Vob Committee & Council - Regular Meeting

Mr. Carroll or Mr. McLean, if one of you would care to take care of this. Go ahead, Phil.

Let me get a little help here. How do I?

Just follow the agenda. You got the agenda? Follow the agenda. Follow the agenda.

Total order. So we'll start with the roll call, I guess.

OK. Schaffner's absent. Carroll?

Schaffner's absent. Carroll's here. And I'm here. Also in attendance is Mayor Rick Ellis, VA Matthew Neiheiser. police chief Brett Rogers, fiscal officer Brian Beibler, uh, solicitor Jeff Faco, um, councilmen, council members, uh, Gar Phillips, Rick Foreman, and Randy McCreery. Uh, so we'll start with approval of the April 27th, 2026 meeting. I can get, uh, I guess I'll second that motion to approve the minutes from the April 27th, 2026 meeting.

All in favor?

Aye. And the minutes are approved. All right. Do we have any visitors for rules?

Yeah, but they all chose no to speak. Okay.

Okay. Um, let's see, 2026 goals. Number one is blank.

It's blank because the committee's never established any goals. Okay. Yet.

I think it's probably a good idea to follow the rules. That should be a really good goal to do.

That's a good goal. I mean, goals like to... Yeah. Something that needs to be done between now and the end of the year. So, like, a couple years ago, it was...

Rewrite the rules.

Not rewrite the rules, but finalize the job descriptions for the VA and that kind of stuff. Which we did.

Oh, okay. Yeah. Okay.

But right now, there's nothing right now.

Nothing yet.

All right. I guess we could put on there, if we wanted to, the policy. Well, we're updating. We're updating. It's already been updated. We're just in the process of updating.

Yeah, and we'll wait for Debbie, the chairman of the committee, to have her say on all this. So moving on to old business. Under old business number one is codification of ordinances overlap with code sections.

I didn't know whether to leave this on. Is that, are we still working on it? Yeah, leave it on. Leave it on? I'm still working on it. That's still on.

And that was the one where they, a resident had submitted. Clean up. Clean up stuff.

It was a good thing, yes.

Yeah. Number two is the proposal to amend chapter 804. I believe this was mine. It is. Okay. Yeah.

And I have drafted that prepared, so I'll submit that before.

Perfect. Thank you. And just for everybody's awareness, Matt and Mr. Faco sent me a copy of the ordinances that I believe it was Pickerington, Lancaster, Reynoldsburg, and Canal Winchester for similar wording and uh, Mr. Faco and I discussed that a little bit and then, uh, we'll, we'll, we will just keep that on there and see what, what happens with that when that comes, when that becomes available. Uh, moving on to new business chapter two to zero of codified ordinances.

Yeah, basically that's on the agenda because, uh, the chairman, um, It said in here that it has to be reviewed once a year, and that's why it's on the agenda. So this is your chance to go through this. If you want to leave it as is, leave it as is. If you want to make any changes to this, now's the time to discuss it. The chairman goes in here and says it should be reviewed once a year. She saw that somewhere in here.

Okay, that's... And it hasn't been reviewed yet this year. It has not been reviewed yet this year. Okay. So I think we need to give it a review.

Is there anything that needs to be added? Not that I'm aware of. I don't think so either. I mean, it's just... It just says...

Pending some cases that are out there, it might need changed. But I don't want to be premature on that. We can always bring it back in. Yeah, we can. And I didn't know if Debbie had any. Debbie might have a reason why.

Yeah, she may have a reason why she did, too. Yep.

OK. That's not what I came out to be for, though.

Yeah. No, that's what I'm a little worried about.

Texted her. So just for everybody's awareness here, Jamie, I guess specifically you, chapter 220 is provided here in the packet so yeah so next on the agenda was number two item number two is ordinance 2026-20 and that's an ordinance to amend chapter 12 title 4 zoning code appendix e uh site development checklist for planned development projects impact fees of the Baltimore Codified Ordinances to delete references to impact fees.

I'll let Jeff explain.

Yeah, that's a cleanup. So it just deletes any reference to impact fees to be abolished.

And this is one of those cleanup ordinances. And it's been through planning and zoning and they've recommended it. So...

So move it to council? Yeah. Should we move it to?

Then, yeah. It needs to come out of committee.

Okay. I'll make a motion to send this to full council tonight.

Usually, if you move it to council, you're sponsoring it.

I will sponsor it, I suppose. Can I get a second?

A second.

Okay.

And we have a draft ordinance for agenda item number three of new business. And this is an ordinance to amend certain portions of part 12 planning and zoning code of the Baltimore codified ordinances in order to delete maximum lot coverage requirements.

Again, I'll defer to our solicitor for this.

Yes, I was requested to prepare a draft ordinance for this. I did. It went to planning and zoning. Planning and zoning reviewed the matter. This deals with improving services. And there was a request that we prepared. I prepared legislation that in certain districts, dealing with maximum lot coverage percentages. And so because that's a proposed amendment to the zoning code, it has to go to Planning and Zoning. They reviewed it. They came back and said, we like this. Don't change it. And the vote, I believe, in MACRAC made the loan is six to zero by Planning and Zoning Commission to keep it as is.

Yeah, I'll second that.

If I may, I would like to point out the letter that was shared by Mr. Mauger, the committee chair, just to make sure everybody reads that.

it is should we discuss these matters here or at council discussing here yeah we got time yeah okay so I'll go ahead and talk about a little bit that's all right So we received that letter from Planning and Zoning, and I don't know if they understood what was being asked of them. Their letter was just a declaration with no analysis behind it. Didn't really have any, didn't cite any studies, didn't really say what this was based on. They were raising some issues, but not why. So it was really kind of, guess declaratory I don't know I don't know a better word for it it was a one-page letter that was basically I mean it was a post-it note had all the same effect of a post-it note saying no we don't like that so if I can just speak to that I thought I was not here when planning and zoning originally discussed this but they spent many meetings discussing this and I think

those things were perhaps those things were passed on to council back then so I think planning and zoning looked at this as a we've already discussed this I think the same members that were on it then were the same members that were on it now they looked at it said nothing that we looked at in the past has changed in our perspective and so the purpose of the letter was just to communicate that on to council okay so do we know did they

Those previous, and you're on, okay, so were the previous analysis, were they based on stormwater data, flood history, engineering studies?

Surrounding communities, and we stated that if someone wanted to apply for a variance, that would be fine.

So there are exceptions to that rule?

Correct, correct.

See, the way I see it is property owner, that's their property. They own it. It's their biggest investment in their life. And if we're going to tell them what they can and can't do with their own property.

But so is the land that is beside that particular lot or those lots. we should have this restriction as opposed to hey we're gonna shift the burden to you and you have to prove to us through a variance request water I mean look at all the data on the storm water that's a huge part of it I think that's what I was expecting from no we already went through that months of meetings and data so mr. Mauger did not present that we have already gone through all of that I think we were shocked it it was very lightly mentioned that okay We just want to do away with that. The decision that was made was definitely made on data, information based on the I&I, stormwater issues, plus looking at surrounding communities. So no, it was not just on a whim.

So the house is over on Tower Street. That's a good – we kind of ignored that. And we built the house in front on Market Street, and then we got a house on Tower Street that encompasses right up against the property owner that lives on the corner of Tower and Market. And they're having all kinds of flooding issues because there wasn't – we didn't do it right. We didn't – Well, there's just all kinds of stuff.

Put in a big concrete driveway and all that water now runs right into the garage across the street.

So that's a valid thing. But to say that all people can't have a certain percentage, over a certain percentage paved or impervious... Um, it's very broad where you could have a more narrowly tailored scope of a rule of, Hey, if you are going to do this, you need to show that you're going to, um, you know, consider the, the water runoff and what you're doing to your neighbors. And I think, yeah, that's the one.

And the other part I do want to state is that our community, we decided to consider gravel, because technically a lot of other communities see gravel as being impervious. So we stated, it's more pervious than impervious. But again, I guess, But the greatest thing to consider is that they can apply for our variance.

Where's Mr. Prickett at with his? He submitted his various requests not early enough to get onto the June agenda, but his is on the July agenda.

So I would say, in my opinion, it would be better to have that written into the rule as opposed to a variance that, hey, if you're going to request

more than this percentage maybe is the way to write it i'm not we can debate we can discuss all of this um it really disproportionately affects our three old town lots more far more so than it does say the two acre lots on holder road that this is almost not even an issue they have water issues out there you're not blaming impermeable surfaces for the water situation on holder road i don't know why you blame it anywhere else

Well, the house is on the table.

Clay here does not absorb water, so the difference between concrete and clay in Baltimore, Ohio, is insignificant.

Right, but I feel like that house on Tower Street is built so close to the other house that we didn't take that into consideration, and now it's the person...

He literally had the opportunity to catch it in the gutters and pipe it to the storm sewer. He just didn't do it.

And he could be sued for that.

Well, the homeowner could... It's a nuisance. Yeah, I mean... But I just feel like those two houses are right on top of the other houses.

It should never have been allowed to have been built. Yeah, I don't even think that one or either one of them met the restrictions at the time. So they're bad examples of this.

Very bad examples. You're correct about that.

Well, but they're a good example of what runoff can do.

Too much surface. That's all. My neighbor is negatively affected by my house. I'm not even really close to this limit anymore. But what really causes the water problem on my house is the sidewalk that I was required to put in because the water used to roll off into the grass to get to the storm sewer. Now it can't. So you have to look at what the actual root cause of the water problem is. You can't just say, well, it's because he's got a third bedroom or an outbuilding or a concrete driveway. That isn't necessarily what's causing the water problem. What's causing the water problem is how you dealt with it. I mean, it actually opens the opportunity to actually capture the stormwater and deal with it better.

Well, and I think now, how we're doing things now with those houses, like, I don't think we would have let, I think those houses just kind of snuck in there because there wasn't somebody overseeing that stuff.

Right. So, like I say, those are bad examples. And there are plenty of existing properties in town that far, far exceed this percentage. Mr. Mauger's being one great example of it.

Up at the bank, yeah.

I mean, you're welcome to tear all that down and put it back to grass if you think it's going to help the water problem, but, you know.

So what do we do with this? That does have a different maximum lot coverage based on zoning. That isn't a good example I just don't want to

Whoever is sitting in this room should never. That was the administrator who left those houses. Right. I'm very aware. And neither one of them should be there. It's not big enough.

There is another ordinance that I would ask for rules to consider.

Yeah.

It's one that was just circulated this afternoon because we just received a proposed contractor.

I did include emergency language in the ordinance.

It's not right for adoption this evening, in my opinion, because we still have to tweak and get clarification. From the sheriff? Well, yeah, from the prosecutor's office on behalf of the sheriff on some of the language in the proposed agreement, just for a little bit. resolution that the county commissioners approved, which is to prevent the county jail from accepting prisoners that come out of Baltimore Mayor's Court. And the mayor's thinking, I don't know, I have no clue what the heck you're talking about. Nobody had any clue because we weren't contacted by anyone in the county, including, I believe, the sheriffs. And so I did some research on it. We used to have a contract between the village and Fairfield County to house inmates that were facing charges out of our mayor's court. And that was in 1990. As Brian mentioned earlier. And on a side note, I looked at that. We have all new county commissioners. We have a new mayor. We have a new fiscal officer. I'm the only person on all of those documents and the resolutions and the contract that is still here. And so I reached out to the prosecutor's office and said, by the way, did you know that there was a contract? They had no idea. They had no idea that there used to be a contract. It was only for one year, so it expired in 99, I believe. So I sent that to the county prosecutor's office and said, you know, the language in the resolution makes it sound like that we haven't been cooperative, that we were. And my recollection is we never received any follow-up contract from the county after that contract expired. It wasn't a major issue because we didn't have a lot of prisoners that we were sending from the village to the county to be housed in the county jail. And my recollection is that... We have a lot now.

We had three in the last two years, and I don't think we had... any in the previous...

I'm assuming Lancaster and Pickerington are under the same contract? We don't know for sure. I think that's relevant.

Wythopolis has a mayor's court, but they don't send anybody to... They don't send anybody to jail. And Pickerington

There's a reason why Pickerton and Lexer came down mine first.

So that's the history, brief history here behind this. And so the prosecutor timely submitted this just today, but they submitted it. And technically, it doesn't have to be adopted tonight. They put an effective date of July the 1st, but they have to give us 90 days advance notice before they can refuse to accept

I would say we bring it up at the next meeting then.

Well, if Council wants to, they can amend the agenda to include it tonight, or they can wait until the next Council meeting and have it included then.

I think we can pass it out of rules and then take it up at the next Council meeting. Yeah. I agree with that. Yeah. Before we vote on it, I'd really like to know the answer to that question. I don't know how we get it.

I have some questions, too. So... We're talking about... This is when the mayor's court sends someone to jail? Yes. Not that they're here and then they also have warrants for something else?

It's only for actions out of mayor's court.

Okay. Yeah, if you arrest somebody for warrants or something, it's not the same thing.

If it's... As long as it's not our warrant.

Right.

Yeah. And so when the... When the deputies, the county deputies, they pull someone over here in our village, those people go to our mayor's court?

No. Okay. They go to municipal court, and they write them under state code.

So this is just our police, our mayor's court?

Yeah.

Okay.

So if we write, like if we get some kind of first-degree misdemeanor that we think they'll probably get jail time for, we would just write them under state code and We can write under either code.

I mean, we can send this to council, and by the time the next meeting, a lot of this should be... Well, we'll have it figured out.

Yeah, or just amend the agenda and have the first reading.

But don't pass it tonight, just to let it be read.

Yeah, let it be read. Okay.

Well, let's send it to council then. I'll make that motion to send this on up to full council.

Wait a second. He seconded it. He seconded it. All in favor? Aye. There you go.

Okay. So that's it then, right? Well, yeah. I'm sorry, what? That's all I have. Okay. So the next meeting will be? The next meeting will be held on the fourth Monday in July, July 27th at, is that right, 6 p.m.? Okay.

Unless safety doesn't have an agenda.

Unless safety has no agenda, then it'll be 6.30. So I guess we're prepared to adjourn now. I'll motion. Jamie seconded.

And we're adjourned at 6.55.

6.55. It is. Okay. Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those

is not a temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible,

Brian, may I get a roll call, please?

Carol? Here. Foreman? Here. Curry? Present. McLean? Here. Phillips? Here. And Schaffner's absent.

Ms. Schaffner is getting ready to walk in the door here in a minute.

Oh, she's getting ready to walk in the door? Okay.

Can I get an approval of the minutes of June 8, 2026?

I am approved. The minutes moved to approve the minutes. It's on.

Any discussion for that?

What's that? I'm sorry, who, what?

No, is there any discussion? Yep, Jamie seconded it. Is there any discussion on the minutes? Brian, may I get a roll call on that too, please?

McLean. Oh, yeah. McCreary. Yes. Sorry. Carol. Phillips. McLean.

Yes.

Foreman. And...

Are you going to vote on the approval of the minutes from last meeting? I will make a motion to amend the agenda.

to include ordinance 2026-21.

Any discussion? That's just so we can get it for the first reading. And then next meeting we'll have the information will be spelled out for us. We can roll from then. Any discussion on that?

Okay. McLean?

Yes.

Foreman? Yes. Joffner?

Carol yes okay with that said do we have visitors that would like to oh I'm sorry I need a motion to approve the agenda that's correct I think we have one more amendment for the draft ordinance for the maximum lot coverage to put it on the agenda yes oh you're right I apologize sorry Phil

We need to vote on that, too.

I'll make that motion. To amend the agenda to include it, yes. Yes. Foreman will second that.

Wait a minute.

Okay.

We need to have a vote on that as well, Brian.

Okay, so motion to not only add order 2026-21, but add the draft order.

Yes, sir.

Okay. McLean?

Yes.

Foreman? Yes. Schaffner?

This is to amend the agenda?

Yeah.

This is just to amend the agenda. We're just going to talk about some other things that we moved up from rules to council.

Oh, okay. Yes.

I got the McLean for me. Carol? Yes. McCreary? Yes. Phillips? Yes. Okay. And then?

Now a motion.

Now a motion to approve. Now a motion. As amended.

The floor makes a motion to approve the agenda as amended. I'll second it.

Okay. Foreman? Yes. McLean? Yes. Schaffner? Yes. Carroll? Yes. McCreary? Yes. Phillips? Yes.

Okay.

Okay. Are there visitors that need to speak, Brian?

Uh...

Yep, right up to the mic. Right up to the mic.

So everybody can hear me. Just hold that button in until the light turns on. Perfect. There you go.

Yep. I just wanted to come and introduce myself. I'm Nikki Havoc. I'm a realtor with EXP Realty. I just joined their new homes division. And what they do is they work with developers to make sure that the communities and stuff that are coming into growing areas actually bring in housing and stuff that fits the community's needs. So I wanted to start coming to you guys because you're a hot topic. Just kind of listen to see what you guys need and put stuff like that.

Good.

And then I'm also a veteran housing advisor, so I can work with veterans that are homeless to get them into housing if they are on disability. And then I can also work with them to become investors, teach them how to use their VA benefits.

I would tell you that it would probably be a good idea for you to contact our administrator, Matt, Mr. Neunhauser, there and have a conversation with him, perhaps set up a meeting and go over what you do and then He could lead you. You know, we have a business association as of late in Baltimore, too. That might be a good thing to be a part of. Matt can guide you through all that, too. Okay. There's all kinds of stuff like that. But, yeah.

Yes.

Yeah. Anybody else have any questions?

Thank you for helping our vets. Yeah.

Yes, we do appreciate that. Thank you. That would be it. That would be it. Okay. Let's go to Village Administration Reports. I really don't have much of anything other than the fact that I feel like things are going good at all the parks. They're being used. You're going to speak to the pool, where we're at on that. I mean, the pool's going fantastic, too. The pool's doing great. For the weather that we've had... They're really, he's still, he's not staying open when it's raining. I mean, I went by a couple times.

Yeah, they were closed today. Yes.

And they, you know, we did, we made that parking lot a little bigger across from there. And I feel like that is definitely helping. It's got an extra 60 spots if they park right. What did you come up with on the Graber as far as the shelter house on the grant?

Yeah, so we have talked with Graber. They're going to send over an updated quote probably Wednesday. And it looks like they will be able to install at the very earliest. It will be the end of August, but probably more like mid to late September of this year.

And that is the grant that we were given a couple years ago for Johnson Park to do the – there's a shelter house with a restroom, a walking path, and a small playground as well. You know, with that, I really don't have anything else to add. Mr. Administrator?

I don't have anything to add to my report.

and you have that they have your report yes okay anybody have any questions for matt's report one question and it's with the pool parking yeah um i noticed some signs about softball parking and pool parking yes and i was just trying to understand so so sometimes so three times this year they had a softball tournament

And when softball tournaments come to Baltimore, it's pretty crazy.

Yeah.

And so it is our goal. It's not our goal. It is our. The most important parking over there is the pool parking because we make the income off of that. Brett, the pool manager, and the guy that's the president of the Little Girls Softball Association, I feel like this year is more cohesive than it's ever been as far as getting along. And we don't want them parking... A couple weeks ago, they parked on the sidewalk in between the ball... I mean, so I think we worked out those bugs, but yeah. And I think... I feel like Brett and... And what's the kid's name? Devin. Devin. They're working through it all. And the other thing there is on Saturdays, if there's a tournament that pools open and somebody rents a shelter house, we have to take that in consideration, too, because they're paying for the shelter house.

Yeah.

So there's the parking that we did in the cinder lot next door. It was part of that grant. We made it a little bit bigger than that, and I feel like it's, again, it's got us some more spaces. Plus, behind Diamond 2, the diamond straight across, there's a field back there that we own, and as long as it's dry, it can accommodate up to 47 to 50 cars, too. And they use that, and they start using that first and then work their way down and around. think there's been times when it's been uh the pool against the softball people there is no the pool against anybody because that's how we make money off the pool so and that's where it's at i feel like it's went really well so far this year i guess my concern was like are we pushing the people i just i didn't know if it could be

If I'm pulling up there and I don't know any better, I would be like, oh, I can't park here. Yeah. Where are the softball games at? And then they'll try to park out on the street.

Well, the pool. So he is generally out there when this is going on, the pool manager or one of his people. And then the softball tournament this last time, they had four people directing traffic.

Okay.

So.

So it was more than just the signs. Oh, yes.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Because if it wasn't, the softball people would take all the parking and there would be no parking. Yeah, yeah. Because they're not from here. The other thing is, and I wanted to bring this up too while we're on the subject of that, is so, you know, when the tournaments come, I've talked to a couple restaurant owners and a couple people. The last Saturday, if there was one here, there was – extra business everywhere from the mexican restaurant to the to the pint house to pepitos so it's it's a good thing when they come here because it creates business for everyone so but that's the only other thing i had to add uh yeah that answers my question yeah appreciate it no worries mr bibbler mr solicitor

Four new pieces of legislation that have all been discussed. The one that was is labeled draft ordinance will be number 2026-22. And one or several of those have emergency language, but nothing, in my opinion, needs to be adopted as an emergency scenario. And then lastly, under motions, I would ask for a motion to go into executive session after regular business. The first part of that, I would invite everybody at the tables here and the Bricker Law Firm to discuss economic development issues. And the second part of that is to invite his partner Matt yeah yes okay

Carol? Yes.

McCreery? Yes. Schaffner? Yes. Foreman? Yes. McLean? Yes. Phillips?

Yes.

Okay, so we go down to village committee reports, finance. meet tonight and we did meet two weeks ago and I was absent for that meeting so the next meetings July 13th July 13th okay service committee yes sir safety committee did not meet because there was no agenda so rules committee Phil Phil can handle it

You met tonight.

Yes. Mr. Mayor, we met tonight, and we moved two pieces of legislation to council meeting. To speak.

Okay. Can I add something? Mm-hmm. So, although we didn't meet tonight, we do plan to meet on July 13th, following rules. Safety Committee.

July 27th.

Oh, it's the 27th? Mm-hmm.

an agenda i'm at the wrong part of the meeting it's rules and safety they got switched okay the next meeting for rules is july 27th yes ma'am okay uh police chief do you have anything um just uh moving on the building we ordered the hvac today got cameras up in the building and on the outside We're going to start some marketing stuff on it here probably in the next two weeks. Get things going.

Good.

Jimmy, do you have anything for the Basel Joint Fire District? No, sir. No, sir? Planning and zoning? Planning.

Can I ask a question about that? Sure. There was a time when we, in a different administration, when we talked about getting those minutes from Basel Fire, because we really haven't heard much about it. Is there any way to get those minutes? Yeah.

Well, yeah, we should have them anyway, because kind of thinking now that you say that. Because we will scan those into our, we have a folder. come to think of it. I'll tell Casey to send it to you.

Yeah.

Yeah. Just the approvals.

It's kind of complicated because you get them, but it's a long time before you get them actually signed. But I think I used to do it, and I think that I used to just send over the one before it was signed. I mean, at least that helps people know what's going on.

Sure. Just send them to me, and I'll include it in the package.

All right. Village Committee and Commissions Planning and Zoning.

Do you want to speak to that?

Our next meeting is July 9th. Right now on the agenda there are two variance requests.

Okay. And tree commission? I don't think there's anything to speak of there. Records commission, Brian?

Yeah, we have a meeting scheduled for this Thursday at 1 o'clock.

And then we'll go right into motions.

I have no other motions unless council has some additional.

I'm sorry. I know we're bringing the two up. Well, I will go to the first one.

sponsor came out of committee who sent this one up to council who made the motion of rules to send this up to council the first one number 19 I think it was Phil I don't know I don't think it was yeah he did 20 I think it's Carol

The one, the amending our certification with the state for new build only. Oh, yeah.

All right. These are both first readings. Resolution 2026-19, a resolution authorizing the village administrator to request, amend, and certify certification to enforce the Ohio building code within the village of Baltimore-Fairfield County. It's just the first reading. Any discussion on that?

I just would like is I missed obviously everything so is this just about the kind of leaving everything okay okay

So now we're going to move the other ordinance, which is ordinance 2026-20, ordinance to amend chapter 12, title for zoning code, appendix E, site development checklist for planned development projects and impact fees of the Baltimore codified ordinances to delete references to impact fees. mclean's sponsor mr mclean is the sponsor on that yeah mr mayor this one is uh really just a cleanup ordinance since we eliminated the impact b some time ago if there are new second readings okay 20 okay so these are the two that we move okay so who is the i think mclean was a sponsor on this one yes So this is the, Phil, this is the one about the jail.

Yes, Mr. Mayor. This is the Ordinance 202621 to, I guess, have a first reading on the.

Yeah, enter into, we're eventually going to enter in a contract. A contract with the county. With the county to take, yes. Yes, ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Fairfield County for the housing prisoners in Fairfield County Jail. in the declaration of emergency, but we're just going to let that go to the first reading. That way we can get the actual verbiage from the county to make sure that we're all on the same page. This is the second one. And then who is the... We don't have one for this.

That's the impervious? Yes. I'll sponsor it.

Okay. So this is the first reading of this. dash 26 2026 dash 22 and then ordinance to amend certain portions of part 12 planning and zoning code of the baltimore codified ordinances in order to delete maximum light cover requirements and that's just the first reading we'll talk about that again at the next uh council so this is just down for

Yes, sir. All right.

So there are no second readings. There are no third. There are no table. Is there any old business that any of you would like to discuss?

Is this a time to discuss any of those that have just been proposed to me? maximum lot coverage is that it does help to manage the density and it also helps to control the storm water runoff. So it's really important. As far as a community, it also helps to maintain some green space and aesthetics within a community. So if we go in with the mindset, it's mine, I'll do whatever I want with it, is that really what's best for a community?

I would like to, I just, can I get some background as to where it came from? Where this just came from? Because I thought we went through, I thought we went through zoning and they came back and said they don't want to change it.

So now I'm not worried that we get rid of this. There's just disagreement. I mean, people are allowed to have disagreements and still move on with their life. The original, the original, restriction was actually brought forth by the at the time village administrator based on something some other community was doing. It was not unanimous at the time and we've already run into situations where people who want to do just ordinary things on their lot can't do it without a variance. And it just wildly impacts people on small village lots Larger R2 and R1 lots. And I think unfairly and unnecessarily so.

Okay, so thank you. And then my, I guess, follow-up question is, I guess I don't understand. Can we override zoning? Yes.

Okay. Council can override zoning by a supermajor. Which is? Five. Five out of six councils.

Okay. So our ultimate goal is to do what's best for the community. Is that true, Mr. Foreman? Of course.

Sometimes people differ on what they feel is best for the community.

Absolutely.

Journey Village is a beautiful community.

They far exceed these percentages. In looking at the research, majority of municipalities have some type of maximum block coverage, which is enforced.

I don't have any data to that myself, so I can't say yes or no to that statement.

No, it's a true statement.

I don't have the percentage that it is the majority. I can only take your report. I have no first-hand knowledge of that.

I looked up because I actually did a search on all of my emails. I know I have information from Lancaster. We looked at other surrounding municipalities. And I believe we even exceeded maximum lot coverage by like 5% in comparison to the other surrounding areas. So we tried to provide a little bit more leniency. But we find it's extremely important to maintain this established ordinance.

And the only caveat to that or the only out to that is to file for a variance to change it, correct?

Yeah, absolutely. And is there, I mean, I guess my next question, I'm hearing there are several people that are affected by this. Have they applied for a variance?

One person has, yes. Other people have just exceeded it without getting a variance and being allowed to do it. Two houses that were brought up today.

Yeah, that was before us. Yes, that is correct. But this was in place. Yes, sir.

So we've set a precedent of not enforcing it.

If I may, but I believe on those two properties, it was a unique situation because of where the setbacks are. I believe that property runs out to the middle of 256.

That's what the drawing said, but it shouldn't.

That's even what Mr. Mauger said. So it was a very unusual situation. So, yes, two exceptions. This is where we're talking about precariousness. No. No. No. Down here on 256, I call it the shotgun house. Next to Manson's. And the green one that's back behind it is Tower Street.

The problem I have with it is I've got two and a half acres in my house, and I had to get a variance to build my shop. Right. because I was a foot over what they required.

I just know we have them in place for a reason.

Two and a half acres. I can't do what I want when I pay taxes and I pay everything else in this village. There's a reason. And if there's other people in here just the same, the neighbors are dumping water on my property. Where do we draw the line on that?

Where do we just say, well, a couple people need this. Well, the problem is we didn't draw the line. I mean, I'd still go by... whole barn company down here and i don't see that anybody helped them out really with their sign so i mean is this a pick and choose kind of a situation i've never heard anything about the barn sign well i don't know are we picking and choosing who we were trying to change the laws for or That's what I'm asking. Consistency. Are we trying to be consistent? That was when I decided to be on council, as a matter of fact.

Because they wouldn't let him have the sign? Is that what you're talking about?

I don't know.

Well, that was stupid in the first place, not to let him have the sign.

Well, I 100% agree with that. But what I'm saying is... It seems like we do pick and choose a little bit.

Well, that was actually, the sign thing was actually the administrator at the time interpreting Kalamazoo's intent by not allowing them to continue to reuse existing sign infrastructure. No one ever intended that. No one ever told them to do that, but they did. And so we had all these people with signposts that would never be approved today. let them continue to use them when the business changed from a auto parts store to a craft store or whatever, knick-knack store, whatever you call it. And no one who was there at the time intended for the village administrator to enforce it that way. And probably it should have gone back through and been stated that existing flood structure could continue to be used. But at the time that was passed, no one intended for it.

But that's what I'm saying, but nobody did. And that's what I'm saying, is that person...

if we weren't concerned about all citizens like we say we are we would have done something if I could say something I think that's exactly what we're doing with the variances is we're picking and choosing and so I think that this maximum lot coverage is just it's a blunt instrument I mean if runoff is the real concern I think more targeted tools exist like grading requirements, drainage easements, retention basin standards, downspout regulations. That will address the runoff without having this overly broad restriction that just restricts everybody from doing whatever they want with their own land.

And even then we say whatever they want. There are setbacks. There are height requirements. There are square footage limitations. In fact, we have a minimum square foot, so we're actually requiring them to use up a certain percentage of their lot for their house. So on one hand, we're telling them they can't have a tiny house with one bedroom because we won't allow it. On the other hand, we're telling them they can't have an outbuilding because they'll exceed their square footage limitation after they build the house that we made them build. And do we really want to not let them build a barn or a detached garage because they have a concrete driveway? Do we really want them to take out the concrete driveway and replace it with gravel? No. But this ordinance kind of alludes to that.

Are you concerned with the I&I?

I'm very concerned with the I&I, and we need to do a lot about it, but this does not address it.

And the narrative that it does is false. So you don't think that having impervious surfaces impacts the amount of water that's going off.

I think if you have impervious surfaces, you do not have to make control of the water. It absolutely infects eye to eye and your neighbors and everyone around you. But it also opens the opportunity to capture that water and put it where you want it.

That's right there.

I have a big parking lot.

Opens the opportunity.

I have a big parking lot that all brings to the center. So that runoff is controlled and released in a controlled fashion. We're going to disagree. So if that was a grass lot, I'd have no control over how that water ran.

So what do you guys want? You want all of the statistics that we went through?

Well, if you I'd say for the next the next meeting, I'd make sure everybody has just the first reading.

I'm just asking people want to make a case. They should bring their name.

Yeah. Any further discussion on that? So that was the old business. Is there any new business?

I don't know if Mr. Carroll wants to speak to the issue.

The mosquito spray? Yeah. Just want to see if maybe we can get them extra one in in July.

Yeah. I did speak with Claire today from the health department. She called me back. Excuse me. She said that we can easily schedule another spray anytime. Just let her know. She can get it on the books. She did say that they have traps, mosquito traps in every community. They check ours every other week, so they'll be checking ours next week. If we wanted to wait to find out if there's an increase in mosquitoes.

How much is it to do the whole village?

About $900.

Here's what I'll tell you. The mosquitoes are worse. I've gotten more calls on that.

They kill more people than most others.

I'm just saying I've gotten more calls on the mosquitoes this year than I probably have anything else. If council would see fit to approve one more, an extra spring, I feel like it's in the best interest of... the people that live in the village, and I have gotten a bunch of calls on the mosquitoes this year. Any discussion on that? Can I get a roll call on that, please, Brian?

Yeah, I see. Foreman? Yes. Phillips? Yes. Carroll? Yes. McLean? Yes. Schaffner? Yes.

Thank you for doing that, guys. It's... Okay, is there any other visitors that would like to speak before we... I've got one question.

Yeah, I'm sorry. Jeff, have you heard anything back on the BYBA story? The BYBA?

Yeah, I'm working on that, so I'm investigating it. I'll have a memo issued pretty quickly on that.

Okay.

He just called tonight and asked if he needed to be here, and I was like, no. Thanks for sending those documents. Okay.

there any other visitors that have any questions all right so can I have a motion to go into

We need to have free hot dogs. We need to reward them.

Not yet.

Council is entering executive session at 7.33.