City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you.

the claims committee into uh session. Time is 6:00 pm. Take a roll call. Councilman Mike Miranda present

and council person or councilwoman Cynthia Antonet Dailyy here. Okay. and reflect that all of us are here and we will get started. We have several claims to go over here in the committee. Do you both have your packets? Okay, we're going to start with the first claim. It's going to be 04-022326. The complainant is Danielle Brham. Is Danielle here? Anyone for that claim? No. Okay. So, basically this claim has to do with a crash report where the claimant struck a pothole and damaged the front right front tire. This happened on Park Avenue West in the right lane. Um there was a rather large pothole there. There's a photo in there if you folks would like to see it. I can tell you that um I did observe that pothole that was there. It had been there for um a little while and I was told that the cone had been moved that had been in a pothole. Um the law director uh recommendation is uh for reduced settlement of $250 which is the uh deductible of the insurance policy on this claim. And does anybody else in the committee have any questions about this one? Miss Dailyy, I'm sorry. Sorry.

Were you okay? Do you have any questions? Um, just looking at the amount the claim is for 780, but she does have a deductible of 250. So that means insurance would pay 4 sorry 400 500 and something I didn't minus I should is that correct? Yes that's uh and miss Mr. Madden, if you have anything to add, but that is what the law director recommended was um paying the uh the deductible. That that is correct. That is 530. So, we'd pay the 530. We would pay the 250

the deductible. Yeah. And Miss Tracy Davis is also here for law directors. Tracy, you have anything to add with that? Okay. All right. That sounds good to me. on this one here. I'd like to take a motion to move this one forward. Uh I'll second the motion. Okay. All all those in favor say I.

I opposed. And that passes to be moved on. The second claim is claim 27-091725 Geneva Armistad. This is in reference to a sewer backup. It covered the basement, living room, and laundry room, dining room, half bath. Uh the the amount of the claim is for $9,787.92. Miss Armstead stated that the homeowner's insurance will not cover the damages and per Mr. Brown um in discussing the work order that was dated August 20th of 2025. The city's main water line was clear. Mr. Brown stated that the issue was caused by a systematic overload caused by the enormous amount of rain we got that day. Um that they that overwhelmed all the systems. The law director found the legal precedent in cases where the rain event overwhelms the city's liability depends on whether the damage was caused by negligence. Based on the fact that the work order showed no blockage and the legal interpretation all director's opinion is that we move forward with a reduced settlement in the amount of $3,250. Is anyone here for Miss Geneva

Armiston? Would you like to come up, sir, and state your name? Thank you. He's from Stanley Steamer. So, he did the No, excuse me. Taylor Steamer. Sorry. Excuse me. Strike that. Big difference between an S and a T. Excuse me, sir. Taylor Steamer. Thank you. and he actually did the cleanup work at um Geneva's home. So, go ahead, sir.

I was just saying so I didn't I didn't even know where to come. So, I had called her to say, "Hey, where am I supposed to be?" She didn't realize that today was the day because she never heard back from Tracy. Um so, I called her when I was on my way. And she was like, "Well, I never got an email back confirming the time." And so, she was not prepared to come. Uh yeah, any questions you have for me I can definitely help you with. But she was wondering if she can bring it up at the next council meeting when she might be able to be here. If I may comment on that. Um I actually spoke I'm Tracy. Okay. And I spoke to Geneva um directly on the phone. Okay. And told her and she was the I told her to call you. She wanted you to appear. Yes. So she was aware that it was tonight at

Well, she I know she she mentioned she said well she had mentioned today and then she said I was supposed to get email confirmation. I didn't know if that was true or not, but that's what she had said. Okay. Mr. Madden, is there anything you want to add in reference to this claim?

Uh, no. I mean, they've been very thorough. Uh, that basically comes down to whether it was negligence or whether it was from a a rain event. And uh, Mr. Brown uh, from the service department says that the line was clear. Uh we did offer uh we did recommend a reduced settlement because uh just to avoid litigation. That's uh if you actually got into it, I'm not quite sure how it would play out. Does anybody on the committee have any questions? Anyone else have any questions? So, it's the recommendation uh for the committee to consider moving this forward um with a reduced settlement at $3,250. I have a motion.

I'll second. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. And that motion will carry and it will move forward. Um Tracy, you'll let her get she you'll get a hold of Miss Armistad and Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Trying to move quickly. I know we got short amount of time and we've got like seven more to go through here. So, this one is claim number 18-06925. This is uh Linda Bentley at 352 Home Avenue. This is in reference to uh turning from Malberry Street on the Fifth Street heading toward Bowman. She pulled to the south side of the street with the intention to park and immediately after the turn by the sidewalk, her car went down hard and she had backed over a large hole. They looked into it and um I believe it was Tracy researched this and researched the actual location of the large hole. And do you want to explain that Tracy?

Yeah, I I actually did a lot of research on this one. Um, basically the hole that she's speaking of is located on the city engineering map, the GIS map at or near 167 West 5th Street. The hole is not in the proper roadway. Rather, it is in the apron of an entrance to a vacated alley that was vacated in March of 1917. Um looking at the Richland County beacon of the uh property ownership, it does show where both um adjacent property owners are being um assessed taxes for their portion of the vacated alley which includes the sidewalk and the apron up into the right of way. So basically the unfortunately the hole is still there. If you see the pictures that I've included with it, you can see where it's down to the brick underneath the roadway, but that is in the apron and not in the ride of way of the road or in the alleyway. It is prior to the sidewalk going back to the alleyway. So, in looking at our zoning of vacated areas, it's basically the adjacent property owners property to maintain and not the city of Mansfield. And for that reason, the law director is requesting and recommending to deny the claim as it was not on city maintain roadway or alley.

And the amount of that claim was $2,16340. Um, any uh comment from the committee members on this one? So, you're saying that the apron actually belongs to the owner of the property, correct? the vacated alleyway. From my understanding and reading through the legal code, it is the alleyway, the sidewalk, and the apron. It's all the way the property to the right of way, the roadway. And so that is split. One owner um has 11 feet into the alleyway, the sidewalk, and the apron. The other has four feet, but they are being assessed out to the right of way.

Okay. So, our recommendation is for her to seek the owners and to or her or her automobile insurance. Okay.

Is there anyone here for Miss Bentley that would like Yes. Come on up, ma'am. If you'd like to come up and state your name. turn. My name is Linda Bentley and um I I was going down Fifth Street toward Bowman and I wanted to park

speaking to the microphone there. Hello. Can you hear me? Yep. Hello. Can you hear me? Oh, I'm a little horse.

Thank you. Okay. Hello. Oh, that's better. That's better. Okay. I was headed I was on this street and I was headed toward Bowman from What is that right there? Malberry.

Malberry to Bowman. But I wanted to park and you can only park on the one side. You can't park over by the school. There's a school, West Street School or whatever. I don't know. So, I saw that entrance way there and I turned in. I didn't go all the way up the alley, just right by the sidewalk, right after the sidewalk. And I boom. And I thought, "What in the world?" So, I backed out and when I backed out, it wasn't making a noise, you know, it wasn't making a noise and it drove. Okay. So I went on and parked and I didn't pay any attention to it. My grandson lives right over there. So the next day I went over his house and he said, "What happened to your car?" I said, "What are you talking about?" Cuz I didn't go anywhere else except for back over his house the next day. And he said, "Your bumper down here is broken off." And I looked at him and I thought yesterday and I said, "Run down there and look in that little hole, that hole down there by that alley." And he came back with the pieces.

Wow.

It was just a few houses up from it. He came back with all these pieces to my bumper. And I'm like, "Oh my god." So then I didn't know what to do. And people told me, "Take it up here to the um claims department." And that's what I did. I took it to Bakers first to get it an estimate and they found that and they found three of my tires have these metal things in them and they showed me one metal pieces and I said, "What is that?" He said, "It's coming from the road work in the all the road works that they're doing." Now, that's what they told me cuz I would know. They said it's coming from the road work. I think it's three of them. My all my tires have all these things and I just pray that they don't go flat or one of them don't. And they just told me it's coming from the roadway and where I went down in the hole. It's a thing on the car. I don't know the name of it. It looks like a spiral. It's by each tire. It looks like a spiral thing and they said it was broken. All I know is it's by the tires.

Okay. It's it's probably Did you give an an estimate to the It's probably in there then. It's the spring she's speaking about. Oh, I right spring without sport suspension. Left spring without sport suspension. left rear spring broken. Replace in pairs is what it says.

So that's all I know. And I've been waiting waiting ever since. And I had car insurance, but I said, well, I thought that this is a city and they're not fixing the big holes. I didn't want to put it on my car insurance so it can skyhigh. And that's why that's honestly why I didn't report it to my insurance because I'm thinking it's gonna skyhigh and some everybody kept saying take it up to the city. Take it to the city. So in the research that the law director's office did that hole is actually not on city property that you struck. It's close to the roadway but it's not in the roadway. So who's responsible for that?

That would most likely be you ma'am. I mean the people the the whole you could maybe I I mean I'm not attorney I can't you know advise you which way to go with it but it's the law director's opinion and looking at it was not in the roadway. Oh Miss Daly, did you have something? Um or what about all the spikes in three of the tires and what this is what Bakers told me because I don't know. I said, "What is Why is they have my car on my car? There's all kind of yellow marks on my tires."

I I don't know about that. We're just dealing with this particular claim. It has to do with your spring and the damage done when you hit the hole and that was determined to not be on city property. And they told me that it's coming it came from all the road work in the streets. I I have no idea on that. I can't comment on that one. I I can tell you that. Then looking, we're looking at this one right now that has your spraying. Mr. Miranda or Miss Daly, do you have anything? I do. We have a copy of what the estimate of the dies were. Would you like to look at it? Please. Can they see the pictures?

We have Oh god. I think uh in in the end of everything, we have to determine first of all if it was the if it happened on the public right away or if we're liable for that.

Correct. And that's why I wanted to look at this cuz looking at this is it's definitely addressing the damages from that uh pothole and the pothole not being on property of the city being the property of the homeowners. At that point, I would have to agree with the law director's office that the the li the city not being liable, but if there's an option of you going, whether it's your insurance and having your insurance go to the homeowners or something of that nature, but I I don't think looking at at what Baker's prepared here, I don't see that as being uh uh falling under the city's liability. Okay.

Miss Daily, do you have anything? No. Okay. Do I have a motion on this from the committee members? Yes. I follow the Yeah, you're putting the motion. So, I'll second the motion. So, the motion would be that we re we follow the law director's claim. Is that what you're saying? Correct. The motion would be to follow the law director's recommendation. And that would be not to pay the claim and for you to seek out other means insurance. Yeah. So, I have a second on that. Yes. Seconded. All those in favor? I Okay, we'll move that on. That um to deny that.

The next claim moving forward is um Tim Hilter, 287 Central Avenue. Claim number 05-022527. Take your time. This is in reference to traveling eastbound uh at 30 miles per hour. Uh it looks like it happened trying to find a location here. Straw.

Straw road where he hit a large indentation in the roadway, lost front tire pressure. So Tracy's going to explain this and rather me try to go through and make it quick. Basically, um Tower Lakes was is working on their extension. They hired a contractor by the name of is it Dillinger? Dinger, excuse me, Jim Dinger of Dinger Escavating. They actually did the work on behalf of the phase two of Tower Lakes. Tower Lakes did not take out a cut permit to go across Straw Road, but Mr. Dinger actually did the work, did a temporary fill in the middle of winter, and I have pictures of when the fill was done. And it looks to be after doing all of the research that there was snow before the day before and the day of the claim. And it looks from the pictures that we've included with your claim that the plow going eastbound on Strob took out a portion of the pot of the uh asphalt fill and that is what caused the indentation in the road that Mr. Hilterman hit that it wasn't undone work from Mr. Dinger but it was rather we believe it's from a P plow. If you look at the picture the lane that is shown where there is a portion out of it. It that is the eastbound lane and that looks is the width of the eastbound lane and the plows are roughly 9 to 11 ft wide. And that to me looks as if it was plow damage. So, our recommendation is is to pay the full claim amount

of 470.73. $473.73 is the recommendation that the city pay that. Does anyone on the committee have any questions? You're saying a plow would be able to dig the road out like that? Absolutely. What was Wasn't it covered with asphalt?

Yeah, it was it there was a temporary asphalt fill for that area because they hadn't gone back in and filled it completely to the road construction. So, it was a temporary patch like what the other side is on the westbound side. On the opposite side, if you look at the picture, you can see where the black top and the asphalt is full except for the area of brown where it looks like the plow took it out.

Could it because it's I was going to say could it um have not been done properly, but you said because it was temporary the plow it would have been that easy for the plow to dig it out more or less. Well, in in our opinion, when we did the research on it, we don't foresee the Dinger excavating to only put the fill of the asphalt in in the areas and not the brown area. So, would we be able to recover anything from the contractor? Well, I spoke to Mr. Delinger. And I will say this that to to keep in good graces with the city, he's already paid $4,190ome dollars to have the city go back and repair that. Okay.

Even though he did not feel he was responsible. Yeah. So he's already paid $4,100 to go back and fix that. Sounds good. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Is there anyone here, Tim Hilter, for that claim? That's right. Okay. Moving forward, do I have a motion and the recommendation for the law director to pay that claim of $473 or $70.73? I I'll make a motion that that claim be paid. Second. Yes. Second. Second. Okay. We'll move forward with that then. All those in favor? I.

Okay. The next claim is Annne Detmer. This is in reference again to uh some some uh uh rock hitting a windshield. And this happened on let me find it. July 30th of 24. Yeah. So this is an older claim was like I said we're trying to get it um caught up. So, Miss Demer submitted a photo on July 30th of 24th showing a city work truck parked in the median and and two estimates where the rock came. She um did have a street supervisor come out or the law director spoke to street supervisor

and um he stated he was called to the site where the damage occurred and spoke with the mowing crew

who advised they were mowing and trimming and did not realize the rock was thrown until she stopped and came back. uh MPD did a property uh report damage and should that state city workers were doing the lawn care in that area as the claimant was passing by and her vehicle was struck by the rock. The recommendation on this is that we pay the lower of the two estimates for $310.30 she provided to to fix the chip in her windshield. Is uh Ann or anybody here? Demmer. Okay. Any questions on this?

I would entertain a motion on this one. I'll make a motion to pay the claim of $310.30. Second. All those in favor? I.

And I am going to abstain from this one. I just want that on record. We'll move it forward with the two. Next one is claim number 11-032025. James Bell on March 20th. Um uh he said they called the water department to report a water line that had broke. The water department said it was his water line to fix. He received a wasted water regulation tag to have it fixed in 5 days from the city. and they uh he called B&B drain service and they came on uh March 21st the next day to fix the water line when they dug it up. Um and and they basically said that it was it was ours. Correct, Tracy?

Yes. No, it was on the neighbors. The neighbors. Okay. So on this one, the sea had to be cut shut off the water and he determined the break was on the neighboring property and not on the claimant's property. So the law director located the city work order to confirm that issue and the complainant submitted a paid receipt for us to pay that in the amount of $900. Would you like to comment on on this one or director Madden?

This is basically where we told him to fix it. We went out and put a tag and told him to fix it. So, he fixed it. I mean, that's the gist of it, right? And it's pos to position of law directors to pay that amount because of that because he is ordered by the city to pay it for $900. Is there anyone here from Miss James Bell here? Anyone here for Mr. Well, okay. Uh, that being said, do you guys have any questions on this one? No questions. No questions. So, I'd like to make a motion uh to follow all director's recommendation to move this forward in the amount of $900. Second. All those in favor? I

motion will move on. We'll move that forward. The next claim is claim 12-050825, Matthew Roberts, 597 Durham Lane. He's stating that a water supply pipe burst on the corner of Middle Belleville and Sherwood. The water quickly began flooding the nearby houses flowing downhill. The amount of water um in made the drain ineffective and the backyards and sidewall sideyards were flooded. Um the water department uh this happened on April 17th and the law director located a work order that was initiated on that same date by the city water department where they replaced 9 ft of an 8 inch water man hose or pipe at the corner middle Belleville and Sherwood. Um anything that you would like to add to this one Tracy? No, I I mean as we've recommended that we pay it in full because $37821 is a very low amount for a flooded basement. Okay. So basically that was our the city's liability on that and the recommendation is to play pay this move this forward for $378.31. Do I have any questions from members of the committee?

No ma'am. So, hearing that, do I have a motion to move this forward in the amount of $378.31? I'll make a motion to follow the law director's decision to pay the 37831. I have a second. All those in favor? I I

And we'll move forward on that one. The next one is Justin Addie, 273 Davis Road. This claim is uh his backyard was destroyed when the city fixed the broken water line. $6544. This happened on December 12th, 2024. A 4-inch man was leaking in the rear of the claimants of the claimment's yard. Emergency repair was completed with use of an excavator. The claimant supplied photos of damage of the rear yard. He hired the claimant hired a private contractor in June to repair the yard damage. He supplied two paid receipts that included top soil, tree service, grading. Total of that was $6562. And he supplied photos of the repairs, which you can see was pretty significant damage back there. It is the law director's recommendation that we um push this forward for the full settlement is 60544. Is there anyone here for Mr. Addie? Is there any questions from the committee? Hearing none, I'll make a motion we move this forward at for in the amount of $6544 at the law director's recommendation.

Second. A second. All those in favor? I I.

That'll move forward. Our last one is claim number 2062425. This is Mark Henderson of 1659 Pulver Road. He's stating basically that um he went left on Bowman from Cleveland Cliff's main gate. There was a culvert that had been under repair for several weeks. He saw the cones in the grass, assumed the repairs were completed, and he noticed work was not completed until it was too late. So basically, there had been cones up that was blocking that cover and you can see the pictures. They had been moved. Someone had moved the cones into the yard. By the time he realized that it had not been completed, he was on top of the culvert and and hit it. Um there was a crash report made. There's a amount of the claim is $1,6547. The narrow states the city workers arrived to put more traffic cones up around so there's no further damage to the culvert. Um, both passenger side tires were flat as noted by the Mansfield police officer and he sh had these the total amount that is there's receipts from Terry to tererry's towing, some eBay receipts for used rims that he bought to fix it and entire replacements. Claimment submit insurance declaration page showing the damage to the vehicle was not insured. So, it is the law director's recommendation that we pay the $1,6547. Tracy, do you know if we had any calls on this a before or after that?

None that I could locate on the work orders. Is Mr. Henderson here? Anyone representing Mark? Does the committee have any questions on this or any questions? Yes, Miss M. Was that that the claimant has no insurance or just insurance that would not cover this type of damage? No insurance on that vehicle? No insurance on that vehicle. It's an older vehicle. He has insurance on all his other vehicles, just not that vehicle. So, isn't it required by law to have insurance on all vehicles that's traveling on the road? I think it was liability only for crash, not for damage to it.

Oh, so he has liability. Yeah. Okay. Let me double check. Let me double check that just a moment. He has no coverage on that vehicle. He has four vehicles. That's the only one that did not have coverage. It says no applicable coverage on his insurance policy. But he does have liability insurance of which he's not doesn't have to have comp and collision.

Correct. Any other questions? Do we have any of the vehicle information?

Yes, it is a Just a moment. It's a truck. Just a minute here. 2005 Chevy Silverado. mileage 152,000. Our our suggestion of when we did the research of it, we gave him leniency in the fact that he went out and bought used rims. I mean, he paid a total of he found them on eBay for less than it would be to repair them new. Let me find my notes here. So the,65 represents two rims, two tires and a toe bill.

And two tires. Two rims, two tires, and a toe bill. Yes. The um used rims were roughly 117 and 128. Both of them dated the same day. And then the tire repair to mount and balance was $744. The tow bill was $75. He does have a paid receipt from I believe it is Vans Tires. Just a moment

while you're looking for that. Um Tracy, there were two city workers who arrived within minutes of this happening and they stated that the state highway patrol had just called in and said the cones were down prior to him crashing. And that culvert, that culvert was a large culvert. Yeah. Any additional questions on this? The only thing I was looking at is that the picture that I see is after they had put them together. Correct. Yes.

So I didn't see a picture of like the car and that he hit it and they were at one side to show exactly what happened. That would have been a good um picture to have. The the police report did include those. I just didn't include those with yours. Okay. But there are pictures from the actual damage report that um shows here. This will help you. This actually shows the cracked rim. There's two of these. There's a cracked rim and then the flat tire. Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. I was thinking we got to do better and fix all our rules. And I probably need to recuse myself off of this. You do.

Anything else? No, that's it. Um U I I will make a recommendation that we move it forward for consideration as we have the other ones uh for council to consider. Second. All those in favor?

I opposed. It moves forward. The time is now 6:35 and that's the end of the claims committee meeting. Yes.

Are you ready to move to that? Oh, yeah.

Yes. I would like to open the conversations on the NOEC. Uh I believe we have the folks here from NOPEC to cover approving the plan of operations and governance of the NOPEC electricity aggregation program for the purposes of joining establishment and implementing an electricity aggregation program in declaring an emergency. Good evening council. So, as we heard last council meeting, NOVEC did do a short presentation. So, today they're here for their public hearing. Um, just a reminder that our residential aggregation expires in July. So, we are me and the administration were looking at different brokers. Um, and we wanted one that it be more informative. We want to raise our aggregation program. So, that's why we've been we looked at many different brokers and um, NOPEC did draw our attention. Today we have Aaron Makovi and Ross McDonald to give a little bit more. They're going to present on the TV a little bit more in depth. Well, uh thank you council. I am uh expeditiously trying to connect to the TVs right now. So give me one moment while we get locked in. Okay. Okay, good. Okay, thank you uh everybody for your

patience. So, uh, again, Ross McDonald, uh, director of community expansion, uh, served for NOPEC. Uh, we're the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council. Um, our presence here is the culmination of over a year of careful planning, uh, thoughtful questions coming from the mayor's administration and the mayor herself. Um, you may recall that I was here two weeks ago. Uh, two weeks ago, I had, uh, more hair at that time. Um I I proudly today I proudly stand in solidarity with children who are uh battling childhood cancer. Uh so I signed up with a team at work. Um it's through St. Baldrick's to raise funds for childhood uh cancer research. Uh you know my thought is that I have a choice in my hairdo and those children do not sadly. So I think all of us stand in solidarity with anybody experiencing uh things like that. So, uh, you have met me. I do look a bit different than last time.

So, we're here today after, uh, several months, uh, over a year at this point of discussion with the city of Mansfield. So, um, what could, uh, Mansfield, let me back up a little bit. Uh, electric aggregation program. You've had a program here in the city that was approved by your voters some time ago. uh you have utilized up until this point a broker-led model uh whereby every so often there's you know an analysis done of different bids that are received. Uh NOEC uh would is a council of governments. We are over 250 communities throughout the state of Ohio across 20 counties in Ohio. Um, here in Richland County, we currently have uh Lexi, the village of Lexington and Madison Township as members. Uh, obviously we are seeking uh the council's support for the city of Mansfield to become our newest member. Bulk purchasing power. So, with all of those uh communities, we have nearly 1 million customers across our footprint. Um, and what that allows us to do is to purchase in bulk and provide those savings back to your program participants. In this case, uh, the electric program participants, there would be no change to the utility service or billing process. Everybody is still going to get the same bill uh, from First Energy. And what we have are various uh electric options for residents to choose from, but everybody would be enrolled in what we call our standard program. The standard program is truly designed to manage market volatility. Uh right now, Mansfield would we're targeting a July 1 start. Um, and right now the energy market is extremely volatile right now. But the beauty of a NOPEC program is that we can

uh absorb some of that volatility across all of those customers. As I said, on the electric side, we have uh close to half a million electric customers and close to half a million gas customers. In a case where we see volatility like is seen right now, um that is uh you know absorbed a lot better than say a program that only has 10 or 15,000 program participants uh such as say the city of Mansfield itself. Um so moving right along uh when you become a NOEC member community uh you have exclusive membersonly pricing. Um, and that's compared to say like an apples to apples website where anybody can shop that. Um, when you're a member of when you reside in a member uh community, a NOPEC member community, um, only those residents are eligible for that listing or those prices. So we have our standard program and then we have our optional 12 24 12 and 24month fixed along with a monthly variable product which is guaranteed savings of 6% below the price to compare. Uh I will say that right now our most competitive and best options are really the standard program or perhaps one of those fixed rates transparent notification before the enrollment period. Uh so NOPEC prides itself on community education and outreach. uh being here to help your residents understand uh what they're about to get into, what their rights are. Of course, an aggregation program only adds choice. It doesn't force anybody into the program. Folks are still free to leave. What's interesting with NOEC and what we are really proud of is that residents can come and go from the electric aggregation program at no cost. We don't charge things like early termination that you might find on the apples to apples website. Nor do we

charge a monthly fee. Uh no membership comes at no cost to the residents or the city itself. This is a supplier paid program. We're a public nonprofit council of governments. Uh as I mentioned, Lexington and uh Madison Township are our local examples of um member communities. We provide grants, financing, event sponsorship, and energy services for our member communities. Uh those services are provided to the city itself and small businesses. Uh and my colleague Aaron Marovi is going to get into some of the financing details that we offer as a company. Uh but that is uh some of those things that set us apart from other programs. Why do residents choose NOEX? So, uh, savings, uh, we've been around for 25 years. Uh, we've saved our customers hundreds of millions of dollars on their energy bills. We don't have the tricky contracts like I, like I mentioned, that are sometimes found on the Applestoapples website or energychoice.gov. Uh oftent times you'll see short-term contracts that roll into a monthly variable rate that uh is essentially requiring the resident to run a contract analysis to understand what does this do to me after that initial three-month period. With NOPEC, what you see is what you get. Uh everything is upfront and easy for the residents to understand what they're getting into. autoenrollment makes it easy uh for the city itself. Um Jess, we've tied up a lot of Jessica's time who's been wonderful to work with. But once we get your membership started, um we take it from there. Uh we do all the onboarding. We'll we'll conduct a nice kickoff meeting with city leadership. Um we will cater to the residents uh in terms of

providing uh a a meeting at the senior centers throughout the city or wherever else that would be a public uh venue. NOPC will be there to help with resident concerns and answer questions. uh the peace of n mind um as I mentioned our market competitive rates are good for those families that don't have the time to play the applesto apples game you can save it you can save a few dollars playing that but you can't make a mistake because if you make one mistake or if you roll into that monthly variable uh after month three for example uh you may lose all of that perceived or expected savings. So, we're really big on savings over time um and being upfront about how our pricing works. We have that product choice and flexibility. So, as I mentioned, we have our standard program uh and and those fixed rate products that I mentioned earlier. Uh and really something that should be important for everybody is our best-in-class call center. You call our our 1-800 number, your phone call is being picked up in less than 10 seconds. uh you're on the phone with an agent to to sort out whatever it is the resident or whomever is calling about. Um we analyze our call center on a quarterly if not more basis to really understand the type of calls that are coming in uh and be able to locate them. Say there's a lot of calls coming from Mansfield for example, we would be able to send resources or or answer um you know what might be going on in the area for the uptick in calls. uh over uh pictured sta to my stage left is uh our our res our relationship manager Andrea and I I'll have Andrea say your last name for me please.

Certainly.

Yes, exactly. Wazen. So, uh, Andrea would be the city's assigned relationship manager upon, uh, membership, um, to use, uh, for your your needs and helping get get different messages out or or answer concerns that maybe have come up through the council members, uh, themselves from the ward residents or or the atlarge residents. At this point, I am going to turn it over to my colleague Aaron and pass the mic over to him. There you go, sir. Thank you. Good evening, council. It's a pleasure to be here in front of you all again. Um I I will I'll be brief in my remarks, but I can tell you that NOPEC has taken the time uh to develop a uh really fantastic suite of extra advantages and benefits that your citizens, particularly your small businesses, would be able to take advantage of. Uh we have a number of things that you see up on the screen. first and foremost is uh arguably our most popular program which is the energized community grant. Um the city would be entitled to a grant that's directly related to the number of uh enrolles in the program. Uh so that would be a a fairly sizable grant for the the city and that can be used for energy related things but that's a very broad definition. So things like lighting, insulation, roof on a a city building. And we've had people use it for various creative purposes, things like tree planting or, you know, uh even vehicles. Uh it can be used for uh and other programs. You may find if you Google us, uh just today in the news, the city of Valyria, uh Ohio and Lraine County started a program uh where they used uh NOPAC Energized Community grant funds to start a fund for u uh less fortunate citizens of theirs to be able to do emergency replacement of hot water heaters, you know. So, there's a lot of versatility in that program and we'd really um hope that the city would make best use of it. Um we do have grants for

small businesses. Those are forprofit businesses. A grant for a small business is a very rare thing when it doesn't come on the on on the the heels of another larger particular uh program. So we have those for energy audits. Uh we also can do economic development site readiness. We were actually just selected as a contributor to a very large um economic development uh uh team and we would love to be able to highlight some of Mansfield's properties for more economic development on an international stage and be able to help with that. Things like solar, carbon, etc. And we have below market financing either through a PACE uh uh program which you're probably familiar with as well as a program of our own design uh which is fantastic for you know kind of spot usage you know replacement of the the water heater a large HVAC unit that that went down in a manufacturing facility. Um we do have here a program timeline and and next steps. Um the council authorization and legislative process is up to you all. Um, you know, a lot of councils do prefer to do the uh uh the full three reads, some two or or one depending on where the council's thoughts are. Um, this uh does constitute the second public meeting uh held. So, at this point, you know, it's it's entirely at the council's discretion as to how quickly or or uh uh differently they want to move. Um, we will handle all the joint uh uh program filing with the public utilities commission of Ohio. Um, and then we just educate, educate, educate uh your citizens and all of you to be able to make sure that everyone's very comfortable. They understand what uh the city is uh looking towards and based on our projections for the rest of the energy market. Uh we're very excited actually to be able to bring very competitive pricing uh to the city as well. And and also I I will say this is in addition to um and we might might have mentioned it the last time we were here um the city already is working with NOPAC. We do have a commercial and

industrial division uh that we were able to find some really fantastic pricing for the city's uh municipal load. Uh and it's already paying paying dividends. It's saving the city an awful lot of money there. Um and then the council action Ross is really very familiar with these so I'll turn it back to him.

I can wrap up. Thank you Erin. And I I am mindful of council's time. So, um there's a little there is a bit redundancy in this slide, but I would point out uh the opt out period May 14th through June 3rd. That's when uh letters will be mailed May 13th. The opt out period May 14th through June 3rd. That's when residents could uh say no, I don't want to be in the program and send in the form to exclude themselves. But I would caution uh that unless you have a contract through the apples of apples then you're resting on that that standard supply from the utility which tends to be the highest rate. So uh you know our no one knows what the price to compare will be for the summer months but our metrics and our forecasts are showing near 11 cent kilowatt hour pricing uh coming up for summer which you know that's uh the worst possible time that's the highest use months you you look at June July August and September as traditionally being very high use months. So, uh you have before you the uh schedule of of how things uh how we see things proceeding toward the July 1 implementation. And we leave you uh really with just gratitude uh for hearing us tonight, for having us um and very open to any questions or discussion that council has or uh really this is a public hearing. Uh there could be depending on council rules questions from your residents here tonight as well. Thank you.

Do have one question. I believe we covered this in the last meeting. The letter that goes to the public is going to be generated from NOPEC with notification of and then they've got the easy call center that they can reach to and they'll be talking to somebody rather quickly in the US.

That's right. Uh that is uh correct. Uh, Council Member Miranda, um, we would also add your logo though to our letterhead just so that there's familiarity coming from, uh, this company called NOPEC. Who are they? We'll work with your administration to get your nice we love your new logo branding. Uh, and we would utilize that on our letterhead with uh, with you. Um, excuse me. And again, as as Andrea points out, our call center 365 247 based in the Midwest. Uh they can cover all sorts of different languages as well. Uh so if you have anybody that you know English is not their first language, I guarantee you we'll be able to help translate and communicate with them.

Okay. And that's acceptable to use our logo on on their Okay. Excellent. Any other questions? So my question is um on the bill if you accept your logo would be on the bill too. That's a really So on the bill that's Yeah. Yeah. So um on an electric bill there's the uh transmission and distribution section and then there's the supply portion.

We would be listed as NOEC next era. Our supplier is Next Era Energy Services Ohio. Uh they're a subsidiary of Next Etera Energy. Uh who is a quite a large uh regulated utility. They're the largest regulated utility uh in the United States and I believe the world as well. Um but that is exactly correct. It would be identified on the supply portion because I saw it on the no bill that I was looking at. Oh yes. Yeah, sure. Okay.

So we have the opt out program. What do we um how do we talk with our citizens if they have if they're already out they're already in an applesto apples program and they want to get into this. Yep. What what happens then?

So so that's part of our community outreach and education. What we really focus on letting consumers know is that they need to understand the elements of their current contract. Um, some let resident or let the contract go away with no penalties. Some are going to require people to pay an early termination fee. So, they really they need to unfortunately run a contract analysis of whatever it is that they're in right now um to see what the timing looks like on that uh you know the end of that contract. Then we'll work with them to bring them into the aggregation. So, when we pull the list for the city of Mansfield, anybody that's in a contract will show up on the list as what's called shopping, meaning we can't send them the opt- out letter. We can't get between them and their contract. But let's say that the contract ends in, oh, I don't know, September. We start you in July. We would coach them on how to call NOEC and work their way into the program uh after having, you know, finished up that contract. Eron.

Yeah. And and I would like to add that we really do pride ourselves on um trying to encourage people to uh become educated about this process. Um we do uh mailings uh upwards of 50,000 every month and we take uh uh intervals of electric gas electric gas to be able to inform people that maybe they're eligible for it because we do that. most other aggregations you see um you know we've seen statistics as as much as six or 7% slippage from the the reup the anniversary mailing which the law requires is done um NOEX is under 1% uh for most of our our uh uh mailings and it's because first of all people are very happy with it uh instead of just one price from a broker we have seven different options that somebody can choose from without ever leaving the aggregation. So, that's thing number one. But thing number two is that we're we're constantly sending them to folks who maybe they were in another contract and they dropped back to the standard service offer with the utility uh or perhaps they um you know just moved into town, you know, for instance, and and uh or or moved out of their parents place into an apartment or something. So, we do a really really good job of trying to keep uh folks into the aggregation in so far as you know we're we're allowed to given their existing contract.

Yeah. Any other questions from the council? This being a public hearing, is there any questions from the public? I would like to ask one question. Do you folks I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with what? Come on down so we can hear you. Okay.

Okay. Um, and sir, you're all right. Sure. Real quick for the record, I just need to get your name and address. My name is Jim Huffman. I live 1587 Lucas Road in Msfield. Um, do you make electricity? We We are not in the generation business. No. And you don't deliver electricity. You just broker it. Is that correct? Yes, we're we're what uh is on your bill as the supplier. Okay. Yeah. There's three components in the electrical economy of Ohio. If I buy electricity or if I switch to Noc,

maybe it's not even an option for me, but if I switch to NOPEC, can I expect a slight discount or a slight reduction in my electric bill? Is that what what we're all about? It's entirely possible and that's what we strive for there. There it really depends on who you're purchasing electricity from right now. Ohio Edison and whatever the other whoever makes it for them, they deliver it. Yeah. And and there's there's a there's going to be a a supplier that's involved in your bill whether you know or not. Yeah. Uh and it depends on what that price is at the moment. We uh are very competitive. Uh but I can't tell you that we're the absolute all the time rock bottom price. Um but virtually all the time we're in the very lowest handful of prices that are available.

Okay. Well, I I hear you offering deals for the city to, you know, if they accept your services, but for us guys paying the bills, what do we got? What do we get out of this? Th this would include citizens. So, the the whole idea here is that it's not only residents, but it's also small businesses. Um, in in addition to this conversation, we've also uh done some work for the city for lights at city hall and street lights and stuff like that. Okay. But that's that's a separate conversation that that is outside of the aggregation. So, but that's a good sounds like a good thing. How big how big is Noc.

250 communities nearly a million customers and each customer represents one household. So, that's you know depending on the average a couple million Ohio. You're not three guys in a truck. We are not. I wish he has the truck. I wish you need help one day.

But I'm I'm very glad that you asked that, sir, because our our call center, as as Ross was saying, uh is uh about 42 people. Uh so we we have that, you know, you you call with a question and we'll pick up. Um and then in addition to that, we have uh just coming on 40 uh staff members, including our commercial and industrial side, which is six or seven people. So we we do have a robust team, but we're not, you know, an enormous conglomerate that, you know, doesn't doesn't reach people. Just being out of power for the last few days. Yes. And we live very close to the new I'm sure the topics coming up tonight about the BIES come gas station coming to the area. Is there? It's in Madison County. Yes. Yes. Yeah. You might have heard about that. Heard about it.

So are you are you rubbing your hands? Anyway, we in that very area, we were out of power for like three or four days. Do you have any influence over the service and make making sure we get power delivered?

Again, fabulous question. Um, this is an indirect answer. Uh, the the direct answer is no. We are not the guys that come out with the trucks to be able to fix the lines. That being said, one of our tenants is advocacy. Um, one of the things that NOPEC does on behalf of all of our communities and we're getting to a size now where we can actually do some real work uh here is we go to the public utilities commission of Ohio. We go to Columbus and we make sure that Ohioans are getting a fair shake. Whether it's about pricing, whether it's about holding the utilities accountable for the service they said that they would provide, we put pressure on them through uh legal means and we put pressure on them from a regulatory standpoint to make sure that they live up to their uh to to their commitments. So that's that's what we can tell you.

I didn't mean to interrupt your proceeding, but thank you very much for the answers. I appreciate it. Pleasure. Not at all. Thank you, Mr. Any other comments or questions? With that being said, we conclude today's hearing from NOPEC. Thank you. Thank you, council. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The

time is 7:01 and I will call the public affairs meeting to order. I'll ask for Director Acriman and her staff to come forward, please. Also, I'd like to note that uh council person Meyer and um council person whis is in attendance. So it should be the spreadsheet is what we'll be actually um talking about.

The 26-0520053. Yes.

Yes, that is labeled that way. Um so, uh what you have there is actually going to be the new spreadsheet. Hopefully, this is going to help everyone a little bit because when you get this, you're only going to be able to fill in some spots. Um at our last at the public hearing that we had, of course, we heard from almost all of the applicants. Um the mayor and I have put together recommendations. That is what you see there on that spreadsheet. Um and so these will be coming to you. Uh each of you will get your own form and then I will compile them into uh the average um with the listing. That way it's a lot easier for um you all and council clerks to navigate. Um but essentially those are our recommendations as they stand now based on the funding that we anticipate having available. Uh having that in mind, obviously we are working off estimates still for CDBG and the home grants. We do not have the final allocations yet. Uh it does sound like they may have those to us soon. Hopefully um so that our process isn't completely delayed. Um I've also emailed out the action plan uh an initial draft. Keep in mind there are numbers plugged into those uh applicants and those sections. that will all change. Um I just have to have numbers or I can't complete the section with the information on the uh anticipated project. Um there is a lot of other information in that plan. If there's any questions on those, you can certainly um reach out to me uh as far as the plan goes. And then uh this is kind of uh the committee meeting an opportunity uh to for you guys to discuss or ask me any questions about any of the presented um programs if anything else came up after the meeting that you uh wanted to ask about.

Does anybody on the committee have any questions? Um, Adrian, you said we'll each get is is this our copy? That is not your copy. I will send it to you in an Excel format. The only thing you will be able to fill out is those that column that says council recommendations. Everything else is going to be locked and it will not let you put something in wrong. Um, if you have amounts that are above or below thresholds that are required, it's going to flag you. Um, so you'll be able to see all of those things. And then if you have trouble, of course, be able to help you. But it that bottom section will tell you if your amounts are within uh the allowable range.

Does anyone else have any questions about this right now? All right. Then hearing none,

I think uh I think we're good for now. Thank you, Director Acriment. And I will close the public affairs committee at 7:05. And with that, at 70:07, I will call to order the public hearing. Let me call you call. Public hearing for the reason petition number 563. This would be amending the zoning district's map of the city of Mansfield, Ohio ordinance 04208 to reszone five parcels located at 2385 Possum Run Road, 242 24 Possum Run Road, 2450 Posum Run Road and 2470 Posum Run Road from prior township zoning classification to B2 general business district classification. Do we have anyone in the audience here to speak at this public hearing regarding these reszone this res? Director Akim, is there anything that your office would want to say at this point on that?

Okay. All right. Do you want to note that planning commission did make a recommendation to council? Yeah, Mayor Perry, if you could. Yeah, just that planning commission did make a recommendation to accept this act to council. Thank you. Okay. Is there last call for anyone from the public to address this resone? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing at 7:08 p.m.

Thank you. At 70:08, I'll call the finance committee meeting to order. And we have the uh final budget that's due by March 31st. Our last regularly scheduled meeting is right now. Um so, um I did send out an email a couple days ago with some different reports and breakdowns. I don't know if anybody had any questions about that. I know we've got a lot going on tonight, so I I don't want to preabor anything that maybe you already talked about at the previous meeting. Miss Mount

just wanted to say thank you for your summary and uh Director Converse for your department's work on preparing that summary for us. And there are things at this point that we just don't know how the year will shake out financially. So it may be something that we come back revisit midyear fall if we need to. But we're going to do the best with what we know at this point and see how things come in and how things change would be my take on it.

Right. And I think one thing, um, the budget's the best of the guess. I hate to use the word guess, but it's really the best guess. A lot of effort goes into it. I know the mayor, uh, spent a lot of time with all the department heads and went into all the details line by line by line. Um, we have some changes between the, um, temporary budget we did for December and those are in here. And that's because the uh income uh rollover from last year was lower by4 million dollars. Yes.

Um roughly roughly. So they had to pull quarter million dollars out which they did. Um and that's what's reflected in the final budget. Um, and again, we're um I I know there's two people in the next row that's ready to dive deep into this, but at the same time, if nobody has any questions, I'm not going to push for a deep dive, Mrs. Meyer.

No, I just wanted to echo what Councilwoman Mount said. Thank you, um, Director Blankenship for getting us the, uh, the summer. it made it a lot easier to sit and look through the numbers instead of trying to line item it by, you know, um it's unfortunate that we've had to pull some of the money from from the departments that we've had to. Um but hopefully we're going to see an uptick and like Miss Mount said, we can revisit some of these u when we start seeing some of the money, right, pour in. That would be nice. Thank you. Mr. Fox. Um, yes, Miss Robinson.

Thank you. Um, I just want to say that I know I I was able to speak uh with the mayor and the and the uh finance director a little bit would really um again, we don't know what's coming in, but would like to see if things do come in some of those capital purchase requests come through in uh in the department. So, I that would be my request and and my hope that we would could focus on some of that. So, I appreciate everything that you did and that's that's all I have. Well, with no further hands in the air, I'll call the finance committee closed at 7:12 p.m.

Okay, with that being at 71, I will call this session of Mansfield City Council Caucus session to order. And for we'll start off with any committee reports. Mr. Diaz, I know you have some. You know me. Thank you, Mr. I do.

I cut it short since we have a long night tonight. I did want to highlight three upcoming events um beginning this Friday. Um Ohio State Reformatory is conducting a public ghost tour. That'll be um from 7:30 until 9:30. So, if you're interested to purchase tickets, please contact OSR. Um something I saw um pretty exciting is um every Wednesday beginning I think they're not doing it tomorrow but beginning next week and every Wednesday until the April they're doing um free guitar lessons o uh sorry OSU Mansfield it'll be courtesy of Metronome Music. So, if you yourself wants to learn a guitar, bring your guitar. It's free from 400 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. And then, uh, this Saturday will be the first of several monthly Thrive and Ward 5 cleanups. Uh, this Saturday, we're partnering with Mansfield Speedway. Um, we'll have a Google form online probably tonight. Um we're looking for at least 50 people at this time be helping with painting, cleaning, and um they have some pretty announce uh amazing things they're going to be announcing at this cleanup. So that'll be Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00. More information coming tonight. And that concludes my announcements.

With that, we'll call on Mayor Perry.

Okay. Just a couple things for me. I did want to say thank you to all the city workers for their great response during last week's windstorm. Um I mean nearly every department had to respond in some way, but certainly police, fire, our dispatchers, uh dispatch in particular was overwhelmed with calls. Um we were in a meeting with the sheriff's office today. I know it was similar in the rest of the county. Um also our streets folks. Um we had trees down. We had things that had to get fixed. And so appreciate everyone's response to that. I did want to let council know, I know you approved the IIAFF contract back in January, maybe I early February, late January. Uh we did sign that this week. So that is all set and and uh in in motion. And then I did want to let you know so we did change our regularly scheduled CIC meeting, our community improvement corp meeting this month. uh we had a conflict um with quorums but we are going to do this meeting uh as a planning session. It will be open to the public. Um it's going to be next Wednesday from 4 to 6 in our office. Um but it's going to be a chance for us to talk about how how to use the CIC in particular, what um additional benefits it it provides. So I would encourage you and I'll have Tina send out a note um if you are available and want to participate. We would love to have your input on that. Thank you.

Would that director Andrews

uh at the last council meeting we talked about that the city engaged a consultant to look at uh public pool. Uh our first hearings and public meetings. Uh they're going to help us navigate and have a public open house. We have a steering committee and we have a committee group, a stakeholder group made up of neighbors and educators. We have a second stakeholder group that's made up of uh community partners and then we a third stakeholder group is a youth forum getting uh the youth of the of the community input as well. Then last we have a public open house. All this would be on March 30th between 5 and 7 and we'll be at the North Lake Pavilion. At that point we ask people to come and give us their feedback and and any anything that they feel would be important to us as far as a pool. this concern. If you're not able to attend any of those, we will have some online options that you'll be able to go to and still give us input. So, this company is going to help us navigate through all the open houses and get all the surveys and get all that information, and then they'll make a recommendation to the city as to the design, the pool, and all the different amenities that we would have. So, if you're interested, come to those open house uh on March 30th A or go online. and we'll give you a survey that you can answer some questions for us. Thank you,

Director Porch.

Thank you, Mr. President. So, uh, for council's, uh, memory, last, uh, December, you guys approved a FEMA grant in the neighborhood of 200,000 for the fire department for the diesel exhaust systems. So, those have arrived uh, this week. They started installation today. So by the end of the week, all five fire stations will be outfitted with those systems, which is phenomenal. Obviously, that is for the the safety and security of our personnel operating those trucks in those stations to make sure uh we're taking care of them. And uh the chief did a fantastic job of getting that grant, allowing us to outfit our stations. Uh the police department, we just uh finished up the fourth year review for the reacredititation. So all files have been reviewed for the four-year time period. The on-site assessment and that's when a lead assessor with assistance will come to the police department to do a physical on-site assessment of those not only the files but of the staff and the police department. that will occur April 6th through the 8th. And and if you remember, and I guess for some of the new members during that time period, there'll be a chance for public comment, not only from council members, but from the public at large, to give the assessors your opinions, whether good or bad, and how the police department conducts themselves and operations of the police department. The lead assessor is an assistant chief from Metropolitan Police in Washington DC. I don't have his name, but uh he just retired and he'll be the elite assessor uh that will be in charge of doing that for Mansfield. So I know a lot of work has been uh been done by the police department do during those four years. They're assessed every year by file, but

you know, every fourth year, that's when physical assessors arrive to uh make sure we're doing what we're say say we're doing through our accreditation. So, please uh show up and give your opinions. Thank you, Director Converse.

Thank you. And finance, on the finance side of the floor, um we are busy with the state auditors. They are on site right now. They have been here last week and this week and may continue for another week after that. And we have our new payroll specialists starting on Monday. So, we're excited to have that hole plugged. Finally, on the income tax side, um I sent out a press release and we have a commercial that's live now reminding taxpayers that we will see walk-in traffic and we will prepare your city income tax return for you as long as you have all of your documents, which means we need your W2s, any 1099s you have, your 1040 federal filing, plus all the supporting schedules. And um if you bring those to our office, we're happy to do the work for you because you know all municipalities are different and so um you know it's it's a little complicated for sometimes everyone in the public to do that. So we're happy to take care of that for you. Beginning April 1st, we are going to open the first floor office downstairs and so we'll have a line of traffic um on the first floor and the seventh floor. on April 14th or 13th, 14th, and 15th. We will cut off the in-person traffic at 1 PM just because the lines will be long enough at that point that they will take us well into the evening. So, we don't want to have our clerks here until late at night preparing taxes on those days because, you know, we need them to get home and be rested to come back and get at it again the next day. So, we will cut traffic at 1 p.m. on those three days only. all the other days we will keep coming uh we will keep traffic coming in until they cut the doors closed down on the second floor. The other thing I wanted to make you aware of is that the state has convened a committee to look at municipal income tax. Again, some of the things they are considering right now are also excluding tips and overtime from municipal taxing just like the one big beautiful bill act

has done at the federal level. and now the governor has signed at the state level. They are trying to impose that on the municipal level as well. They are also looking at um removing the limitation on business net profit loss. Currently, it's at 100% of a net business profit loss can be carried forward up to 5 years. They want to remove that 5-year limitation and allow businesses to carry forward their net profit loss indefinitely until it's exhausted. Our business net profit is what is driving our reduction in income tax through the entire level. So while withholding is going up and individual receipts are going up, business net profit has declined to such an extent it has taken the entire income tax level down 2%. So I implore you to talk to your state legislators and let them know at a municipal level we cannot afford these kind of changes. That's all I have. Thank you, Deputy Director Mattton.

Uh, no updates from the law director's office. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Uh, we will now proceed with legislation for caucus. We will start at bill 26-044 and I'll call in Miss Robertson. Thank you, Mr. President. uh 26-044 is amending uh the term of a prior appointment in reference to 26-023 for the following member of Foria Desa Harris to the Mansville Public Arts Commission said term amending it commences immediately.

Is there any questions discussion on 2644? Okay, moving on to 26-045. Once again, Ms. Robertson. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh 26-045 is approving the appointment of Ryan Ryan Sheiley to the Mansfield Public Arts Commission to replace Commission Member Lee Tacith and to complete his term commencing immediately. Any discussion? Mr. Falcat.

Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to say that uh during my volunteer uh efforts at the Renaissance Theater, I have um met Mr. Sheileely and I would highly recommend him for the job. He's a very critical uh person that works up at the Renaissance Theater. Any other questions, discussion on 2645? Okay, moving on to bill 26-46. Mr. Miranda. Bill 26046 approving reappointments by the mayor of the board of utility appeals.

Any questions on 26-46? Okay, moving on to bill 26-047, Ms. Meyer.

Thank you, sir. uh 26-047 will be reappointing members to the police review and community police uh relations commission and that will be um Tammy Mclofflin for the third ward. Her term will expire December 31st, 2027. And for the fourth ward, Sheila Kaiser and she will expire December 31st, 2026. And many thanks to both of these ladies for being willing to serve. Yes. Any questions, discussion on 26-47, Mr. President? Yes.

I just want to let you know that Ron Abrams called today and is volunteering. He called my office. So, I'm going to call him back and say it's council, but I don't know. Just just as an FYI. Yes. Do we know what he lives in? Um I don't, but I will ask him. So, if we can we can get him to uh I think we have um I I'm pretty sure we've got everyone's got someone except for maybe yeah, six six ward is okay, but we'd love to keep them on a reserve list. Perfect. Just wanted to make sure I passed it on. Thank you so much.

Okay. Anything else on 47? Okay. Moving on to Bill 26 048. Mr. Fett. Thank you, Mr. president. This is reappointing downtown Improvement Advisory Board uh members Jennifer Kim, Matthew Stanfield, and Ben Davis. They've been on before. They do a great job. Anything further on bill 26-48. Okay. Bill 26-049. Mrs. Meyer.

Thank you, Mr. President. 26-049. So this will be amending section 719 and 32 of ordinance number 25-211 adopting personnel positions, pay grades, and salaries for certain employees of the city of Mansville 2026 payroll year. So I do have some information on that. Um and I might have at this point Director Acriman. Um I will tell you what I know about um the first portion the um the position in um engineering we're adding um and CAD uh one of um engineer Biankey's employees took it upon himself to uh get this designation and so he'll be able to help uh with water lines etc. So, uh, we very much appreciate pass our appreciation on to that since that's not a not a up in a pay grade or anything. He just took that, uh, doing that himself. So, then I'll go to Yeah.

Yeah. Mine's not that simple. I'm sorry. Um, so what I've tried to give you in the first sheet is essentially what the current looks like without all the red lines because that makes it confusing when you start seeing that. Um, and then what the proposed is and what it will look like in the new ordinance. Obviously, without the color coding, the color coding is actually to try and show you what we're going from and to.

Um, most of these are essentially a job title change and then we're restructuring it to show where that personnel falls under which supervisor in the division. Um, a lot of these changes are basically because the state has changed their certification structure. um and what those titles are. So, when I'm posting a job that says I need a building official, most people are like, "I don't have that. It takes too much to get that. I'm not I'm not going to apply for that." Um if they know what they are or I'm getting people who say, "Oh, I can probably do that." And then they're not even eligible for certifications. So, by aligning this and changing this to the to the state structure, hopefully it will be able to uh attract candidates that are qualified and they'll know what that means as soon as they see that job posting. Um, so instead of building official or residential building official and even the electrical inspector, um, we're moving those just to certified inspector. certified building inspector, too. That replaces the building official job and the electrical inspector because they all those two positions there that replaces those um certifications. They all fall under the level three certification uh structure at the state. The residential building official moving that to a certified residential inspector, which is a level two at the state's u new structure. and then just a title change primarily for the permitting and development official. Um that role has really essentially been uh zoning and uh utility coordination which we don't have a lot of now because we don't have all the private fiber companies all over the city but um that will still be a part of that role. And so that that title really better states what that primary role is. We wanted to change that over to zoning official. And then the only other thing we really did is we added in the option for level

three certified part-time employees. Um, a lot of people in the field are retiring. Uh, they don't want to work full-time. They're eligible for certification. They maybe used to be a contractor. Maybe they do want to do something part-time. So, that allows us to maybe open that up to get some certified folks who are don't want to work, you know, 40 hours a week or a little more. So awesome. Any questions? Thank you.

Thank you. And then the last change is going to be under um our miscellaneous personnel that will be bumping the intermittent employees from 15 to 25. Um and the intermittent employee um more departments um director May says more departments are utilizing this type of part-time employee as opposed to full-time temporary. Full-time temporary can only work for 9 weeks whereas an intermittent uh could work longer provided they don't exceed the 140 hours in a calendar year. So, uh, parks, um, um, permitting and development, clear fork, those would be places where you might find some intermittent employees. And that's all I have on that piece. Okay, any other questions, discussion on 26-49. Okay, moving on to bill 26-0 50. Mr. Miranda.

Thank you, Mr. President. Authorizing the public works director to purchase according to the Sourcewell contract one QC550 camera system from MTech of 5642 Transportation Boulevard, Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125 in the amount not to exceed $17,960 for the use by the sewer repair department and declaring an emergency. Any other any questions, discussion on 2650? Mr. Miranda, is this is this a new product or replacing or just new technology?

Uh, this is an upgrade. So, the vehicle itself is the same. We'll be gutting that out and putting this new technology. Two advantages of this one, it will have a remote capability. So, we'll be able to take that camera out in the field where the truck can't go. there is a self-contained generator that will operate it and that gives us more flexibility. The additional thing is that we'll get uh four employees trained and certified on the new equipment which we've been struggling to find uh training for that and that's a savings of about $4,800 that's included in that. That's not not an additional charge. So, this is upgrading what we have. Excellent. Thank you.

Any other discussion on 2650? Okay, moving on. The 26 days of 051, Mr. Diaz. Yes, I'm sorry. Is this something you wanted to move up? Yes, if we could. This is something that we use every day. Okay. So, we would like to move the bill to uh pardon me. Um move displace any further reviews in and place on the floor for a vote. It's

been regularly moved and seconded. We wave further readings and move up bill 26-50 for final passage tonight. Motion should be before you. Second. Oh, sorry. That's why I didn't. Oh, okay. I I'm sorry. Thank you for whoever's been regularly moved and seconded. The motion is before you. Motion passes 8 to zero. So we will be voting on it tonight. Bill 26-051. Mr. Diaz.

Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, bill 26-051 is authorizing the public works director to enter into a joint maintenance agreement with the Madison Township trustees. Is there any discussion on bill 26-051? Mrs. Meyer. Um, what will we be jointly doing? Good question. This is for uh street maintenance and stuff like that. I mean, this we've already had an agreement. This is just we met and we decided we need to tweak some stuff and so this is just renew of what we've been doing for years with Madison Township.

Okay. Any other discussion on bill 26-51? I would like to dispense of any further readings and uh proceed with consideration tonight. Second.

Then regularly moved and seconded that we move up bill further readings on bill 26-051 and bring it forward for final passage at council this evening. Wait. Motion passes 8 to zero. Okay. Bill 26-052.

Thank you, Mr. Mr. President. Uh, bill 26-052 is authorizing the mayor to submit an annual action plan for PY 2026 for proposed uses for the city's 2026 community development block grant funds. Any discussion on further discuss any discussion on bill 26-052

is there? They don't want to move this one up, do they? Okay. Yeah. Okay. Same with the next one. Okay. So, with that, we'll move on to bill 26-053. Ms. Robertson. Thank you, Mr. President Bill 26-053 is authorizing the mayor to submit Mansfield's PY 20226 action plan to the United States Department of Housing and Urbing Urban Development for the 2026 home improvement partnership program funds and declare it an emergency.

Any discussion on bill 26-053? Okay, hearing none, we will move on to bill 26-054. Miss M.

Thank you, Mr. President. Bill 26054 setting forth statement of municipal services the city of Mansfield, Ohio would provide to the plus or minus 112.538 acres of land located in Madison and Mland Townships and proposed to be annexed to the city of Mansfield, Ohio via an expedited type 2 annexation pursuant to RC 709021 and 709023 and the buffer requirements the city of Mansfield will enforce as provided by RC 709 2023 C. And Mr. President, with your permission, I'd like to call on Mr. Bianke if he's available to answer any questions. Council, absolutely. Yes, that'd be great. Give it to us, Bobby.

Good evening, council. Thank you for the invitation. I'll be glad to answer any questions, but I'll just give you a quick update or overview. Annex annexation. So, in Ohio, there's a process. This is the following Ohio code process of type two annexation and there's the first night there's three pieces of legislation. The first one is yeah I'm I'm sorry I sure will.

So the first of the three pieces of legislation is the first one is declaring a statement of services. that is what is the city going to provide this new what kind of services will the city provide in this new area. The second piece is consenting to annexation. This basically is saying we agree with the process. We are consenting that this land should be annexed. And the third piece is about zoning and describing on whether or not a zoning buffer is required between what zoning it will be in the city and what is the current zoning in the township adjacent to it. Okay. So and then in about 60 days or so there will be one more piece of legislation and that is finally approving the annexation. So, consenting, statement of services, zoning, and approving. And then I know Adrian, Director Acriman, will be here to talk about the official zoning of that land here probably in a month or so. Yeah. So, be glad to answer any questions. It's the annexation of 112 acres plus or minus or more or less. So, regarding the statement of services, I'm assuming that there has been a meeting with the fire chief, police of uh police chief, everyone regarding what that will look like for them

and they're all on board with being able to service this particular parcel.

And that meeting occurred with the directors and the mayor. Yes. And it's basically the standard services that are provided in other areas in Mansfield. They will be provided in this area as well. Save and accept Interstate 71. City does not plow, maintain or provide any type of maintenance to the interstate or ramps. So although that area is becoming inside the city, we will not resume any responsibility over that that interstate. Will we have an agreement like we have on 30 with ODOT? Will we need to do that or will it just be assumed that that's not something that we have to concern ourselves with?

Because by nature of being an interstate, we will not need an agreement. There will be times where, let's say, ODOT wants to pave Interstate 71. we will have to come to council to allow you guys to consent to do working in the city essentially. So yeah, we've done that. Yeah. Any other questions for Bobb's fine. I see no other hands. I guess I've got a question with regards to this project. Uh, you can address that during public comment.

It was Yeah, it's been back. It was back there before where you came in.

Okay. I guess you're good to go, Bobby.

Okay. Any other discussion council? Otherwise on bill 26-054 I'm sure there will be some comments and discussion in public comment but okay moving on to bill 26-055 Miss Mount. Thank you Mr. President. Bill 26055 as Mr. Bianke uh referenced is consenting to the annexation to the city of Mansfield, Ohio certain territory proposed to be so annexed pursuant to an annexation petition filed with the board of county commissioners of Richland County, Ohio by John Studman, agent for the petitioners as provided for and Ohio revised code section 709023.

Okay. Any discussion, comments on bill 26-055? Mr. President,

yes. I just want to make sure I mean I know when I was talking with council um that I said this but I want to just uh hone in on it again. Under a type two annexation um we would receive the income taxes that are generated from the site. Uh the township will continue to receive the property tax. So you know inside the city we do receive uh the inside millillage on property tax. So we will not get that. that stays with Madison Township. Um so I just that and that is in perpetuity. So you can imagine that um developed property will be worth more than undeveloped property. Um and that will also be the case with the schools. So there will be another agreement forthcoming um likely uh the night of the final approval after the 60 days of waiting has expired. uh we will have uh that approval as well as zoning. We we um will be running the zoning process alongside that um which would become effective upon the annexation effective date as well as a third piece which is a development agreement. And that is the piece that's going to get more into specifics about um you know the types of uh the number of jobs that are coming, the expected amount of investment um you know kind of some more of those substantial numbers that we see as well as the incentives that are going to be offered. Um I will say just from the start, we have been talking about this. I said this at the commissioner's uh meeting. I believe this was shared last night at the township meeting as well. Um the incentive process here is going to look different than one that we have done before. It's obviously a very different type of development. So there will be no property tax abatements um at

this point. So you know schools will be able to keep the money as well as Madison Township which certainly will help them um with their safety services that they have to to maintain. So, I just want to let you know that more to come obviously on on the specifics of how that works, but we're using uh a newer type uh of development tool that is available to help with the financing on that. Thank you, Mayor. Mr. Faul,

thank you. Along the that line, we did um a special thing down south end of town that collected some sort of taxes that was used for infrastructure development. Do you know what I'm talking about? A tiff. Yes, tiff. Is tiff applicable here?

Uh it could be applicable here, but that is not the vehicle that we're going to use. A TIFF ultimately it is a different form of financing but it operates to the to the township and to the schools like an abatement. Um, so again it's on the improved value and so we were trying to do this in a way that uh preserves that money and again you know BIES is a very unusual type of investment that's coming in uh where the majority of their money is coming from visitors outside of the county. Um it's a little different than a manufacturer coming in things like that. So it just gives us a few more tools I guess. Um, and so yeah, it's not tiff, but yeah,

that was a long answer. Sorry about that. Any other questions, discussion on bill 26-55? Okay, moving on to bill 26-56. Miss Mount. Thank you, Mr. President. Bill 26056 is the um zoning piece that Mr. Bianke referenced determining that the zoning of 110.757 more or less acres of territory Madison Township and 1.781 more or less acres of territory in Mifflin Township, Richland County, Ohio proposed to be annexed to the city of Mansfield will not permit uses clearly incompatible with the existing township zoning pursuant to RC 709023C.

Any discussion on bill 26-056? Okay, hearing none. Moving on to bill 26-057. Miss Mount.

Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, bill 26057 is um amending the zoning district's map as discussed in the public hearing earlier. um zoning districts um city of Mansfield map of ordin ordinance 04208 to reszone 5 parcels located along possum run road as listed and uh in the hearing um from the prior township zoning classification to B2 general business district classification

any questions discussion on bill 26-057 okay Bill 26-058. Mr. Miranda.

Thank you, Mr. President. This would be authorizing the public works director to enter into a lease agreement according to the source well contract for one super products camelvac truck from MT MTech 5642 transportation boulevard Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125 for the water and sewer repair departments not to exceed in the amount of 598,534 over a 5-year period which will have an option to purchase at the end of the lease. Any discussion on bill 26-058? Mr. Falcat,

I was at the um meeting where it was introduced at the um previous level and this is a product uh truck that they use a lot. Um the vehicles they have now um the maintenance costs have just become prohibitive. This is very difficult to keep it up. Um, even though it's almost $600,000, um, we are financing it over over several years. So, it's $119,77 per year. We make a once a year payment on that uh pro on that truck during the lease period. So, just some um information from the

Miss Dailyy. So, so it's more feasible to lease than to purchase. We opted to lease because within less than four to five years since this piece of equipment is used extensively, our repairs far out exceed keeping that piece of equipment in operation. So, this is critical for us to do all of our water lines, uh, sewer line backups, all these things. and uh we need a dependable piece of equipment and we feel that leasing gives us that option. We got a new piece of equipment that's being maintained through the lease and that uh we'll be able to keep it running longer. Maintenance is in the lease.

The maintenance is our biggest concern with that piece of equipment. Yes. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Marina. Mr. President, I move that bill 26058 be placed upon the floor for final passage.

Second. Been regularly moved and seconded that we wave further readings and move up bill 26-058 for a final vote this evening. motion passes 8 to zero. So we we will be voting on it this evening. And our last piece of legislation tonight for caucus is bill 26-059. Mr. Diaz.

Thank you, Mr. President. Bill 26-059 authorizes public works director to enter into a contract or contracts with the GNER Avenue infrastructure improvements and declaring an emergency. Any discussion on bill 26-59? Uh, Mr. President, I would like to wait a minute. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see a hand there. Mrs. Meyer, um, can we get a um a little bit more detail on what the impro infrastructure improvements are? Mr. Republic.

Yeah. Um, Adrian is gonna director actor. This is the other it's it's continuing the Glassner project from Sturgis to Main Street is is the answer, but she can give you a little more detail. I do have another little include but this cover of the dark line is going to be um this is essentially going to look like phase one which is great phase one in a different neighborhood different street

also just a note this project has been put up to bid already. So um so we need to award the contract within 60 days 60 days of that bid. So, but we are using block grant funds, the the target funds um that have been built up over several years to pay for some of this and then we've got money coming from other funds uh because we're doing work in other parts of the project.

So, the black line on this is Glesner Avenue, but when you were walking by, I thought you said Wood Street. It's GL. Well, the I was sorry I missed it. So, the first phase was Wood Street to Sturgis. So, the the landscaping features, the sidewalk, crosswalk features, everything you see there is kind of going to be mimicked all the way down. This phase is going to be from Sturgis Arthur. So, the west or the east Surgis and Arthur all the way to Main Street to me. Okay. All right.

It's actually two phases kind of combined in one. It was definitely more cost effective to try and do those at the same time. So, it's phase one over again in a new moving east toward towards Main Street. I got it. Now, is the majority of this work going to be done next year because I think when we were discussing water water manes that was a 2027. Yeah, we're we're thinking we'll we'll probably start sometime around May. Okay. So, this will be in conjunction with any water mane repairs. Good. Thank you. Any other discussion on any other discussion on bill 26-59?

Okay, that concludes legislation. Oh. Oh, wait a minute. Oh, up. Oh, that's okay. That was Councilman Fet there told me to wrap it up. I'd like to dispense. I have to move it forward. That was forward one. We need to do that. So I'm not like to dispense of any further readings and uh phase tonight for u consideration. Second.

Okay. It's been regularly moved and seconded. We wave further readings on bill 26-059 and bring it forward for a final vote this evening. Council shall cast a vote on the motion. It's been regularly moved and second. Motion passes 8 to zero. Do I have a motion to adjurnn caucus? Second. Been regularly moved that be adjourned. All in favor signify by saying I.

I post same. With that at 7:53, I'll call this session of Mansfield City Council to order. Please stand for the pledge and remain standing for the prayer. 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.

Heavenly Father, we ask that you watch over our meetings and proceedings tonight. Give us wisdom and direction. Give us safety for our safety service people, our citizens. Help those who may still be without power. Help those who have had damage and other things like that during the recent weather events. We ask this uh in your guiding light. Uh amen. Amen.

That the clerk shall call the role. Mr. Miranda present. Mrs. Meyer present. Mrs. Davis Whis present. Miss Dailyaly here. Mr. Diaz here. Miss Mount here. Miss Robertson here. Mr. Faulquet here. And President Scott present. Unless there is an objection, the reading of the journal and correspondence will be dispensed with. Hearing no injunction. Objection. and they will be dispensed with. We need a copy of the

while the clerk is u going to get the sign-in sheet for public comment. I might add traditionally it's in this council it's been you're allowed three minutes. When you come up to the microphone please state your name and address and like I said you you're given three minutes. And once again, traditionally it has been that there's no discussion, debate, back and forth between council, administration, and the speaker. So with that, I will first call up Wlet Howard.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm here on something unusual. I'm here to compliment everybody. Thank you. So, take a little more than three minutes. Please bear with me because you're going to enjoy it. Um, I've been a contractor landlord in town for 49 years.

My name is Wallace Toward. I live at 1520 Silver Lane, Mansfield, Ohio. Um, I have been a contractor for about 49 years in town. Had rental property and different things. Semi-retired. Six months ago, partner and I bought a condemned house at 230 Ray Avenue. Uh we removed 11,850 lbs of trash out of a twobedroom. To give you an idea what we faced,

um it had no power. It hadn't been lived in in years. You couldn't see it for the bushes. We went in, we cleaned it up. While we before we could get the electricity in, we were robbed three times with about $3,000 of tools and equipment. We with the help uh I can't say enough about Mark and the other code inspectors. They expedited things. They helped us get things moving quickly. We got the electricity in, put an alarm system in. Of course, they came back and tested it. They came back twice. I lived 5 minutes away. When I got the notice, I had dispatched the police. Both times the police officers beat me there. Uh first time a car was seen going but we weren't able to stop it. Uh what they did they rattled the doors to see what happened. After the police responded so quickly twice they decided there was no profit in doing anymore and left us alone. We have finished that house. Uh it's as cute as can be. We listed it. It was on the market only seven days it sold and we have a new family moving into that community in one of the nicest houses on the block. But I commend the police department. If they hadn't shown up so fast, we couldn't have completed that project. Second thing I want to compliment, we had a water leak on Silver Lane. Uh it was not one that was running down the street that everybody could see. It was one in the main line that was going into the storm sore and it was thousands of gallons of water going. It reduced our pressure. When I located it, contacted the stream department in a very timely manner. They came out and repaired that. And I mean, they came out, they fixed it, solved the problem. The third thing I want to compliment

um just went through my head here. It's really the main reason I came tonight. Um, and I can't think of it right now. I'm so happy with I've been getting service. Um, help me, Gath. What am I here for? Court of Home Road.

Court of Home Road. Okay. I go out home road to Walker Lake at least twice a day being a contractor going to Menards. the certain the since Bernard has come there the traffic has really increased also there's the church at the intersection and that church has in the last 5 years has had 400% growth it's gone from about 49 people of service to over 250 and we end there's a lot of elderly there's a lot of new people coming down that road I drive a truck and I pull up that intersection I look to the Right. And there was a hill there. You just could not get a clear view. With my truck, I could see it. It was You had to pull out on home road or on Walker Lake before you could see. And I saw several close accidents with people in cars. I contacted the council person in that area, talked to her. But after dealing with the city for 49 years, I know you'd only contact one. You contact the people that they're going to go to and ask about the situation. So, I talked to her. I talked to the street department. I talked to the mayor's office. I talked to the service safety director. So, when a person asked a question, they already the people they're talking to had some knowledge. And in a very reasonable time, just a couple months, I was driving down the road about a week ago. Here's the trucks. They took three feet off that for about 150 ft. That intersection is safe now. And you know, every time I pulled up, I was always worried I'm going to see somebody pull out and get creamed because cars come down Walker Lake pretty fast.

Yes, they do.

They go way over the speed limit. They come over that blind hill and you can't see them. That problem has been solved. It was done in a timely manner. But the key here is it wasn't one department I dealt with. I dealt with six different departments here and you guys worked together and you solved three problems for me. I got more problems solved in the last six months and I got resolved sometimes in 10 years and we had a I have a great working relationship with Mayor Baker. I'm enjoying the new mayor. You guys are really getting your act together and I want to compliment you. It isn't one. It's been a real team effort on your part and you deserve the compliment.

I'm sorry if I ran over three minutes. Thank you very much. Next up we have Nick Stelman. Pronounced it right. I was hoping you did good. Thank you, sir.

I'm Nick Stattleman, uh, 1566 Lucas Road. Um, just had a question about the the land that you guys proposed to annex. Um, I've worked closely with the USDA, the NRCS more specific with conservation of the soil. And we have a map that we recently put together because we're building a stock barn for cattle. Um, and it's manure storage, so there's groundwater concerns. And that map shows the area of groundwater vulnerability. And the area that is highlighted in orange is an area that wouldn't allow us to build on. And that area is where you guys have proposed the the annexed area for BIES. And I was just curious how that was possible. I guess traditionally we don't get in the back and forth but

Okay. Okay. But I mayor can

So um they are going to be doing a lot of storm water retention as part of this. Um but they also have done soil borings uh as part of the the um due diligence on the site. So, uh, I mean, USDA is not the overseer of Buckyy's project, so I don't know how that would be different. Um, but I can tell you that they have tested the site and done all of their due diligence on it and believe they know they can build on it. Um, now they may need to retrofit things. I mean that that's on on their side of it, but um my guess is and I don't know uh I'm looking at the two smarter guys than me on this stuff, but uh you know it's a difference of oversight.

USDA is completely different looking at different types of things than uh our regular building code would. Yeah. I mean either way it looks like it poses a groundwater vulnerability. Well, that's why storm water retention is very important. Yeah. So, yeah, because Yeah, we we definitely um I know you're we and we talked, I believe, right? So, um I I certainly understand from nearby property owners the concerns and we have had um extensive discussions with them and continue to and actually um I have not had a chance to call you back yet, but um they're ready to come in and talk with you personally and um talk about some of the the concerns that you had. Okay.

So, Okay. Thank you. Yep. Very good. With that, Gwindelyn. Yes. Gwindelyn. And you can say the last name. Statelman.

Good evening. Uh my name is Gwendelyn Stattleman. Uh 1360 Royal Oak Drive in Mansfield, Ohio. Um, I've come here to obviously back up the gentleman that you s just saw. I grew up and was raised in the community um for 33 years, moved away to sunny Arizona. gentleman back there decided to move back here, start a farm um directly next to the proposed annexation of BIES. Not what I had hoped for a budding farmer to have to endure. Um I come from a long family of farmers in within the local area. Uh many generations. Some of you will remember um Mansfield Tire Tap and you know the local things. But I think after living away and moving back, I think that I'm very saddened to see the annexation take place because I would think that my hometown would want to pull in more sustainable jobs to maintain the youth to the area such as tech, more industry, things that we all want our kids to go at to OSU, you know, go to college. um to keep them here, to raise them in a community that is strong and that they'll want to raise their families locally. They'll want to keep those taxpayers here, taxpaying dollars here instead of moving out of town because we don't have the type of next

generation jobs that, you know, we see our kids going to school or our grandchildren going to school for. Um, but I guess I'm here to say my peace. I disagree with it. I oppose it. Um, I don't want my grandchildren growing up next to it. Safety is a huge concern, huge. And I hope that all aspects will be viewed on it. I am very concerned about that. I know there's a lot that goes on at 13 and 71. I just hope that this exit doesn't accompany that. So, I thank you very much for your time.

Jim Huffman,

do I have to do this again? Yes, sir. You signed up

every time. Uh, I'm Jim Huffman. I live at 1587 Lucas Road. Um, the mayor may have answered part of my question here as far as BIES is willing to discuss my properties adjacent to the Statelman property and across the driveway from the BIES. Um, just some things for the and I don't know who does it, city engineers. uh have they addressed the Indian burial mounds and things on that property is one thing. The other thing is the repairarian rights and the the watershed and the u the difficulty. I know they've they started drilling about a year ago out there with their soil samples and so I have no doubt they've done the homework. Um, and the uh the third thing is uh the soil amendment or the the way they're going to be able to build foundations on that, I might be able to help them with that. So, if if they're willing to come and talk to neighbors, why you pretty much answered my question. I just don't know how to make contact with them.

I'll grab your contact info from here and I'll reach out to you. Okay, that's it. Thank you. You're welcome. Okay, that is all we had signed up for public comment. Um, are there any committee reports further? Mayor, any directors have anything for Okay, then we shall move on to legislation. Miss Dailyy.

Thank you, Mr. President. Monday deadline. I move with respect to bill 26-047 that the rule requiring legislation be submitted by Monday at 400 p.m. be suspended and that bill 26-047 be allowed on the floor this evening.

Second been regularly moved and seconded. Council shall cast their vote on or on the motion. Motion passes 8 to zero. With that, Miss Dailyy suspension the rules. Suspension of the rules. I move with respect to all bills that come before council this evening that the rule requiring reading on three different days be suspended and that each bill be read one time by title only. Second been regularly moved and seconded. Council sher vote on the motion

motion. Okay, motion passes 7 to one. Mr. Falcett's mistake. Okay, moving on then to legislation. We will start with bill 26-034A. Mr. Miranda, thank you. M Thank you, Mr. President. In reference to 26034A, approving the plan of operation of Oh, my job. Oh.

Oh, Mr. President, I move that bill 26034A be placed on the floor for final discussion. Second. The clerk shall read bill 26-034A. Uh, this isn't for final discussion. This is it for first read. First read. Just for record purposes, approving the plan of operation and governance for the NOPEC electricity aggregation program for the purpose of jointly establishing and implementing an electricity aggregation program and declaring an emergency.

Is there any discussion on bill 26 034A? Mr. Fulcat. Um, is there a reason that we're only doing a first read? Is it possible to move it forward? Do we want to move it forward? I would say it's possible to move it forward that the will of the council. I move that. Uh, wait a minute, Mr. Fat Dep. Uh, yes, it is possible to move it forward. We have satisfied all of the public hearing requirements at this point. Thank you. Thank you for that clarification. Continue, Mr. it.

I move that bill 2634 be uh dispensed with further readings and move forward tonight for final consideration. Second. Been regularly moved and second we've waved further readings on bill 26-034A and bring it forward for our final passage tonight. Bill the motion passes 8. So with that, thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26034B be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second. It's been It's been moved. It's been read.

You need the second one. You're We're just got you up to here. No. Mr. President, I move that bill 26034B be placed upon the floor for final passage. Second A, you meant 34A. Okay. It's been regularly moved and seconded that we council cast a vote for final passage of bill 26-034A.

Okay. The bill passes 8 to zero. Bill 26-034 B. Mr. Miranda. Thank you, Mr. President. The first I move that bill 26034B be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second. Been regularly moved and seconded. The clerk shall read bill 26-034B,

an ordinance authorizing the city to enter into the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council or NOPEC and the execution and delivery of the agreement establishing NOEC and approving the bylaws of NOPEC and declaring an emergency. And that would be the first read unless we have a motion to bring it forward for a final vote. Mr. President, I move that we move the bill forward for a final vote. Second

and regularly moved and seconded we wave further readings on 26-034B and bring it forward for a final vote tonight. Motion passes 8 to zero. Mr. Miranda, you want to make a motion and we vote on the motion to vote on it? Mr. President, I move that bill I'm just on.

Mr. President, I move that the bill be placed upon the floor for final passage. Second. Been regularly seconded. Council shall cast a vote for final passage of bill 26 034B.

Second. Okay, the bill passes 8 to zero. Okay, moving on to bill 26-036. Miss Robertson, I think I'm taking this one because my name's back on the legislation. Oh, okay. I'm Okay. No problem. So, thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26036 be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second. Been regularly moved and second. Is there any discussion on bill 26? You need to read it first. I do. Okay. Clerk, want to read bill 26? Absolutely. 036.

Okay. An ordinance making final cumulative annual appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the city of Mansfield, Ohio for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2026 and declaring an emergency. Okay. Is there any discussion on bill 26-036? Mr. Falette. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26036 be dispensed with further readings and be voted on this evening. Second. Okay. Council shall cast their vote for final passage of bill 26 036.

It was already scheduled for a vote. Mr. Frog cat.

Mine says vote. Did you replace your first sheet with the one that I brought? Look the same. I think there's a leprechaun in the room. Are we all caught up now? We have a bunch. We have Okay. Bill 26-036 passes 8 to zero. So we have a budget. Okay. Moving on to bill 26-044. Ms. Robertson.

Thank you, Mr. President. I uh move that bill 26-044 be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second. been regularly moved and second and the clerk share read bill 26-044 amending the commencement of the term of the prior appointment number 26-023 of the following member to the Mansfield Public Arts Commission said term to be amended to commence immediately and declaring an emergency. Is there any discussion on bill 26-044? Hearing none, Miss Robertson. Thank you, Mr. President. I move in respect to bill 26-044, it be placed upon the floor for final passage.

Second been regularly moved and seconded. Council shall cast the final passage of bill 26-044. Bill passes to zero. Bill 26-045. Ms. Robertson. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26-045 be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second. Been regularly moved and seconded. The clerk shall read bill 26-045 approving the appointment of Ryan Sheiley to the Mansfield Public Arts Commission to replace commission member Lee Tacif and to complete his term commencing immediately. Is there any discussion on bill 26-045 hearing? None. Miss Robertson.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26-045 be placed upon the floor for final passage. Second. Been moved and seconded. Council shall cast their vote for final passage of bill 26-045. Bill passes 8 to zero. Bill 26-046. Mr. Miranda. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26046 uh be placed upon the floor and read for further discussion. Second. Been regularly moved and seconded. The clerk shall read bill 26-046.

Approving reappointments by the mayor to the board of utility appeals. Is there any discussion on bill 26-46? Hearing none, Mr. Miranda. I move that bill 26046 be placed upon the floor for final passage. Second. And regular second and council shall cast a vote for final passage of bill 26- 046. Bill passes 8 to zero. Bill 26-047. Mrs. Meyer. Thank you, sir. I move that bill 26-047 be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second.

And regularly moved in second. The clerk shall read bill 26-047. reappointing members to the police review and community police relations commission said appointments to be effective immediately and declaring an emergency. Is there any discussion on bill 26-047? Miss Meyer,

I would just like to extend a thank you to my fellow council members for getting on this this after the last meeting and we it seems like we've got I think we've got just about everybody filled and we should be able to appoint uh I know several of them went for their background checks already and so we should be able to get this commission filled uh hopefully at least with a quorum on the next at the next meeting. So, thank you all very much. Mr. Diaz.

Um I just want to um thank Tammy Tammy Mclofflin like I mean I know that it's hard to get like um a lot of gratitude publicly but you are so appreciated. You are a fantastic leader and you helped transform this police review commission into something that um just totally elevated and thank you for not giving up on us. Thank you for caring about our community and accountability and uh you are uh completely valued. I believe I saw Mr. Folk,

thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to commend the press for the articles that uh did generate some interest uh on this and it was a nice nice article and everything. So, appreciate that. Any other discussion on bill 2647? Okay, with that, Mrs. Meyer. Thank you, sir. Uh, I move that bill 26-047 be placed upon the floor for final passage. Second. Been regularly moved and second. Council shall cast the vote for final passage of bill 26-047. Bill passes 8 to zero. Bill 26-048. Mr. Fett.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26048 be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second. Been regularly moved and seconded. The clerks are read bill 26-048 reappointing the following members to the downtown Improvement Advisory Board for a term commencing July 1st, 2026 and declaring an emergency. Any discussion on bill 26-048 hearing? None. Mr. Falette. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26048 be placed upon the floor for final consideration. Second.

Moved and seconded. Council shall cast a pro cast a vote for final passage of bill 26-048. Bill passes 8 to zero. Bill 26-049. Mrs. Meyer. Thank you, sir. I move that bill 26-049 be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second. Been regularly moved and seconded. The clerk should read bill 26-049

amending sections 719 and 32 of ordinance number 25-211 adopting personnel positions payrades and salaries for certain employees of the city of Mansfield 2026 payroll year and declaring an emergency. Any discussion on bill 26-049? Hearing none. Mrs. Meyer. Thank you sir. I move that bill 26-049 be placed upon the floor for final passage. Second.

Then regularly moved and seconded. Council shall cast a vote for final passage of bill 26-049. Bill passes 8 to zero. Bill 26 50. Mr. Miranda. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26050 be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second. and regularly moved and seconded. The clerk shall read bill 26-50

authorizing the public works director to purchase according to source well contract one Q's C550 camera system from Mtech of 5642 transportation boulevard Garfield Heights Ohio 44125 and the amount not to exceed 170,960 for use by the sewer repair department and declaring an emergency. Is there any discussion on bill 26-50 hearing? None. Mr. Miranda. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26050 be placed upon the floor for final passage. Second

been regularly moved and seconded. Council shall cast a vote for final pass of bill 2650. Bill passes 8 to zero. Bill 26-51. Mr. Diaz. Thank you, Mr. President. Um I move that uh bill 26-051 be read out be read b read b read b read b read b read b read b read b read b read b and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second. Been moved and seconded. The clerk shall read bill 26-51 authorizing the public works director to enter into a joint maintenance agreement with the Madison Township trustees. Is there any discussion on bill 26-51? Mr. Diaz.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26-051 be placed upon the floor for final consideration. Second. Been moved and seconded. Council shall cast our vote for final passage of bill 26-51. Bill passes 800. Bill 26-052. Miss Robertson. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26-052 be placed upon the floor for Oh, no. No. Oh, no. These were not for first read. Yeah, these were Yes. Ignore. Yep. First read. First read.

Yeah, just read it. I I I made Yeah. the motion for the first read for discussion. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. It's been regularly moved and seconded that we have a first read on bill 26-052. Then discussion. Okay. Authorizing the mayor to submit an annual action plan for PY 2026 indicating proposed uses for the city's 2026 community development block grant funds under the provisions of public law 93-383 as amended and declaring an emergency.

Any questions, discussion on bill 26-52? Hearing nothing, that shall be considered the first read on that bill. Bill 26-53. Ms. Robertson. Thank you, Mr. President. I move in respect to bill 26-053 that be placed on the floor for first read. Second.

Been regularly moved and seconded the clerk read bill 26-053. Authorizing the mayor to submit Mansfield's PY 2026 action plan to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or PY 2026 home investment partnership program funds and declaring an emergency. Is there any discussion on bill 2653? Hearing none, that also will be considered the first read on that bill 26-53. Moving on to bill 26- 54. Miss Mount. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26054 be read on the floor for discussion. Second.

Been regularly moved and seconded. The clerk shall read bill 26-054. setting forth statement of municipal services the city of Mansfield, Ohio will provide to the 112.538 plus or minus acres of land located in Madison and Mifflin townships and proposed to be annexed to the city of Mansfield, Ohio via an expedited type 2 annexation persuant to RC709.021 and 709.023 023 and the buffer requirements the city of Mansfield will enforce as provided by RC709.023C. Any discussion on bill 26-054

can I go ahead just wanted to this is the comment that applies to the next couple pieces. I appreciate the concerns of the neighbors that live right around there and I'm glad for this period of time where everybody can get together, do all the testing, do all the agreements you did and make sure everything is ironed out before it comes back for final approval after all that's ironed out. So, I just wanted to say thank you to everybody working on the process and we are glad to see it moving along and meeting all those points that it needs to. Mayor,

oh, I'm sorry, M. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I just kind of want to echo what Council Person Mount said. Um, I do appreciate people showing up. I know that this project has generated a lot of uh passion and in various ways. And I think that you couldn't honestly pick a a company that at least has been very open and has been very receptive to the concerns. I know a lot of my concerns were uh quelled in speaking with the mayor and some of the others and I really appreciate that. Mr. Faul,

thank you Mr. President. I just want to say that having run several elections and and being grilled by constituents and the press and everything, one of the biggest questions they always ask is, "What are you doing to get jobs in the Mansfield?" And here we've got an opportunity um to bring forth a couple hundred jobs. Um pay rates are supposed to be uh relatively exciting and uh I'm glad that uh it sounds like we're moving forward on this. I think there's a lot of moving pieces and uh I I really look forward to the relationship with the city and the townships and uh and our new uh resident bies there. Any other com Miss Davis? Whis.

Um, I also wanted to add I do appreciate the concerns by the community, but one of the things that um that is kind of innovative with BIES is is we can't discount the concept. This is a rather large corporation. So, the onset of jobs that are going to bring in some things that will be beneficial. um technology, all of those things take place with a company this large and with the offerings of income and salary as high as they are. Um so I would encourage people to take a look at that a bit more because you'd probably be impressed with some of the things that BIES will offer to this area. Excuse me, Mr. Dwey. Das do we getting late?

No one knew, right? I was particularly moved by uh the public speakers um you know and you know the great thing about social media is hearing those different perspectives and um you know up until the news hit I I admit I didn't really know what BIES was that shows you I don't really leave a lot Ohio but um but just but what I really didn't realize was how um how much it's received and like you know bringing the the extra job something we're always talking about something that people keep requesting and I did look up some of the wages which is real competitive. Um but I just want to say I as Councilwoman Mount you know echo echo her is you know we love to hear these perspectives but I really have heard nothing but positive things about this coming. They think I think it's a game changer. I think it's an area of the city um and the county that um I think will just take it to a whole different level. Um, but I would say for the most the communication I've had personally and seen it's been like 95% or more for it. So I support that.

Thank you, Mr. Diaz. Any other council? Oh yeah, I was waiting till council.

Okay. Sorry. Um, I just kind of again addressing the next few things. I do want to first just mention we have trustee Fletcher from Madison board back there that joined us tonight. I did want to make sure that everyone knew I forgot to say it earlier that both the Mifflin board of trustees and the Madison uh township board of trustees have consented to this agreement. So or to this annexation. Um so the next step tonight or the next step after tonight rather is it will go to the county commissioners this Thursday and they will take the commissioners actually have final say um and then it comes back to us uh to accept essentially at the end of those 60 days. And then I just really want to underscore a couple things just that I saw out on social media. I again said this at the commissioner's meeting, but really just for the benefit of everyone else. Um it the annexation is 112 acres. It is not 112 acres of farmland though. A giant portion of what's being annexed is 71. So it's not, you know, I I know there was concerns um from folks that were taking farmland off. I mean certainly there is farmland there that is going to be used for bies. I'm not even sure if it's been farmed recently, but um but it is not 112 acres. So, I did want to call people's attention to that. Um and also I I would just say I mean when uh BIES first reached out to me, I think it was May last year. Um and so before we're done with this process, this will have gone on a year. Um and you know, really just public the last week. uh which is kind of hard to believe, but um you know these kind of numbers when you hear more of the specifics really do not come around with retail very often. You

sometimes will get high amounts of jobs in retail, but they're mostly part-time. They're the the amount of payroll that they're expected to generate is nowhere near what this one is. This looks more like a small manufacturer. um the impact that it has and I think it really poses a unique opportunity for us in Mansfield in that really um I mean I'm just saying a guess here they have not told me their numbers but uh you know I would guess 98% of the income is coming from people out of the area. So it is really a unique proposition for us. I'm sure that you saw when this news went public. It certainly went far and wide in in Ohio at at the very least. Um, BIES has really, uh, we had a chance to visit one of them. Um, and, uh, you know, they're be they'll be opening their Dayton store at the beginning of April. So, um, you know, they really go out of their way to work with the community. Um, the folks that we have worked with have been great. Um, they certainly are concerned with neighbors. Their properties are pristine. I mean, you know, again, at the end of the day, in in any development project, there's going to be someone next door and unless you buy that property, it is it's it's tough and I get that. But, um, but I think as far as a corporate citizen, we're going to see them be a very good team partner in the community. And, um, again, I I was thrilled when I opened my email that day uh, back in May to see that they were already looking at us. And then our role really has been to facilitate and make sure that we're um able to meet the needs um which I am really proud to say that we are um this has been a team project. I would like to um you know shout out the chamber uh Barrett and Tom Vanderhorse there have been essential also the county commissioners um in

particular uh commissioner Vero has really helped uh behind the scenes pulling things together. Of course, we couldn't do it out without the township trustees consent as well. So, you know, one of the things that we talk about in this community is our uh special sauce is our ability to collaborate and work together. And there are places in Ohio you can go where these types of annexations are a fight. And in fact, in Huber Heights, though BIES was patient, uh there was a giant lawsuit. That's why that got so delayed between the city and the county. So, I I'm shocked that they waited. It must be a really good site. uh cuz normally that would make uh a prospect run. So, you know, the fact that we have been able to work so collaboratively here really is um unique and you know Barrett and I probably have the opportunity to hear that from developers more often than everyone else. But I just wanted to kind of underscore that. Um I really do believe that this is the start of um more great things. You know, we had uh downtown at the last meeting and the housing project. Um there are a lot of other projects that we're talking about. We'll see what comes to fruition. It's like batting averages, you know, you don't get 100%. But um you know, I'm excited. Um and uh just wanted to kind of share a little bit more of that since we didn't have as much time in caucus.

Very good. Thank you, mayor, for all that. Um anyone else, council? Okay. I guess just one last comment. I recall when this interchange was built a couple decades ago with the thought that soon development would come, something would definitely come and it was a long time in coming, but to have something that will provide this many good paying jobs is much bigger than I would have expected. And it's exciting that that work from decades ago is coming to fruition at last. Anyone else? Okay, with that, Miss Mount.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26054 be placed upon the floor for final consideration. Second. Been regularly moved and seconded. Council shall cast for final passage of bill 26-054. Bill passes 8 to zero. Bill 26-55. Miss Mount. Mr. President, I move that bill 26055 be read and placed up on the floor for discussion. Second. Been regularly moved and seconded to clerk where we read bill 26-055

consenting to the annexation to the city of Mansfield, Ohio. Certain territory proposed to be so annexed persuant to an annexation petition filed with the board of county commissioners of Richland County, Ohio by John Studman, agent for petitioners as provided for an in Ohio revised code section 709.023. 023. Is there any discussion on bill 26-55? Miss Mount. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26055 be placed upon the floor for final consideration. Second.

Been regularly moved and second and council shall cast a vote for final passage of bill 26-055. Bill passes 8 to zero. 26-056. Miss Mount. Thank you, Mr. President. Move the bill 26056 be read and placed on the floor for discussion. Second. Been moved in a second in clerkshaw read bill 26-056

determining that the zoning of 110.757 plus or minus acres of territory in Madison Township and 1.781 plus or minus acres of territory in Mifflin Township, Richland County, Ohio, proposed to be annexed to the city of Mansfield will not permit uses clearly incompatible with the existing township zoning pursuant to RC709.02 023 C. Any discussion on bill 26-056? Okay. Hearing none, Miss Mount. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26056 be placed upon the floor for final consideration. Second.

Been regularly moved and seconded. Council shall cast a vote for final pastor bill 26-056. Bill passes to zero. Bill 26-057. Miss Mount. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26057 be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second.

Been regularly moved and seconded. The clerk shall read bill 26-057. Amending the zoning district's map of the city of Mansfield, Ohio, ordinance number 04-208 to reszone five parcels located at 2385 Pawsum Run Road, 2424 Pawsum Run Road, 2450 Pawsum Run Road, and 2470 Pawsum Run Road from prior township zoning classification to B2 general business district classification. Any discussion on bill 26-057? Hearing none, Miss Mount. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26057 be placed upon the floor for final consideration. Second.

Been regularly moved and second and council shall cast their vote for final passage of bill 26-057. Bill passes 8 to zero. Bill 26-058. Mr. Miranda. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26058 be placed on and read upon the floor for discussion. Second been regularly moved and second and the clerk shall read bill 26-058

authorizing the public works director to enter into a lease agreement according to source well contract for one super products camel back truck from MTAC 5642 transportation boulevard Garfield Heights Ohio 44125 for the water and sewer repair department not to exceed the amount of $598,534 over 5 years with the option to purchase at lease end. Is there any discussion on bill 26-058? Miss Dailyaly,

I have a question in terms of we are going to lease um this vehicle and the option to purchase at at the end of the lease. Why would you want to buy it at the end of the lease? That's it's an option. That's the way the leases are set up. So let Yeah, we probably will not considering the wear and tear for five years. Yeah. All right. Thank you. Okay. Any other questions, discussion on 58? Hearing none, Mr. Miranda. Mr. President, I move that bill 26058 be placed upon the floor for final passage. Second.

Been regularly moved and seconded. Council shall cast their vote for final passage of bill 26-058. Bill passes 8 to zero. Bill 26-059. Mr. Diaz. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 26-059 be read and placed upon the floor for discussion. Second. Been regularly moved and seconded. The clerks shall read bill 26-059

authorizing the public works director to enter into a contract or contracts for the Glistener Avenue infrastructure improvements and declaring an emergency. Is there any discussion on bill 26-059? Okay. Hearing none, Mr. Diaz. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that bill 25-059 be placed upon the floor for final passage. Second. Been regularly moved and second. Council shall cast their vote for final passage bill 26-059. Bill passes 8 to zero. Is there anything further to come before council this evening? Motion to adjurnn.

Second. It's been regularly moved and second we adjourn. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Post same. We are adjourned. of the king.