 21, 2005, as corrected, to accept the tapes as the official minutes for the regular meeting of March 21, 2005, and to acknowledge receipt of the March financial reports. Councilman Wagner seconded the motion which passed as follows:

Ayes: Renner, Maffett, Wagner, Stonecash (4)

Nays: None (0)

Abstain: Kirsch (1)

DR. JOE DeLUCA

Eaton Community School Superintendent Dr. Joe DeLuca addressed the upcoming May 3 special election at which time Issue 3 would be presented to the voters. Issue 3 represents an additional 1/2% income tax needed for the operations of the school system. Dr. DeLuca presented several facts and figures, answered questions, thanked Council for their past support and asked for their support of this vital issue.

DIVISION REPORTS

Police Chief Phil Romeo, Fire Chief Rick Crowe, EMS Chief Marsha Stonecash, Engineer Joe Ferriell, Supervisor Greg Frost and Public Works Superintendent Andy Eddy reported on the past quarter's activities of their individual departments.

EMS SOFT BILLING PRESENTATION

Representatives from MBI delivered a presentation on their company's business of providing 'soft billing' services for EMS runs.

ADMINISTER OATH TO THE AUDIENCE

The oath was administered to the audience who wished to address Council at the Public Hearing.

PUBLIC HEARING

Mayor Stonecash opened the public hearing on the proposed application for the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP). Fran Alvis was present to discuss this application and process. This is the second of two public hearings that will be conducted on the CHIP. Funding in the total amount of $556,000 will be applied for the various programs that will be offered to Eaton residents for housing needs. The public hearing was closed.

RESOLUTION 05-19

This resolution adopts the Community Housing Improvement Strategy for the years 2005 through 2009.

Councilman Wagner moved for the adoption of Resolution 05-19. Councilman Kirsch seconded the motion which passed as follows:

Ayes: Kirsch, Wagner, Stonecash (3)

Nays: None (0)

Abstain: Renner, Maffett (2)

RESOLUTION 05-20

This resolution authorizes the application for the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) grant.

Councilman Renner moved for the adoption of Resolution 05-20. Councilman Kirsch seconded the motion which passed as follows:

Ayes: Renner, Kirsch, Wagner, Stonecash (4)

Nays: None (0)

Abstain: Maffett (1)

RESOLUTION 05-21

This resolution authorize the execution of the Designation Agreement with the Home is the (H.I.T.) Foundation for their administration services with the CHIP.

Councilman Kirsch moved for the adoption of Resolution 05-21. Councilman Renner seconded the motion which passed as follows:

Ayes: Renner, Kirsch, Wagner, Stonecash (4)

Nays: None (0)

Abstain: Maffett (2)

ORDINANCE 05-06

This Ordinance amends Section 1363.05, the Property Maintenance Code, of the Codified Ordinances, entitled "Electrical Equipment." This is due to a change in the Ohio Basic Building Code.

Councilman Maffett moved for the second reading of Ordinance 05-06, by title only. Councilman Renner seconded the motion which passed as follows:

Ayes: Renner, Kirsch, Maffett, Wagner, Stonecash (5)

Nays: None (0)

Law Director Donnette Fisher read Ordinance 05-06, by title only.

Councilman Renner moved for the adoption of Ordinance 05-06. Councilman Wagner seconded the motion which passed as follows:

Ayes: Renner, Kirsch, Maffett, Wagner, Stonecash (5)

Nays: None (0)

RESOLUTION 05-22

Sidewalks along West Main Street beginning at the Cemetery and continuing around the corner on Camden Road, connecting with the high school's new sidewalk are now complete. This resolution authorizes a 'Notice of Estimated Assessments for the Construction of Sidewalks along West Main Street and Camden Road' to be published for the affected property owners who will be assessed for this project.

Councilman Wagner moved for the adoption of Resolution 05-22. Councilman Maffett seconded the motion which passed as follows:

Ayes: Renner, Kirsch, Maffett, Wagner, Stonecash (5)

Nays: None (0)

RESOLUTION 05-23

After much discussion on Court officials lack of pre-budgeting this item, authorization was given for the City Manager and the Finance Director to enter into a lease agreement for computer equipment and operating software for Municipal Court. A meeting will be conducted with Municipal Court Judge Henry and Clerk Bertha Kalil and two Council members to discuss the issue.

Councilman Kirsch moved to adopt Resolution 05-23. The motion was seconded by Councilman Renner and passed as follows:

Ayes: Renner, Kirsch, Maffett, Wagner (4)

Nays: Stonecash (1)

RESOLUTION 05-24

Bids were solicited from three agencies to provide the City's casualty and property insurance. This resolution awards the bid to Simon Deem Insurance Agency, Eaton, Ohio.

Councilman Renner moved to adopt Resolution 05-24. The motion was seconded by Councilman Maffett and passed as follows:

Ayes: Renner, Kirsch, Maffett, Wagner, Stonecash (5)

Nays: None (0)

RESOLUTION 05-25

Bids were solicited for three trucks, two pickup trucks for the Public Works Division and a one-ton truck cab and chassis for the Public Maintenance Division. This resolution awards the bid for the two Public Works' trucks to Studebaker Buick, Richmond, Indiana, and rejects all bids received for the Public Maintenance Division. This vehicle will be re-bid next month.

Councilman Renner moved to adopt Resolution 05-25. The motion was seconded by Councilman Maffett and passed as follows:

Ayes: Renner, Maffett, Wagner, Stonecash (4)

Nays: None (0)

Abstain: Kirsch (1)

CITY MANAGER'S REPORT

a. Judge Dues is hopeful to expand the YMCA on Washington-Jackson Road by acquiring the neighboring four acres to the east of the facility.

b. The zoning code re-write is in its final stages. There will be one or two more review meetings on April 19/26. The updated code will then go to Planning Board for their recommendation, anticipated to be at their May meeting; then, onto Council for final adoption with the anticipated being first reading at the June meeting.

c. The grant process continues for the water tower and treatment plant projects.

d. Survey work continues at the old City landfill with the final report will being submitted to Council as soon as it is received.

e. The upcoming railroad crossing repairs in the City were reviewed.

f. Appraisals were received on the five properties on the section of Aukerman Street to be widened. Property owners will have two weeks to respond to this offer. A special Council meeting was tentatively set for Monday, May 9, 2005, time to be determined in the event that it is needed to keep the project on schedule.

g. Upcoming projects out for bid in May will be the municipal paving project and the Aukerman Street storm sewer.

h. Discussion of the decline of local funding by the State continues. The Community Improvement Corporation met recently with the passage of the State budget being discussed. It was noted that District Representative Keith Faber voted against its passage. It was believed that a recent meeting which included representatives from many County entities, such as county, city, village and township government, schools, libraries, attended. It was hoped that this effective group continues as a lobby group for this and any other upcoming issues.

i. Jon Hartman will be in attendance at a work session at the May 19 Council meeting, 6:00 p.m., to present his quarterly report and to review the strategy report that he distributed at the February Council meeting.

MAYOR'S REPORT

a. Mayor Stonecash read a thank you note from the Preble County Girl Scouts for allowing them to use the Youth Center for their annual cookie sale.

b. The City's Bicentennial Committee continues to meet and plan for the upcoming celebration. They are a hard-working, enthusiastic group.

c. Pheasant Run, paving some new roadways, building continues

d. DEI, activities planned for the summer, Car show, antique show, music on main, beautifying downtown by planting flowers in the various cutouts.

e. Update on the tennis courts, completion date is 5/30/05. Poles for fences just now going up. The surface needed to cure over the winter.

OLD BUSINESS

a. The status of properties in violation of the property maintenance code were updated. Those properties were two homes across from the Fairgrounds on South Franklin Street, the business property on Dairy Lane owned by Maurice Duggins and the multi-family home on South Barron Street that was substantially damaged by a fire over 18 months ago owned by Greg Parsley. After working with the owner on workout issues on the property it was emphatically agreed that it was time for this house to be demolished. Following some research on this demolition, legislation will be brought back to Council at their next meeting. It was reported that the HIT Foundation will be finalizing the purchase of the property destroyed by fire in January at the corner of Somers and Maple Streets owned by Greg Parsley.

NEW BUSINESS

a. John Herring, 716 Richmond Pike, was in attendance to request assistance in getting the speed limit reduced on Richmond Pike. With the amount of vehicular and truck traffic, he believes a safety hazard exists for motorists as well as the residents of that area and would request a speed limit of 35 mph. Engineer Joe Ferriell will work with Ohio Department of Transportation representatives to investigate the possibility of this speed limit reduction.

ADJOURN

Councilman Maffett moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Renner seconded the motion which passed as follows:

Ayes: Renner, Maffett, Wagner, Stonecash (4)

Nays: Kirsch (1)

___________________________ ____________________________

Deputy Clerk of Council Mayor

Approved as to form____________________________________________

Law Director