City Council - Regular Meeting

Please join us for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Call the role, please. Mayor Bailey, here. Vice Mayor Baitman here. Goodyear here. Hamlin here. Mr. Hart here. Hazel Baker here. Mr. Janick here.

Welcome everyone with us tonight. Very special occasion. We have Julie Robinson, our director of human resources, assistant city manager Chris Winage, clerk of council Misty Clark, city manager Dave Kennedy, city solicitor Joe Braonn, chief of police Michael Gabrielson, former council members Todd Osborne and Pat Mazize. So, welcome everyone. Mr. Kennedy, you want to talk about the certificate?

Yeah. So, Mark is sick. Otherwise, he would have just went on and on the way Mark talks. But of the two awards that the city gets regularly the certificate of ex for excellence in financial reporting is a little bit not a little bit it's considerably uh a little bit more elite. It's uh it talks about the transparency and the threshold that Mark keeps us at in terms of our financial levels and our financial reportings. These these are results from the audits and um I've said it before I got to say it during his anniversary just does an exceptional job but the not that the one for the budget a pretty budget is nothing to sneeze at but this really is a very important award and I think it's I have to think it's 12 13 years in a row. So because Kathy I'm sorry the mayor when Mark got hired made it very clear that you said we have a streak going don't lose it and he's never lost it. So, it's a it's a big deal. So,

well, I'm sure he's watching. Yes. So, congratulations. All right. Do you want to talk about um we did not have anyone on open form? You want to talk about the communication?

Yes. So, we finally got formal notification of our clean Ohio grant uh award and um I think we put together a a big team of people uh Chris and Kelsey and I and and we had some outside assistance. Chris Cleman with the cart district gave us some advice. Um but really the key to this application I think was uh the Little Miami Conservancy uh working with us on the easement that uh changed every narrative in that grant application. and really fell right in line. And I can't say enough about um the Scheler Meyer family because when you look at the application when we start bringing in the various uh parts of it, the city's local match was offset by the Scheler taking under the appraised amount and the uh Little Miami Conservancy agreeing to purchase an easement of a portion of the property that we will not be able to touch anyway. So, uh, the Shelder Myers, uh, that was a big step in putting the application together, not to mention how patient they've been through this process. So, uh, Chris and I've already met with a a couple planning firms because, uh, uh, one of the first things that city needs to do is create a plan and then go after land water conservation and different fundings. And this is a good chance to look at the Veterans Memorial and how it can all become one. And, uh, we've actually interviewed uh, just casually interviewed a couple firms. So, we will probably get started uh probably be bringing that to council relatively soon. So,

anybody have any questions or comments? Mr. Hart? Uh I just think this is a pretty momentous occasion here. I think that uh this this award of we talked about it and I think we all had kind of hoped this would but um to get some notification that this is, you know, officially coming through. This is a pretty momentous occasion. Congratulations to the city staff who put all the work in and the shower family for being so um workable throughout the whole process. U just very appreciative and very excited for what this could lead to. Vice Mayor,

I completely agree with what uh Mr. Hart said. This sort of reminds me of like uh like an acceptance letter, a college acceptance letter. It's a little dry on the next steps. So, I just uh I you know, I can't uh commend all of the folks you mentioned enough for their work behind the scenes, but I'm hopeful that we might be able to roll out uh a type of communication about this that is more comate with the significance of this uh beyond just what this uh you know, acceptance letter uh resonates. So, again, thanks for for uh notifying us and really excited about the path ahead for this.

Any comments? Um I Dave really I don't know obsesses over that's a I think that's a fair word obsesses over these um grant applications um and and he's a huge reason why we get these grants um and this one certainly did and so many thanks to to Dave and to uh Mrs. Richards for your their help on on her help on getting this done and and certainly the Shieldmire family. they were there right with us from the beginning once we sort of put the little bug in their ear that this might be a good plan um and and and did help this come to fruition and really happy to to partner with Little Miami Conservancy. I I thought that was very proud of the city that they that we held strong on the 200 plus acres out at Graville. I thought that was a very important piece of property to to make sure we ended up the way it should, which is protected now for forever. And and that's the this is equally important. Many less acres, but its location in the heart sort of our downtown where you can see it from our premier park where you'll be able to even see it better now when we're kind of clearing out all that honeysuckle. Um, this is just it's not just that we get this grant and we can purchase this property. We get it with money that means for eternity nothing can be built on that property. Nobody down the road can change their mind and put something there which is really important for this city. I think we've we've Thank you to uh whoever it is is it the public works commission for giving us this gift because it it really is a gift. So well done. All right. Next is review and approval of minutes from the February 10th meeting. Any changes, additions? Uh move to approve as written.

Second. Call the role, please. Vice Mayor Baitman. Yes. Mr. Goodyear. Yes. Tamlin. Yes. Mr. Hart. Yes. Hazel Baker. Yes. Mr. Janick. Yes. Mayor Bailey. Yes. Motion carries seven to zero.

All right. Next, we have a second reading. Want to go ahead and read the ordinance? Ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute a real estate board of education of the city of the Lovelin City School District for the sale of property comprising Boi Park and Tiger Trail and declaring said property no longer needed for municipal purposes. Okay. Thank you. Anybody have any comments on this legislation? Um, I would just say sometimes we buy property, sometimes we sell property and this is a to sell this to the school district and um, as Dave or Mr. Kenny talked about last time, this is just much like the grail and making sure that the school had property up there for some time down the road when they want to build. This is another step to making sure that we keep our school district, every campus within city limits and and and put that property to good use. So, I think this is a wonderful opportunity to to partner with with the school district. We'll go and call the role, please.

Mr. Goodyear. Yes. Miss Hamlin. Yes. Mr. Hart. I'm recusing due to my employment. Miss Hazel Baker. Yes. Mr. Jarnick. I am recusing myself due to my relationship with the school board. Mayor Bailey. Yes. Vice Mayor Baitman. Yes. Ordinance 19 is adopted by a vote of 5 to zero. Read the next ordinance, please. Ordinance amending the codified ordinances of Lovelin chapter 111 schedule of fees, fines, and other charges regarding sanitation services. Does anybody have any comment on this legislation? Call the role, please. Miss Hamlin, yes. Mr. Hart, yes. Miss Hazel Baker, yes. Mr. Janick, yes. Mayor Ba, Mayor Bailey, yes. Vice Mayor Baitman, yes. Mr. Goodyear,

yes. Miss 20 is adopted by a vote of seven to zero.

Mr. Mayor, um, back in May of 2025, uh, council approved a design contract with Choice One Engineering for the design of Loveland Madera Road phase 2. Uh, this once again, this is from West Lovelin to, uh, just just past Valley View Lane and includes that roundabout and obviously the, uh, the design of, uh, sidewalks, um, and center median islands, burying the electric, uh, putting all all utilities underground. Um, choice one is to the point where they've designed um the basically the rightway plans. And if you recall in phase one, uh the phase that's going to be going out to bid here actually in this in the month of March, um there's a process that ODOT requires at with these projects. It's kind of three three steps uh through design. you have design, then you have uh you have to hire a rightaway uh acquisition consultant who hires a sub subcontractor for the appraisals. Um and then you also have to hire and this is not in front of you currently, but you also have to hire an appra uh appraisal reviewer. Um that's just part of the ODOT process. So before you is a uh proposal uh for a contract with the rightway consultant. Um we did we did go out for typical RFQS as per the ODOT process. Um we did receive two proposals in your memo says four. It was two. Um we received uh one from Oen and one from Dun Robert Dunroin and Associates. Um if you recall or Oen did the rightway acquisition for us on phase one and they did a great job. Um it's been it was a challenging one quite frankly. um just working with with res working with the property owners. Um they did a fantastic job keeping it on on schedule. So we feel really confident with the work they

do. So with that said, they proposed a um a contract or a uh scope and fee of $140,380. If you recall, this is a 7921 split. Um once again, this is a federal and local uh match. So, we would be on the hook uh for $29,479 of that. And this was included in the uh 2026 budget. With that, I'll take any questions. Any questions or comments? Mr. Hart,

I just wanted to say thank you for your work on this. Continue to keep this project moving. um these these little madiraa road projects I mean I think it's going to obviously going to be a extenduated long circumstance for long long project as we move through all these phases um but continuing to keep these things on track keep um and working with people that we we know do good work appreciate your work on that any other comment right want to read the resolution resolution a awarding I'm sorry I can't talk tonight resolution awarding the right-of-way acquisition consulting service contract for the Love Madiraa Road ODOT systematic sidewalk project. Call the RO, please. Mr. Hart, yes. Miss Hazelbaker, yes. Mr. Jerick, yes. Mayor Bailey,

yes. Vice Mayor Baitman, yes. Goodier. Yes. Miss Hamlin, yes. Resolution 21 is adopted by a vote 7 to zero. Mr. Kennon,

so um the resolution in front of council would authorize the submission of a Claremont County Community Park grant and commitment of our local match. Uh the Claremont County uh park grant is actually a wonderful program. They did that after they um one of their their latest levy passed and uh it has been a great program for the city. Chris got some money as uh last last cycle for the walking trail uh and uh the walking trail in this but really fits into the what the program is about and so it has played a role along with nature works on that program. Um because it's Claremont County, we're sort of limited to Nisbet and McCoy. Um it could do uh physical type of things up at McCoy, but it made sense for us to keep focusing on Nisbet, get the trail done. So um the loop trail around the outside. What we're proposing to submit for is the connection um on as we I I tried to take the master plan and show you through um not the greatest graphics of what we've completed and what is uh still to be uh finished. Um the trail currently goes around along the side of the the uh picnic shelter and then right up to the front of it. What we're proposing is taking the trail from there, having a little bit of a stub to where public works will be putting in walking stones down to the river and then go to uh about the center of the back of the amphitheater where the nature works grant which we receive will take it to the plaza by the restroom. Um I mentioned in the memo one of the neat parts about this project is especially in front of the um um picking shelters sort of a mish mash of uh black top and concrete. So all of that will get removed and it'll just have the path and uh there's actually another section

Chris and I was over there today doing some measuring. There's another section I I sort of forgot that'll also be removed. So this really fits well. We don't know if you see would be packet page 52. We don't know that we ever really need that one. Goes through the middle of the lawn. Um I just don't know that you'll ever need that. Um it's a little too So uh when you see what's completed, what is coming and so on and so forth. I I I we Chris and I've talked about it quite a bit. We don't know that we'll ever do that uh path in the center. Uh we just don't know if it's necessary. It's more hard surface. So um so the application which is actually due Monday that it's complete we just need to insert the legislation. Total project cost is 22,500. Any application over uh 10,000 is uh 20,000 I'm sorry any project over 20 is required to put in a local match at 25%. So the way it would work out is we would our grant request is 16,875. The city would put in a match of 5,625. Thank you. Any comments or questions?

Um just a quick one of just appreciation for um you made a note in there about routing around the trees um and that removal of the concrete that's not needed to get vegetation back in there. Um I just was talking to a resident today who was talking about marking the path for the mileage. Oh yeah. So I it's not something that we've we've discussed or I've heard brought up, but I thought that was a really good idea that I just wanted to bring to um as well. But appreciate the work on kind of Yeah, when when Chris was working on the where the adult swing is, you could see right ahead. He could just you could see the the a it almost would have needed a retaining wall going behind the picking shelter. So those are the kind of insight plans that changes then he took it down around the picnic shelter and it's much better.

Thanks. Any other comments or questions? Right. Want to read the resolution, please? Resolution authorizing the city manager to submit a 2026 community parks improvement grant application to the Claremont County Park. Call the roll, please. Miss Hazelbaker, yes. Mr. Jarnick, yes. Mayor Bailey, yes. Mayor Baitman, yes. Mr. Goodyear, yes. Miss Hamlin, yes. Mr. Hart, yes. Resolution 22 is adopted by a vote of 72. Ms. Robinson.

Hello everybody. Um before you guys today, we have an ordinance presented for the first reading to modify the current schedule of municipal positions to change our mechanic/maintenance worker position class from a pay grade four to a five. We don't have any fives right now. Um I know you guys have a memo in there, but I wanted to give you a little bit more background information regarding this. Um the position's been vacant since September of this past year, um with the resignation of Thomas Domen, who was with the city for eight years and did an excellent job. Um Chris Rose is currently filling the position in the interim. Um he doesn't want the position, but he is more than happy to fill it and he's doing an excellent job. Um the Civil Service Commission approved the search process which was initiated back in November. Um and we encountered some stumbling blocks as the position does require a diesel mechanic certification and even with our current benefits package, we weren't able to secure any qualified applicants. Um, it's a unique position um, in that it's in charge of fleet maintenance, but Thomas really embraced the position and in addition to his mechanic duties, he filled in whenever there was a public works service need. Um, so it it really is a unique position. Um, like I said, the current schedule does not list a pay range five. So in the memorandum that you have with you um to arrive at the numbers on the proposed change for the um ordinance the schedule of municipal positions we just used Excel to get the median between pay grade four and five. So it it literally just split the difference to get that new pay grade. Um the civil service commission did meet um and vacated the previous search um and they did approve staff to initiate a new search. Um they also discussed our recommendation about this paygrade change and they were thoroughly in favor of it. Um so we are recommending a first reading of the proposed change and a repeal of the current schedule.

Thank you. Any comments or questions? Yeah, I'll take just wanted to say uh thanks. Nice to see you. This is a treat. And uh also I think it's great that uh for us to have this u to create this specialization within uh within the positions. I think that can only help uh not only fill this potential candidate for the current moment but also provide avenues for for growth within uh the current team. That's what we're hoping. Again, I'm looking forward to to filling that position and uh watching somebody grow and and meet the the same meet to the task the same way that uh Thomas did. Thank you.

Any other comments? And if I recall, Mr. King can correct me, but I think having someone that is able to do this type of work in house saves the city money. Significant money. Yeah. Yeah. And you have to be willing to all hands on deck. And that's the cool neat thing about Thomas. He he if you've ever been down at the public works building during an all during a major snowstorm, Thomas is sitting in there helping uh fixing the blade, changing uh wipers, doing all the things, guys pulling. It's I if you experience it, a little bit like a pit stop at Indie 500. It's really cool what he did,

but the very next day he may be up in uh somewhere working on a water leak. So he really was a special guy. Indian Hill. Anybody else? All right. This is a first reading only. I'll go ahead and read it. Ordinance establishing the schedule of municipal compensation of non-union employees and the repeal of ordinance 202586b. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy.

So, um, before you is a ordinance. This is sort of a housekeeping, but not a housekeeping because it's pretty important. Uh the last time the city adopted the most current fire code was in March of 2018 via ordinance 201837. Uh the state throughout a big portion of 2025 worked to uh update the new uh fire code for the Ohio Department of Commerce. Chief Huber and our fire inspectors, they've all um went through the fire code and they have recommended that city adopt the fire code. Um, the way the city does this, if you can see from the ordinance is, uh, we we basically adopt it in its entirety. We have to add our we add one provision for enforcement, one provision for appeals, and as Joe pointed out, we add a penalty clause, as Joe just pointed out, because I didn't know uh, so we can actually decide them in our own court. So, that's that's why the the only deviations are those three sections.

Thank you. Any questions, comments? All right, first reading only. Read the ordinance, please.

Ordinance amending chapter 1501 priority by adopting the Ohio Fire Code 2025 edition. Okay. Um, we're down to announcements. I believe city council will hold their goal setting session, our goal setting session on Saturday, February 28th at 9:00 a.m. at the care center, which is 11020 Lebanon Road. Um, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Wein, Vice Mayor Baitman, and I attended the 2026 Valentine's Breakfast at Oasis, which God, I love them. But I think that was finally the end of the 2026 Valentine season after the eighth or ninth event, I think, that they held. Um, but it was very nice and uh I think it's Miami Townships Fire Department honor guards there. That's right. Escorts them in every year, which is kind of cool. So anyway, anyone else have any announcements? Yes, Mr. Hart.

Um, the mayor, myself, Mr. Witch SD over there went down. Who else? Anybody else missing here? Chief Gabrielson went down and we picked our bourbon barrel for the uh 150 celebration this year. Um, it's fantastic. So, I think everybody enters that raffle is going to be very, very happy with the with the bottle they're purchasing. Uh, it was a really cool experience. uh really thankful for the you know folks put that together misty ahead of all but um was was a really cool experience. I've never experienced anything like that in my life but uh really fun and I think it's going to be a really cool thing for the city to have uh a keepsake for this this year.

If you see it push the sales for it because that's what we're kind of hoping is that help pay for some of the other events coming later in the in the year for the 150. So anyone else? All right. We have a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second. Call the role, please. Mr. Janick, yes. Mayor Bailey, yes. Vice Mayor Baitman, yes. Yes. Hamlin. Yes. Hart. Yep. Yes. Motion carries. Seven to