Vob Committee & Council - Regular Meeting

Great. That is true. I got that one quicker than last. You did. You did. What about backup? Okay. All right. Good. We're up and running. All right. So, um, minutes for November 10th. I say we approve the minutes. I'll second that. All in favor? I I minutes approved. Any visitors want to address the finance committee? Okay. What about the loss on Saturday?

Income tax. was passed in 1964. We're talking 60 years later and we're still trying to run the town on that same amount on almost the same amount of number of people in this town. There's little just over 3,000 people in this town than there was back in 1960. What What is the income tax? We're set at two, aren't we? No, one. We're at one. We've been 1%. That's what he said. And you go to Columbus, it's 3%. What is it like in Carol or any It's 2% in Lancaster. I understand. No, I'm No, I'm I'm saying we need it.

I I I've had that comparison. I pass it out to council early way early this year. We can pass it. We can pass it out again. You can't really compare us with the other villages in this county. I mean, Carol's Yeah. Well, we don't mean their residence is 500. Yeah, I was going to say there's nobody lives in that town. Um, I'm talking I I give you a snapshot of villages of similar size throughout the state. That's what they're all one and a half, 2%. And as you can see from the budget, our car projected car fund, something's got to happen next year. Yeah. They're going to have to either a

figure out a way to change the way you do the reallocation income tax. and in doing so um or well in doing so putting on the ballot and you know keep going back and public have to or and really and after next year who knows what's going to happen if property tax property taxes get eliminated that's that's 133 No I'm sorry that's $150,000 out of our budget when you're taking back right but isn't the legislature also trying to reduce um income tax as well like state income tax. Well, that's that's the state.

I also spoke with the county this week or last week about that. They said even if that is something that voters do away with, they're expecting that that would be more like a gradual not just end of the year no property taxual which would give us some time. Well, we we are going to need to do an incoming mean 1% since 1960 is not practical. So should finance committee um push that up request that council

No, I'm not saying I'm just saying this is what's going to have to happen next year. These kinds of discussions are going to have to be made or have to be discussed. Decisions will have to be made next year. We're good right now for another year, but going forward, I'm saying something's I guess. But should we start that conversation with the public now? and get it out. Oh yeah. So we can officially say from finance recommends to council to put together a citizens I don't know information something try to a get the word out that people start need to pay attention to this like very closely because things need we need the public's help

they got better ideas and approach counsel and it doesn't have to be done right away but the more we get that out there and people are going to be mad all that stuff Let him let him be mad. Yeah, exactly. I mean, existing. Yeah. And it's just that it's kind of Well, 1964s and that's Yeah, it does speak to itself. That was when I think it was back then they didn't have to go.

Well, yeah. I know. But that is true. Well, that's true. But anything above 1% has to be passed by. So just a half a percent like one and a half. Well, yeah, I can I can pull back or something. I give you guys back in January, February this year. Yeah, we should talk about that though. And we should talk about it early in the year and not just get it out there and get get the word out. Hey, we need Yes. And you know if anybody's got ideas,

right? Um so then um I guess our goals are to keep spending within appropriations. We only got like two two weeks left, something like that. Yes. Um All right. Yeah. So then we'll go to um I guess old business would be the income tax. We just talked about that. Um all right. I'll just uh when council asks for committee reports, I'll just say I'll just put out there that we need to start thinking about that. Yes. Increase in income tax.

However, yeah.

Yeah. Same amounts come in like what percent goes to what fund, that sort of thing. We've done that before. It seems like now that we're need in need of infrastructure that the allocations are it's kind of a catch 22. You can't really do it because you're not going to get infrastructure if you do you know because it's expensive. All right. Um so new business we'll do the financials reports bank reconciliation Right. Who's

Oh, okay. No, that Okay, that makes sense. That's the right the street. Um, Park Street,

Johnson Street. Yes. I don't know. We didn't really have a choice but to do that. My question is I see a couple on here for Safe Built. What What have they done for us so far? They are processing permits.

Oh, are they doing that now? Okay. So, they're doing it. Okay. Okay. All right. So good. 92%

We've only gone through 13% for storm.

Put it back into that and then hit the C the CCTV stuff.

Yeah. And then that will help with INI as well. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Right. Yeah. Exactly. Okay. Good. Good. Good. Good.

We had planned on doing the CCTV this year, which is what that budget is for. But then when we when we got the findings and waiting. By the time we realize that is something that they're going to want us to do, it's kind of too late to really get it ramped up. So, we just move it over next year's budget. I'm good with makes a motion that we accept reports. I'll second fcept the financial reports. All right. So, moving on to budget 2026. We got the budget printed out here. Count for the tablets.

Yeah. Yeah, they're pretty much related. Um, we can the payment. Okay. Yeah. How much is that payment? Just out of curios. Gotcha.

Gotcha. So, we'll have paid off relatively quickly. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. What was the carryover last year on that? We don't know.

Yeah. Which we which we I think we're we're getting a blueprint of what it's going to cost because Tim he they can build the building. Just a drawing for him to do. Yeah. Right. Actually, I've got a name because we got to do a little playground, too, don't we?

Right. Yeah, I got you. I got you. Right. Yeah, we got to see if it's going to pass. If we're going to get it. Yes, I got you.

Right. Gotcha. No. And I know we don't know, Brian. Like you said, till we know, which I when will we know that, Matt? February. But we're doing it different than last year. Yeah. No, I know it's we have a chance we have a better chance of getting it. Yes.

Right. Well, I mean, we're gonna have to fix, you know, it is what it is. I mean, if but if we do that project and we get to pave that all the way around, then that'll be a good thing. That's a big That's a big paving project. Yes. There's And that's a big paving project.

Car, you got to tell me where Fair View is. That's something we'll have to figure out. that needs to I don't know heard fair what we've talked with what we put in application is just yeah we may

yeah it's not that They were talking about taking the lines down property and then running them south. Yeah. South up to the water. We just wait to see. I think that was it. The initial money is what we were kind of waiting to see. Yeah. And and we'll just wait till we see the money. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

But but it's like we have to wait till we see if we get the money, too, which I think we have a better chance this year than we had last year. The way we did it with the way we did the the request, I guess you would say. Right. But we're still going to have to be careful all the way through. I mean, we're just

What is that payment per year, Brian? Man, if we can once that's done, we can stick that back in the budget. That's definitely not going to hurt things.

Yes. Right. I know. I know. Yeah. I know. Then to be honest with you, then all the vehicles in the village, water, sewer, maintenance, I mean then we're done. But then them guys are using cars. I mean the one that Scott drives around in it's the old police car and it just we just need a small truck to a white truck that says village of Baltimore on it just like every so it's all uniformed. right now. We may.

Yes. as we get that tap fea

right

all the ones just we we just installed the ones that we approved from the last budget In this budget there's no not right the only thing we have on hand is just a few extra prepared.

Well, we'll have money if we need to buy another 20 meters or something. If we We did toward the end of this year. I felt like once we lit the fire. Yes.

How much is it a meter? Yeah, we need to buy maybe more than 20 then. I got you. I got you. I got you. I guess I was thinking the meters were at a pop last time. Yeah. Yeah. And then we should just But I think that's Yeah, I think that's something that we we can do it anyways, right?

Right. Well, and the problem is I think No, agreed, but I think that those meters sat on the shelves for so long that I was just like, look, and and we did light to fire and they got done, but yes, to go ahead get get another 50 meters and then and get them done right away. Yes. Yeah, I would say just get 50 meters and because you're right, we we took us that long. It took us that long to get those meters.

Well, I don't mean that badly to anybody, but I'm just saying we Can we wait to order the meters until the first of the year and then do it that way? I'm just asking. It's about the budget. Okay. So essentially he won't have any carryover what we're saying. Yeah.

Right. Right. We got to keep that ball rolling though, right? No, he's

How much do you have any idea how much money we made selling water this year? I would just be curious by that number. Yes.

Okay, that's better than nothing. Why you have money? But I'm just saying that's better than nothing. We were but we weren't there was like three or 4 thousand a year. I mean 16 grand is you want 50 meters purchased this year in Yeah. Well, but here's the deal. If we're going to buy 50 meters, we're going to install 50 meters. We're not going to buy them and get them and then about the middle of next summer say, "How many meters are there?" And they're going to say, "Well, we got those 50 on the shelf." I don't care if they install them as soon as they come in. Am I right about that or am I not right about that? Okay. I'm just asking.

Can't imagine they're that busy they can't install. Right. Right. Okay. Well, we know what we got to do then. Right. Right. Yeah. Because I got a new meter. My water bill went up $100,000 a year. I'm just kidding.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, you got to make the budget balance. I understand that. But but make it balance and then let's order the meters. Yes, it's right. I'm asking you guys. I'm not Okay. Okay. I mean, you're good. You're good with that, right? I get it. I get it. Yeah. Okay. Let's do that. Okay. Yeah. We got to bal we got to pass the budget. I get what you're saying there, Brian. Plus, you worked You guys have worked hard on it. Yeah. Jimmy jogging some numbers around. Yes. Which brings us um

So, were we ordering the dirt to fill it in like in the spring or when we No, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. Rick will be happy about that. That's the financial.

That's fine. But I'm telling you, that's a good thing because then we can they can tell us how to get the money that we need to do the stuff we need to do. Yeah. I mean, that's a good that's a good number to be at, I feel like. So to the um uh ABC

Yeah. So Rick Rick's Rick turned in his laptop. ABC came in, take a took a look at it, and they said it would cost more to repair it than it would be to replace it. So went ahead and had them give us an estimate on six new laptops and price came in what you see there. I don't think we can do better than that. Yeah, do something that can that can accommodate Microsoft because that's what we think. something up prices on Chromebooks so much. I don't think Chromebook

can you get is it Microsoft compatible? Yeah. Because basically as long because we pay I mean you're talking anywhere between $700 per unit. So Oh the the um I would I would get I would get some prices on other ones. That's I mean I just think a thous

I don't I won't want one. Let me let me reach out to Best Buy and Geek Squad. See if we can get a better price on that and then once we get that price, I can contact each. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want one. And this is still working. It is right now. Would I have the option to get one later when this dies versus I think it's updated.

No, I think the only thing we were thinking Jamie's probably gonna want what I do. to go ahead and just if we're not replacing them at $11,000

even if it was 500 bucks a piece I mean and that's a higher cheaper than that see I don't know I just use whatever they tell me okay yes yes Brian I had question about the the licensing fee for Microsoft that's separate from the hardware, right? The the licensing fee and we already have that in the contract. We've already paid for that, right? Okay.

Right. Okay. So, as long as we have the hardware that's compatible with that platform Yeah. then because that's really all we need is Yeah. Okay. But it does it does create a nice separation.

Right. I can That's the nice thing about this paper right here. All right. So, we've we've gone through pretty much everything on the agenda. Yes. Um, anything else for finance closing? Motion to favor. We're 633.

Mr. Foreman, will you do this next meeting, please? Doesn't sound like it. Oh, we got you got time. You got time because there's not much on here. You got time, Brian. Breathe, Brian. See?

Yeah. Let's see. Gar's further ahead, aren't we? Guard. I'm

mov Yeah. So, yeah. So, the only one that was included in your packet tonight was the last round that was presented and I think uh we were holding off till tonight to give council members an opportunity if they wanted to to drive by discussing the rules. Okay.

I agree with that. Yeah, but you're speaking in replacement. Yeah, that makes sense.

I I agree. Ultimately, they would be the ones that need to sign off and say we don't have to access anything. Correct.

Yes. Someone brought this to me. So essentially in this packet you will see that we have a resident um who really she did a really nice job of kind of going through our paperwork through the ordinances and looking there seems to be some overlap um with some conflicting language. So I think she was just curious as to how we handle these particular situations. Did you I started think

she probably did.

She would be a huge asset. Right. Right. Right. Once we have a listing of those Oh, and they're here. I in this packet I feel like there is about as simplified as you're going to get and I think it really we're going to be leaning on Jeff to help probably.

Okay. Well, probably

and I I will give credit to Yeah, if if we really needed somebody to do that, she would definitely there's no joke about that. Jeff, if you ever need staff, she is unbelievable.

That's shocking. I can't believe not

figure it out.

What they do is they've done both. They don't codified it. They just make it a part of their negotiation process. Well, they need to pay it when they do it. So, if they're going to do 10 houses, they're going to pay 10. I was going to say we discussed 10 to 15 units being paid. No, but we and we don't I don't want to get it one at a time anyways. Yes. Yes. Yes. That's what we do now.

Well, and and well, and and it and it's going to protect us from from, you know, that and that's the other thing. Next year, if there's 20 or 30 houses built at these couple different places and Brian gets that tap fee money in the middle of this year, it's not He always says, Rick, you can't count it. He's right. I I agree. It's not in the budget. And he's 100% right about that. But man, if we get those tap fees like in the middle of 26, it would give us a shot in the arm. No, no, Brian. I'm saying to you, it's awesome that that it' just be a shot in the arm in the middle of the year for us. So, I mean that

Yes. Yeah. I mean, my experience Well, we did that today. Well, 139 different situation. We've done that. And I do think we need to make sure public understands we are not writing off any of these types of fees. The developers are responsible. Yeah, that that's something we're going to talk about in council because I we we got to we need an information officer. Stating this now. You are a thousand% right because I'm I'm tired of reading it. Well, all of our peers are doing it in other municipalities and they assume we are too,

right? And we are not about what Oh, we're not giving any of them. We're not doing I mean, you guys sat here. You sat here for the negotiations with with Dr. Horton and you heard what I said and I'm not and I'm we're going to stick with that. You want to come to Baltimore, it's going to cost you money. It's just that simple. Getting that bad rap is because other municipalities are doing. We're not doing and rumor mill. Yeah. And rumor mill. Yes. But we need to talk about in council having some sort of information person to address some of the things when they are come up on.

So, you know, I don't know why we care about social media, but we do. And and it's bad information. That was the worst information I've ever seen uh in two years. And you don't want me getting on there and correcting them because I you just don't. It needs to correct, right? And it needs to be right. And we did, but but we have to give her the information. Yeah, we have to Right. Yeah. We have to tell her our position, right? Right. And we need to do

I will say there have been times where we have said hey put something out about this and it's and it's been 95% but the 5%. So what we've been doing is we've just been saying this better and I think we need to be specific that we need to try to designate determine a specific period of time whether it's within 24 hours but a quicker turnound. So, oh, no. And I'm not I'm just saying in about a week, she's coming in. She's gonna teach us she's gonna teach Connie and I post so that when we have an emergency post, we can we don't have to wait till the evening's

because that that I mean that should have been damage control. That's that should have been we should have addressed that right away. It would take somebody it would take somebody in the office. that well they have to everything has to be ran through you. I don't want somebody just and then I could respond. Yeah, it has to be. Can you feel like I would have the information to respond? Yes. Can you be then underneath of the uh village of Baltimore or whatever so that it wouldn't be just your name like so if Kelly's the one who's posting

for the village of Baltimore then if you could be added for that. So then you could respond from that. Yes. So it's official. Okay. Yeah. Yes. Not just from you and and we need to start addressing this stuff because as things progress it'll get more and more out of control and it becomes problematic because then we have false information, right? And most of the people that are responding from that don't have time to come to a meeting or don't have time to lift up the phone and call and ask what the real truth is or they just don't right or they just don't. But if I'm the one that's responding

well or you'll just run me they'll fire me because I'll use the way it's it's coming specifically from it's not one of us shooting from the hip. That's a really warm friendship friendship that you get when I Yes, 100%. You don't know how many times you tell somebody, "Well, they're all public meetings. You can attend, right?" They just look at you like you're in the headlights. Yeah. No, you're right. I think that should be reiterated on these posts. They won't. It's safer. It's safer to stay behind this little thing right here. is this little thing in your hand than it is to come in here and they won't do it. Yeah, but they'd rather be keyboard warriors on some of that stuff.

All right. Well, we'll move onward from that because that gets me fired up. You don't want that this week. I move to adjourn.

All right. 15 minutes. Are we having another council?

Father in heaven be thy named will be done on earth forgive us our tresasses for those tres To the flag of the United States of America stands nationy. It be nice to say hello and welcome to our meeting here. Um, can I get a roll call, Brian?

Present. Present.

Yes, sir. Uh, can I get someone to approve the minutes from November 24th council meeting? Any discussion? Can I get a roll call on that, please? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Okay. Uh, can I get uh an approval to of the agenda for this evening? making a motion to approve the agenda as presented. May I get a roll call on that as well, Brian? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Uh I see that we have some visitors. Are any of you signed up to speak? You're just here for the Yes. Yes. John Dap continue. Okay. Uh Mr. Daff, please come forward. Speak. I have a question regarding the Clamp annexation. Uhu.

What is the time frame that that property will take to be fully annexed and what does that annexation mean passed as an emergency due to that time frame? Well, we didn't pass it by emergency. We didn't pass the comfort cler. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm thinking of the other. So, I can answer

please. Um, council at the last meeting approved the final piece of legislation, accepting that annexation and all those documents have been sent to the county and they'll go through the process of doubleecking the legal making all the making certain all the documents are in order and then eventually that will be recorded and once it's recorded then it's added to becomes part of the municipality. That's where we're at. Usually takes four weeks, give or take a week or so for that process.

So, here's what I will tell you as well. Does that answer your question? I I think so. And then the emergency expedites it by meetings.

The village does it for a number of reasons. because it's a quirky situation in the Ohio code that says that the village has to wait 60 days from the date that the county commissioners rule on that before it can be brought to council. I respectfully disagree with that 60day period. And because I don't think that the uh that's explicitly in the Ohio that's our county commissioners that's the position they take that's it's a similar position that a lot of other county commissioners take also but we have to wait that time that and the waving of three readings allows the development to move forward in more of a timely fashion. We're under the terms of agreement that calls for the village to um actly whenever possible and to expedite.

Well, I want to address that too because I saw things on social media which we talked about earlier addressing. We had a choice there. It was either going to be us annexing that or it was going to be Thirsten annexing that. And it didn't make sense to any of us for Thirstston to annex this side of 37. So, Mr. Coutuno is the actual developer. We discussed it with him and he didn't I don't want to say he didn't care but we had a choice. We either going to annex this and it's going to be part of Baltimore or thirst. They were ready to annex it too. So we jumped on it and I'm not embarrassed or afraid to say that because we want we want that to be part of our village. And again, you know, I I feel like all these people are just jumping about how we want development. Develop it's there's one at one point it comes down to either we're going to do it or somebody else is and it would be better for the village if we do it just for so many reasons. But in so many people don't ask those questions or come to meetings, you know what I mean? So we can't answer those questions. There's so much more involved in it than what I read on social media. It was ridiculous.

And at the time we did it, Thirstston probably could have used the same process we did to get all the way to the village limits of Baltimore and annex another farm even closer. Well, their their goal was to annex all the way to the um Baltimore Corporation limit from where they're at all the way there. Now, that just doesn't make sense to anybody in this room, I don't think. Um, again, we're not pro anything, but we're pro Baltimore and and why would we have thirst and be drive outside of Baltimore and then be in thirst? It just didn't make sense. So, we were adamant about that and I'm not embarrassed or ashamed to say it.

Yeah. Well, that was that definitely played out. The 208 plan is the EPA plan which said that Baltimore basically should encompass um west of 37 and Thirsten east of 37 which we were abiding by what the 208 plan said at the EPA as well. So we were just doing the correct thing and that's why that was what it was per sewage per everything EPA utilities everything. Yes. In fact, in fact, they have us going a little bit east of two. Yeah, we could we could go but council was unified in trying to make sure we control everything this side of 37.

We're not looking to be greedy. We're not looking to annex all the way around Baltimore. We're not. But we're not going to let another village take the utility rights away from us. I mean, we have a lot to do in this town thousand%. But in order to do some of the stuff that we want to do takes money and and we will get income from that. So that's where that's where we're at

with water. Yes, water and sewer. So I did not realize the sewer line is and tell me if I'm wrong, but we're also not going to allow anybody else tell us what we can and cannot. Yes, that is correct. That's been our problem with Liberty Township is they we're trying to enter an agreement with them and as you know, as you have learned firstand aren't going to work. Yeah, it's just not no one on council was okay with that.

We we we have to and and again I'll and I'll speak for all of us. We have no desire what we got on our plate now, our plate's full. We don't to go to the south to go to the we we're not looking for that. But 20 years down the road, our kids or our grandkids, they got to have a the ability to to do what's right for the village. And that's just to tie our hands. Like Gar said, I don't there's nobody in this room that sits on council that's willing to say, "Yeah, we'll we'll abide by that." And we're not again, we're not looking to do anything expeditiously. We're just looking at the right way to do it. And that we just all feel that's the right way to do it. And you know, when people come to meetings like you do or people come, that's how you get the information is you ask questions. We're I don't feel like I read that stuff, it drives me insane. And we decided tonight I'm not the one to address it on social media probably.

We also want to say that any type of development is a process. It is not organized overnight. So this is a very lengthy process. There are many steps that happen before any development any ground is. Yes. I mean we we want to do it the right way. You have questions ask but it is a process. Yes. So there was no truth at all to the statement of it. 500 uh unit mobile home park to the east.

Honestly, if thirst got the annexation, maybe there would have been. We don't know what there would have been, but but he's right. They could have if it had been another village, take it. It could they could have put anything they wanted in there. So just we didn't favor that. No, we didn't. And it's nothing against thirsten. There are good neighbors and we want to be good neighbors, but it when it's on this side of 37, it's Baltimore. And I also think the developers that we have listened to and worked with are really working with us. Yeah. Jim, would you agree with that? And I think we're really fortunate. Yeah. I mean, I'm just saying we want to do is sitting right here.

Yeah. Well, and he'll tell you that we're we're making them jump through hoops. I'm not saying that in a bad way, but we are making them jump through hoops because we're going to do it the right way. Yeah. But I guarantee that doesn't happen every place you go. Yeah. Sometimes it's quicker. But I'm glad you asked these questions because all the cards on the table. I'm just I'm a pawn in the rumor mill. Yeah. I take I take half of this information to Liberty Township. I take the other half directly to Widner's Corner. There's no one. Yeah. Um so so the rumor that Baltimore will be bankrupt. Okay. Yeah. The question has been posed as to infrastructure. Yeah.

And what is the financial liability of Baltimore and where does that come in chicken and egg stuff as to who has to put in pipes, lift stations, etc. Developers are putting that stuff. Ask that guy back here. He's he's writing some big checks. the these are not yet but he's he is I get asked questions that I don't know the answer to and then there's lots of jumping to conclusions

no free and here's the other thing when when the first development that we got approved was north of town and that's a Dr. important. It was a I think it was a million dollars to run the water line under the under the uh railroad or there was a lot of things like that and they wanted this that and we told them look if you want to come to Baltimore it's going to cost you money. We we didn't we didn't concede to anything. We we stuck by our guns and we want to be good partners with our developers because we're going to we we want nice houses and we want nice things. But I feel like the developers that we're dealing with now understand that and are in cooperation with us and they're they're doing what we're asking them to do. So I I I know I hear that same stuff and quite frankly that's why I don't go out there as much as I used to.

The way it works is the developer builds the infrastructure to our specifications and then we take over the maintenance of it after that. Yes. The infrastructure even beyond that developer's property. So, I'll say two more things and I'll sit down and get back out of here so you won't hate me too much. When when I went around when I was trying to get a comfier chair here, something that came up again and again that I heard people especially on Elwood Street say is that they don't get information from the village. What? How? So, I I've heard that too.

Okay. So, this I like pen and paper as well. And you're never going to stop the rumor rail, but what if there was a publication that went out with some amount of frequency? I tell you what, if

your position, not social media, something if we can raise the water bill 30% to cover the cost of that, we'll do that. Or if we can raise the income tax from 1% to 1.5 to put out a publication for all these people to get that look, you can come to a meeting. You can watch it online. I don't know what else or read the minutes or call Matt or call me. And believe me, I get calls all the time as does he. We're an open book. I just feel like to go to the ex I don't know any village that that says, "Hey, man. This is what we're going to We're open book." I just feel like sometimes people don't take the time. They got to make an effort, too, if they want to know what's going on. I I agree with you.

Right. But I'd be interested what a piece of quarterly junk mail would cost to put out. I know there's I know there dollars. Are you volunteering for that? I'd be happy to pen it. Yes, we do put messages in water. Be careful what you offer. Well, but again, I'm talking to a demographic of folks that may or may not be getting their information on Facebook, which I realize is a less and less of us all the time, but

Right. And and I guess I just feel like we're just so open here that if somebody has a question or a concern, make a phone call, you know, make come to a meeting. I I didn't I've I've lived here for 21 years and before that I grew up here and I don't ever remember the council reporting to us. We if we had a question, we asked it. You know what I mean? That's what got me interested in in coming here and being a part of this was I started coming to meetings and I'm like, well, that isn't we we should and that's that's why we're that's why I'm here. So, I just I I I applaud you for coming and I and you can ask any question you want. I appreciate that

and I welcome that. And I don't mean to be aggressive, but I just get so You're fine. I see it. I see it so much that it just it drives me crazy because I know all these people around this table, it ain't like they're making a bunch of money. They're making decisions based off of what's good for the village. And I just for not much money and Oh, I uh and and just so you know, when I leave here, any question that's asked of me, I try to report to the best of my knowledge and I stop when I don't know the answer. But that's exactly when No. And I I believe that wholeheartedly. Yes. when other people will let their imaginations fill in the potholes. Right. Would spend the village into bankruptcy to fix the water, but broad.

That's true. That's why we're not going to be bankrupt. That's right. Yeah, I just feel like we are an open book, period. So, any more questions? Feel free to come, John, anytime. Yeah, you're okay. Don't be sorry. I'm good. Yes. Mr.

Mr. AC 37. So, we got a lot of growth. You guys are working with me. It's great. It's just way slower than I like to see because you're right. Every month them interest bills come and checks are getting woke. So, I just want to say thanks. We did get annexed. I mean, we're on our final step. So, it is part of Baltimore now. Um, we're jumping across the street now. So, that'll be next. Jeff's working on that.

Yeah. Um, yeah. If you guys have any questions, the board actually denied the 500. We didn't even think that. Okay. Well, I wasn't personally supporting that, but when you have someone No, if somebody comes and says they want to talk, we have to we have to listen. Every person that wants to to make a pitch, they get to make a pitch. Um th actually denied them too on the far. Yeah. And and and I want to make it really clear when we talk about the division of who's getting annexed and who's not.

I love thirsten. I love every but there's we really close to signing with right and and but and we're and I feel like we're still one community but there's also certain things they got their own village and we have our own village and we got to look out what's best for our village. It is the same schools 100%. So on another note is Liberty Ridge Dr. Horton. Yeah. Yes. Are they proposing solar street lights? They are not. They are not. I got an attachment. My response was this.

So the development. We have proposed solar lights, which is all right. So, everybody else says no, they want the old A big The reason we want the A is because when you're long gone and that light goes out, AP has to come fix it, not the village. Do you know how easy it is to replace a solar light? I do not. It's two bolts. There's no wiring. You don't have any issues with underground stuff going on. It has a two-year warranty. I'm sure we're under our bond. It's longer than two years. It's probably a fiveyear maintenance bond or something we have to give.

Um, which I do need to get my banker wants to know our bonding. But I would love to really even get Dr. Horton maybe to change because they haven't moved ground and really think about that. It's Are you shaking your head? I'm shaking that head. Yes. Because I brought it up when I talked about how nice it would be to have village lamps down market and orain. But well, it's not up to me. That's the good news.

Put a lamp in really easy. But but but my my thing is is like the only thing that I comes to my mind is is when it breaks then we're on the hook for fixing it. Whether it's a a light A has to fix it. We keep having complaints about them not getting there to fix the light. So it comes and it comes with a bill from a correct $9 a month after 10 years. Figure out what you Well, then that's something that we should talk about. We should put that on the agenda the next meeting. Okay. and rolled curbs. Well, now the rolled curbs, I will tell you

the benefit of that. The benefit is saves the homeowner $300. Um, it's there's really no benefit going in. It's the same curb machines, laying curb, the same speed. Um, one's a high back curb. You can't bounce over it real easy with the car. The other one drive, which is the problem I have. That's the problem. It'll turn into Oak Street where everybody parks in their front yard. Okay. But I don't think you get that these days with the sidewalk. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yes. So, they've been improved, right?

It's still curve and then you have a draft strip and you have the sidewalk. My daughter lives on Oak Street and yeah, we bounce up and park on the sidewalk because there's gravel. Well, it didn't used to be, but it is now. When they start parking there, it turns to mud and then they pull gravel there and now it's gravel and now isn't ever going to be what it was before. So, yeah. I catch myself. Yeah. We don't Well, that'll be another discussion for

saves the bottom line saves the customer. They're spending a bunch of money. What's another 300 bucks? That's nice approach with curbs and sidewalks. I know, but the defined approach isn't. Is there research that's been done? We can um either way the biggest research is not right. I I I like a full curve so I know where I stand on it. I'm going to have a hard one with that. Yes, you are. You are. Either way, the development is going well.

I know. I know. Well, look, there's going to be things like that's going to come up. We're just going to have to work them out. That's all the bigger one. I I really truly believe solar lights is good. Well, and maybe it is. I don't I don't know. Okay. And then my daughter did get a letter from Rumpy um saying that they're no longer doing her trash, but local waste hasn't sitt

till January. Yeah. She just No worries. I'm sure you know. I'm like, don't worry about that's why we passed that by emergency was so they could get started switching them out because if we hadn't, it was going to be the last Monday or the second fourth Monday in December before an official decision was made and everything had to be switched in like a week. Did your daughter receive the email like did she sign up to get the email updates to the website? Because we sent out something last Monday that introduced the concept of local waste coming on and kind of gave a little bit of a blur as they should expectation. That might be something she might want to sign up for.

That probably would help. That might be something John put out through our website. People can go on the website. They can also go on the village Facebook. It's not as detailed as the council meeting, but we do.

The solar street lights you're proposing, do they get brighter when things come by and dim back down when nothing's moving? They can. That's what you want to do. I'd say before that development starts we do get a uniform whether we're going AAP or solar I think you should Yeah. Well, they'll they'll and they'll they're not far enough along. We can figure that out. That's something that we do need to talk about. They do have them. They also have motion detectors like if you walk under the street light would turn on. It is on the agenda tonight. Oh, is it? Okay. Which that's a really nice benefit that if they turn on, if people are out walking, if you have families that are utilizing want to go off and be dark. No, I'm saying she's agreeing with

dim. They don't go at least. They go. Okay. Well, that's on the agenda tonight.

Okay. Okay. Oh, I see that right here. Yes. Okay. Okay, thank you Mr. Bibler. Anything?

I see my friend Steve Kenny back there. Okay. Um, so we're going to go to village administrative reports. I don't really have anything, but I do have one thing. So, the last couple years, the village employees, um, we get together with them and we have, uh, a lunch for Christmas time. It's not a party. It's not, there's no drinking, but it's a lunch. Um, employee holiday appreciation lunch, as Matt puts it, which is good. Last year, we spent like just less than $350 for the police department and all the village employees. We could just do it, but I'm at least asking if everyone's okay with that.

We have to do a motion. Well, for makes a motion that we approve money to have a appreciation. You are all welcome to come as well for the employees. I think that's a great idea. And I know last year it was appreciated. Yes, it was. You can come if you want to. I'm I'm cooking. Yeah. And what's the date? You just can't wear that hoodie. What is it? What is it? Do you have a date on that? December 17th. December 17th. Yes. Is that a Wednesday? Good. Oh, yes. Is there Is there any discussion on that? I can send that date out to council. Yes, please do. Can I get a vote on that, Brian? A roll call?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. With that, we will turn the next report over to the village administrator, Matt Ninheiser. Yeah. The only thing I wanted to highlight from my VA report is just that the water modeling project has been completed. Uh in my report, it says that we're meeting this week. We're actually meeting next week. I had to push that back for B3. And uh they're going to be doing a review with us along with kind of an interpretation of the report. I know we don't meet until January, but I'll try to keep good notes to that and I'll send that out. Yeah, we how do I need to bring that up or how do we do that?

If we don't have a later December meeting, I'll make sure that I send that out so that you guys can review that at your I think last year we did not have a meeting the week of Christmas and I would suggest that we not have a meeting the week of Christmas

but we don't because we passed by eotions or can we do it No, we can do it now. Former makes a motion that we cancel the meeting. Can I get a roll call on that discussion? Discussion. All right. I'm sorry. This is to cancel the December 22nd. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Unless you want to come meet me and we'll hang out. Okay. Any discussion? Okay. Now, may I get a roll call or a vote on that? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Okay. Um, next administration report would be Mr. Fiscal Officer, which we kind of went over everything. Yeah. Yes, sir. Uh, Mr. Solicer, do you have anything? No. Uh, no new legislation. Uh, two pieces of legislation for second reading only and then two pieces two ordinances on for third and final reading.

Yes, sir. Um, let's go to village committee reports. First one will be finance committee. Yeah, finance met today at 6 week 6 and about we went over the budget and pretty much uh recommend approving the budget for fisc year 26. Um and u recommend council begin conversation with the population citizens on increasing our income tax by a small amount to increase revenues just talk about it. Yeah. Yeah. Just to get get the conversation started.

Yes. Other than that that's it for service um finance committee or finance I mean service next service isn't going to meet till a new uh January when there's a new committee safety safety did not meet we'll meet uh first meeting in January uh rules uh mayor rules met tonight I think we pretty well cleared our agenda except for discre ordinances so I think the new year

good public safety reports uh chief do you have Super. Uh, anything? Did you have Did you go to a meeting by any chance for the Basel joint?

I don't think there was one, was there? The next scheduled meeting is on the 15th and it's a workshop to begin to finalize the budget for next cycle. So there's a meeting at 6:00 workshop for us and then there's another meeting to finalize the budget on the 18th station to adopt the final budget for next year. Okay. Okay. Um, village committees planning and zoning commission is meeting this Thursday to go over a few different things. Um, tree commission. Did we get a we're waiting to hear back to see if we get approved for the the grant? Is that right?

We already got the grant. Okay. Okay. Records commission. Anything there, Brian? Can we take that off then?

No. All right. All right. We're going to go right into motions. We have no first readings. This we're going to go into the second reading re readings. This is a bill sponsored by Mr. Foreman. Um, ordinance 25 2020 2025-44, an ordinance to reszone zero Hoarder Road at 73.503 acre parcel, currently known as parcel number 02425580 to village office, institutional office. That's the one that the school

school has acquired that property for future growth. So to accommodate their future needs, we are zoning that appropriately for their needs. Okay. Stays on for a third reading. Okay. Pass that in January. Yes. Next one is sponsored by Miss McCur. Yeah, we'll schedule that. We'll get that posted. Okay. Okay. Okay, next one is ordinance 2025-47, an ordinance amending chapter 254, the tree commission membership and officers in order to increase the number of members. Um, basically we would like to increase the numbers from 3 to 5 to I believe it's 5 to seven.

Yeah. Yeah, it's good. Okay, we can go we can let that go to a third reading as well. Okay, now we're going to go to the third reading. This next one is uh sponsors by Miss McCur. Ordinance 25 202541, an ordinance authorizing the village administrator to enter to agreement with Jacob's engineering group for the professional services for the improvements wastewater treatment plant in a declaration. This is the third reading. It wasn't a declaration of emergency. It goes into effect. Yes. Is there any questions or or discussion on that?

Do we vote on that now, Brian? Um, so just just want to state again. So this is basically to allow us to enter into an agreement with Jacob's engineering, which then they can help advise us as to what's going to be best and most advantageous to the village moving forward with water and waste water. Um, so and I guess it's just the waste water. Yes. Um, so I would like to move Ordinance 2020. Any discussion on that? Can I get a roll call on that, Brian? Yes. Yeah. Yes.

Okay. Ordinance passed. Okay. Next one is Mr. Phillips is the sponsor. Ordinance 2025-42 a permanent annual appropriations in the ordinance of the village of Baltimore, Ohio for 2026 and the declaration it's not a declaration of emergency because it's the third reading. Correct. So it takes effect goes in effect right away. Any discussion on that? If not, can I have a motion to motion? There's no motion to adopt it. Yeah, I'll make a motion we adopt.

No, if there's no discussion, can we have a roll call, please? Yes. Yes. Right. I gotcha. Table ordinances. We have none. Um, any old business?

I want to say something old business. Just on a record. The Rumkey thing, I didn't like the way it went down. Um, call it what you want. Uh, we're fixing something that wasn't broken. Anybody else? Okay. New business. Liberty Ridge Street light option. Yeah. So in your packet So I thought this was not Liberty Ridge.

Well, so this this came about because we don't have anything in our defining what we want. Exactly. So Z3 did a little bit of research to some other communities what would accept as a service that they would be willing to service and they they sent this to us as It's not what we have, right? And we just wanted to include this and then all developers would match this. Exactly. This light looks a lot like that.

Anyway, this would match that. And when we talked with Steve, he said he recommended just as somebody with the option there is an option to use a a cover so that it's not illuminating all the way around. It's decorative with ribs and we just wanted to present this to council to consider maybe along with now as well.

Okay. I I would really like to suggest that we look into our options. Um so we don't too quickly adopt one specific type of light especially with there being many more options with solar just at least maybe that they're utilizing the solar lights. We had told V3 we were interested in

Can we get copies of his? May I ask a question? Do you have any other developments in which you have utilized the solar lights? Okay. Have they proven themselves to be less maintenance or not? And how long have they

right 60 days? Take the whole head.

Okay. Right. And up into the sky because Exactly.

Well, we we need to get with and see what our other options are with B3 on the on the solar and we'll talk about the solar. I just I know that we've talked about the expense of the lights here in the village. Yes. It's expensive. Okay. Yeah. And they're not updating them. They're correct. So, I mean, that's been an issue. Gotcha. Well, if it's just to look I think the other thing that you said earlier, Brandy, too, is that the lights that are like over like Washington, they're not fixing them on a timely manner. Right. And then people residents in the village don't understand those are not the village's responsibility.

But right but the solar winds would be Yes sir we do. Yeah. If they're solar lights if they're solar and we if they're solar and we're responsible. Yeah. Yeahvious ones. No. No. We're not allowed to touch the A ones. All right. All right. Well, overall, yeah, it could potentially save money and enough to Well, yeah, if it saves money, we should be all right. Well, so we'll look into bringing that up at the next meeting perhaps. Uh, Matthew, like getting some lights about that. Okay.

Okay. Uh, do any visitors have anything else left to say? Okay. Can I get a last call? Next meeting will be held

Next meeting will be held January 12th at 7 p.m. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? I make a motion we adjourn for a second. All right. Can I have a uh roll call on that? There we go. And can I add real quickly while the mics are still on? So, the opera house will be hosting Lion Witch in the Wardrobe 19th, 20th, 21st. Would love to have your support. That's the Children's Theater.