Council - Regular Meeting

Uh we'll start with the pledge of allegiance, please stands nationy for all. Will you call the role please? Auster Vincent here. here. Ner here. Here. Perry

here tonight to um swear in an officer after we make a motion. So, I have a motion to swear in Michael Town as an Orange Village police officer. I'll make that motion. The appointment. Oh, a motion to confirm the appointment of Please make a motion. Thank you, Amanda. I'll second. I think Stacey Beach can Can you a lot of feedback? I'm sorry. Um, we have a motion there. Turn that down. See that right by your cup? Sorry.

Have a motion and a second. And chief, we all front and center. Oh, I'm sorry. I guess we take the vote first. Sorry. And anybody have any questions or comments? Hannah, will you call the role? Bilski. Yes. About him first. We hear about him first. Say he usually tells you about him first. We hear from the chief first and then we take the vote and then you'll do the oath of office. Okay. Let's hear about him first. Sorry. We're doing this is going to be our sixth mic if confirmed. So, right. Wow. Yep. Oh, it's got to be a record for

H Townshell is a 35-year-old lateral lateral transfer police officer with 13 years full-time police experience. He was raised in Willoughby and currently resides in Jefferson with his wife Chelsea. Who's here with you tonight, Mike? Uh, celebrating. Uh, my wife Chelsea, sister and mother, and then mother-in-law, father-in-law, as well as my old partner from the same.

Very good. was raised in Willoughby and currently resides in Jefferson. Mike graduated from Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School in 2008 where he played football and earned all conference, all county, and district honors, as well as being selected as News Herald as a News Herald all-star. He graduated Magnaum Lai from Lake Erie College in 2012, majoring in criminal justice with a minor in psychology. While attending Lake Erie College, he played football on an athletic scholarship and received honorable mention from the Great Lakes Intercolgic Athletic Conference for his performance during the 2010 season. His hobbies include exploring new cities, trails, playing video games, and working out. Professionally, Mike Houndshell graduated from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy in 2013, where he was a state trooper for nine years. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2019. During his tenure with the Ohio State Ohio Patrol, he received numerous awards related to the criminal interdiction, including the apprehension of a murder suspect during a traffic stop, as well as awards for stolen vehicle recovery, safe driving, and seat belt enforcement. 2021 he laterally transferred to the Uclid police department where he was assigned to the community response unit which is focused on building rapport within the community while actively participating in criminal interdiction efforts. While serving with the Uclid police department he received awards for seat belt enforcement ex exceptional service two life saving awards as well. His training includes electronic speed measuring devices, advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement, criminal interdiction, certified training officer, practice intervention team certification, mentorship, and precision immobile technique for terminating vehicle pursuits. Uh, members of council, I seek your confirmation for officer Mike Houndshell to become a full-time member of the Orange Village Police Department.

Thank you. All right. Now, Anna, will you call the role? Ski. Yes. Yes. Vincent Kurland. Yes. Yes. Yes. Harry, yes. Thank you all. Great. I'll I have the distinct honor tonight to administer your make sure he [clears throat] camera's got this. She's good. Oh, look at her. She's

crying allow Oh, my mom. All right. So, has a family member to come up to She said she's working after. Thank you. Thanks for your help. Okay. So, raise your right hand. Repeat after me. I state your name. I, Michael Houndshell, do solemnly swear Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the State of Ohio the Constitution of the State of Ohio the rules, regulations, and charter of Orange Village. the rules, regulations, and charter of Orange Village. and that I will faithfully And that I will faithfully

honestly and impartially honestly and impartially disart discharge my duties discharge my duties as a patrol officer of Orange Village, State of Ohio. as a patrol officer of Orange Village, State of Ohio. during my continuence and set office. During my continuence and set office. Congratulations, [applause]

Ezie. Can you come up to pin on his badge, please? Yeah, he's on the machine. I know.

It's all but a guarantee.

Welcome. Glad to have you. You're all welcome to stay. We have very interesting meetings [laughter] and uh thank you all for coming in. Okay, next on our agenda, um I need a motion to approve the purchase of two Ford Interceptor Explorers from Montrose Ford total amount not to exceed $99,478, which is part of a state bid. Do I have a motion, please?

I'll make that motion. Second. Thank you, Jim. And uh anybody have questions? Yeah, we have uh 10 marked police cars and if we replace two every year, every 5 years, we replace the entire fleet. That's kind of been worked out internally is a a good sound practice. Um and that's what this expenditure is to to do that just that and then as soon as those are in service, I will come to council and we will take two of the current cars out of service, declare them surplus, and send them along.

I have two quick questions, I think. Um, on the the page that you gave us, it says total value of trade in if you have one and it's just a blank. We don't use that because we're going to use it a surplus later on or is there is it worth looking at the value for trade in or no? I didn't hear the first part of that.

I I Can you hear me? Okay. Is it is it coming through? Um, on the the page one of two um on the interceptor um it down at the bottom it says the total value of trade in if you have one. So, when we purchase the cars, we we we do that as a separate thing. And we will put those the two cars we're trading in or or getting rid of on gov deals. We we have a lot of success with selling them outright. In the two that we have now, we we may consider selling them as fully marked police cars. So, they wouldn't really make a good trade in anyway on the the retail market.

Great. Thank you. And then I I know in the next motion, uh there's a reimburseable grant coming up. Does that could that also be applied toward number [clears throat] f this one too or no it's so so the grant does speak to these two cars that we're talking about and it's a reimbursement grant during the funding period which we are in now they're just late to get to the announcement of that grant if we if we receive it great because we were going to buy these two cars anyway if we don't that's unfortunate we were going to buy these two cars anyway that's that's both of those items Thank Okay. Um, any other questions? Will you call the role? Yes.

Foster, yes. Vincent, yes. Kurland, yes. Yes. Yes. Perry, yes. Thanks. Next is a motion to approve the outfitting of two Ford Interceptor Explorers from Hall Public Safety not to exceed $40,785. Mike Hall Public Safety is the upfitter for all of our marked police cars and unmarked I'm sorry. I need a motion for Thank you, Kim. Second. Thank you, Stacy. Okay, now

Okay. Uh, Hall Public Safety is the upfitter for all of our police cars and that is the cost of of putting the equipment in and doing just that, upfitting them to be fully marked police cars. So, it's approximately 140,000 total and theoretically we may get a grant reimburing 113 of that. Correct. And it applies to both the cars and the equipment and the upfitting. What's the turnaround time for which part? The outfitting. The Well, you got the the purchase, delivery, then the outfitting. The cars are showing up at the dealerships now. So, if we said, "Hey, put us in." We would probably be able to see those within 30 days.

Wow. And then the um upfitting is fully dependent on Hall Public Safety, which I won't know till we call them. Uh depending on how many are in front of us, it could be a little bit of time, months. It's got listed the expiration date, I assume, of their of their pricing is March 11, I assume. Yeah. The relationship we have with the company that that that will stand. Any questions? Anna, will you call the role? Bilski? Yes. Foster, Vincent? Yes. Kurland, yes. Ner, yes. Oil, yes. Perry,

yes. Thank you. Next is a motion. I need a motion to approve the purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD four-wheel drive regular cab from Tim Lai Chevrolet at a cost not to exceed $46,732. that was priced using GMC bid express purchasing program. Wow, it's a great deal. Do I have a motion, please? A motion. Thank you. I heard Amanda first. You want to second it, Ryan? Thank you, Ryan. Okay, great. Uh, who's speaking to this?

I will speak to this one here. Um last week uh last week Wednesday um council approved the purchase of the Dodge truck from Montrose uh for the cost of 489.65. When we went to place that order there was a clerical error found in the bid through Montrose which actually was about a $2,300 change which increased the cost. So, we went back to complete more due diligence to again check our other vendors and what the pricing was. And what we did find that Tim Lai Ford, there's a pro there's a there's a program there that allows ODOT contracting only for ODOT um purchases. Biders are allowed to meet that in pricing to meet that price of the ODOT contract only. And what ended up happening, we found the Chevy that we could purchase for the price of, bear with me here, $46,732, which is actually $2,233 less than the Dodge. So, we are making a recommendation that we are not going to um proceed with buying the Dodge and we are actually going to um purchase the Chevy for a lower cost value. um which obviously saving money and in order to clean up paperwork since we're changing vendor it requires us to bring it to councel so we can authorize a vendor change

questions right Anna yes yes Benson Kurland yes yes oil yes Harry next I need a motion to approve the treasur's report for December nomber 2025. I'll make a motion. A second. Second. Thank you, Ryan. Dana, do you want

Okay. Good evening. You have the cash account summary for December for all of our bank accounts with a total of $19,214,716. Um, and that includes our checking account, operating accounts, and investment accounts. [snorts] The summary for the month and year to date for the fiscal year ending December 31st. December revenues from all of our funds was 1,459,788 and our December expenditures from all of our funds was $1,670,595. Um [clears throat] we received a uh revenue and expenditure report for the year end. Uh so on our general fund our total revenues were 108% of budget which is what you want to see. We want to be higher than our budget. Our general fund operating expenditures was 96% of budget which again is you want to be under budget for that. [snorts] And when you're looking at all funding sources, we're at 105% for our revenue and 97% of our total for all expenditures for all funds. So, um, end of the year on a positive note [clears throat] for the village.

Thank you, Dana. Thank you. Anybody have any questions? And we'll move on to the tax administrator. Uh, can I have a motion first for the Oh, we did. I have to call. No, we have to call the role. That's okay. Ski, yes. Foster, yes. Vincent, yes. Kurland, yes. Ner, yes. Boil, yes. Perry, yes. Thank you. Next, I need a motion to approve the tax administrator's report for December 2025. I'll make a motion. I'll second. Amanda. Okay. I make the motion then or you made the motion first. That's what I thought. Okay. Sorry. Um,

all right. Dana, Dana, the tax administrator report, which is showing our income tax collection from all of our sources for the month of December, 600 almost $610,000. Um, which is about 200,000 over where we were in December 2024. And year to date, we have collected um 1,113,000 more than we did in year-to date for 2024. You have the monthly cumulative chart showing where we have gone monthtomonth and then you have the gross monthly showing the monthly breakdowns for the last four years showing the uh comparables.

Thank you. All right. Any questions for Dana? Anna, will you call the role, please? Bilski, yes. Foster, yes. Vincent, yes. Kurland, yes. Ner, yes. Oil, yes. Harry, yes. Thanks. Next is a discussion of the bills to be paid in the month. I don't know. I mean, I know enough. 28,321.15 and additional January expenses in the amount of $80,929.32. Did anybody have any questions about the bills?

And we'll move on to audience comments relating to agenda items only. None. We'll move on to old business. Um, first we have ordinance 2026-3, an ordinance approving the map of survey, consolidation, vacation, and dedication for a portion of Orange Place and parcel D and blocks of A, B, and C. This is on for second reading. It's already been referred to planning and zoning, but where this is. Wait, I'm sorry. We were

you know where the entrance way is at Harvard on the west side of that there are water with the fountain it's a part of that uh the original dedication had the road going over some of that drainage area. So that's being the north the map in that

if you take a look at the map there's an area that is in the shaded area part of the right of way. I think this is all related to the cleanup and making things um on the books the way they are in real life.

I mean any other questions? All right. We'll be talking more next month about this when we vote on it, too. All right. Next is ordinance 2026-4, an ordinance amending section 1144.04. 04 of charter 114 amendments and exceptions to clarify the procedure or procedures for proposed amendments to the zoning code of Orange Village. This also is on for second reading and it's been referred to planning and zoning

and and since the first uh edition came out as readable as I like it and the we've got a step-by-step procedure for adopting variances. What I want to do is put this in a bullet point form so you can just click through how you change the zoning either the code or a parcel of property. Send it to planning and zoning for their review. So So Steve, this is going to go back to planning and zoning from here. Yes.

Then it'll come back up to council from planning and zoning. So, if I can just a very brief question. I uh received an inquiry from a a zealous resident um earlier today. Um the the as I read it, Steve, the issue is not issue, but what we're trying to do is is make sure that the language in the code matches what our zoning process is because it's spelled out in the charter, which seems weird that that's where it is. And so that's why this language in here par that you're proposing in the code will parrot what's in the in the charter. Correct. Got it. All right. And then there's actually a couple of other things that don't appear here that for clarity's sake should be there, right?

One of which would be a public hearing the advertise for it on the uh website. I would think that a a a um developer, somebody who looking at at doing work would likely look at the code before the charter. I mean, so it makes sense that they that they mirror whatever's on both sides. Okay. And we should expect to see more of these pretty much with I don't know with every meeting, but I mean we're continuing to have the all of the zoning code gone through. So that has made it his his goal uh before he disappears uh to to bring clarity to certain section of code that have bothered him for years.

Well, and the I mean all of the code related to zoning is all being reviewed. So everything can be brought up, you know, and clarified. The point is to make everything more transparent and as easily understood as possible sense. Any other questions? Now we'll move on to um new business ordinance 6-5, an ordinance amending the appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of Orange Village during the calendar year 2026. Uh administration requests a suspension of the rules. Do I have a motion?

You thank you Stacy. Thank you. St. I heard Stacy. I didn't do it. Will you call the rule for a motion or or for the suspension of the rules? Sure. Bilski, yes. Aster, yes. Vincent, yes. Kurland, yes. Ner, yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. And next, I need a motion to adopt uh ordinance 2026-5, please. A motion.

Thank you, Amanda. Second. Thank you, Stacy. Okay. Um Dana, you want to take it away again? Okay. Um you have the exhibit for the management operating budget that um outlines there are two changes to the budget. The first one is under the police department. Um they are increasing the budget $11,23. That's due to the addition of the Lexipole policy and training software. It was discussed during the budget budgeting process but it wasn't put in the budget at that time and after further review it was decided to um that it was valuable and we should increase the budget to include that software. Um and secondly um in the information technology department we're increasing that $1,625 and that was after the budget was passed. we learned that we were awarded a grant that was applied in 2024 and we received the grant award um of $9,300 to go towards improvements in our cyber security systems. So our uh budget is increasing 11,625 of which we would be reimbursed 9,300 which is the grant amount to do those services. And so um Shagrin Valley Dispatch will work on those improvements to our IT upon passage of the ordinance.

Any questions for Dana? If I can just make chief the we use Lexiple I I can't tell you how great it fantastic and and I'm sure the law department would love to know that it provides us insulation for policies and violations and things along those lines. It is a really exceptional product. We just started using them last year and it they're every penny. We took our time. Yeah, I'm surprised you didn't I mean I I was surprised you didn't already have them in place. It was one of the things that we wanted to do was rewrite that manual. Right.

It was one of the things that I wanted to do when since I've been promoted to rewrite the entire manual and it was high time that we we brought in the the expertise of Lexapole to do that. And we were very deliberate in um making sure this was a valuable expense and that's why it was a little delayed. But we're we're we're ready now. It's fantastic and it is we've gone through it and then you that not just can you have your policy manual up to date but then the the continuous updating of it is extremely helpful.

That's correct. And there's another benefit too. There's daily training bulletins that the officers have to participate in 20 minutes every shift. It autogenerates a policy uh and then it quizzes them on it. And though that time is also cataloged for our um continuing professional training with the Ohio Attorney General's office. We get credit for that as training hours as well. So, it's it's just a win-winwin and it's high time we we we up our professionalism by getting this this service. Great. Thanks. Any other questions? Will you call the role? Phil, yes. Foster, yes. Vincent, yes. Ner, yes. Boil, yes.

Harry, yes. Thank you. Next is ordinance 2026. ordinance engaging Calie Halter and Griswald LLP to provide special counsel to Orange Village in utility related matters and declaring an emergency. This is on for first reading, but we do I have a motion first to suspend the rules? Thank you, Jeff. I'll second it. We call the roll for motion. Yes. for this yes Benson yes Kurland yes yes oil yes

Perry yes thank you okay next we can take a motion to adopt ordinance 2026-6 I'll make a motion anybody want to second thank you Amanda and uh Steve talk about that if you want or I I don't I'm not sure what I can say since

as as council knows um the village um regulates the woodbrand sewer system in Orange Village which serves Orangewood, Orange Tree um the up there, Landerwood and uh Waterford just sort of the north northern part of the the village. we collect as part of our um franchise fee uh a certain amount of money every year. And so you'll see that there's an appropriation of $40,000 for this legal services. There are also funds available for um uh a consultant to analyze the fees. you need a professional to look over and determine uh if they're over or underpaying for um the things that they're paying for that are they charging the appropriate fees for the services they're providing. Um and so this does not cost the taxpayers any rateayers of the woodbrand system uh pay into a fund and the the village's expense in doing this will be paid for out of that fund. The final product will be that they come back and you will adopt an ordinance. Last time we did this was you will adopt an ordinance that puts into place the um the the new fees and if there are um service complaints we can bring that to the attention system. Um the other option would be for them to just go to uh the PUCO in Columbus and get this rate imposed. This gives you a little measure of control and if there are customer complaints you could bring them to attention to the attention. We've already heard some of them um which relate to the speed with which they're they are cutting off um sewer

connections if there are delayed fees. So these are something we can negotiate over and maybe get a different practice. Well, well, given that, I think what we need to do is let our let people know now is the time for them to for anyone who uh uses Woodbrand, has Woodbrand, is providing the service to let council know, any member of council know that you if you have concerns with the service um because that will be um helpful in our negotiations on behalf of all the rateayers. ers. So although the money is not coming from the village and the vill's budget, it is coming from

the rateayers rateayers which are people that live in the subdivisions that you just named. So you know that I think that's important to to make sure that that's noted. Cambridge Court I didn't mention that. Yeah. I mean, so anyone that anyone that uses that has Woodbrand providing their service, the rate is up for re renegotiation and now is the time to let any member of council know if you have any issues or if you have had any issues with Woodbrand. Once they set the rate, how long is that rate good for? Like you said, the last time was 2011. Because you're the rate setting authority, it would be in place until the next time they come to you. Is that indefinite? just whenever they decide.

Yes. It's a shame we can't just say we're good with the rate we have right now because by state law they're entitled to cost plus 10% profit. So and they have been able to uh forestall u rate increases because the system has grown some and so they had additional revenues through growth which is always a better way to deal with than have incumbents paying higher rates. Yeah. Okay. So it's on for first reading. Uh so basically it'll be No, no, we suspend it. So we're approving it for coffee engage.

We have right. So do we have any idea how long it will take them for the negotiation? They will they will hire the expert. They will be communicating with Woodbrand. Um I would say if they can get if comments come to you within the next month or so, get them to me and I'll get them to Jim Lang who's the special counsel. Um they they won't come there won't be an agreement for probably a couple months. Okay. So that's the time frame. Any other questions? The role. Bilski, yes. Foster, yes. Vincent, yes. Kurland, yes. Alner, yes. Boil, yes. Harry,

yes. Thanks. Uh, next is audience comments relating to matters which advance the good of the village. You know the drill, Mr. L. When you're done speaking, Good afternoon or good evening. Uh John Loftess, 4231 Lander Road. I was I hadn't spoken for a couple months and I was getting out of practice so

they come up. Uh just a couple of issues. Um [clears throat] the uh sustainability committee met in January. Um we had a really fantastic presentation by NOPEC and there were a number of things that NOEC can bring to the table as we are moving forward as the village is moving forward with the rehabilitation of this building uh energy efficiency um uh programs uh loans and uh substantial grants through the state of Ohio and they're very willing to work with the village and I would just hope that uh council will work with our um uh work with NOPEC and our consultant to make sure that we explore those opportunities and as means of you know maybe reducing some of the costs going to be associated because from what I understand it's going to be expensive. Um, second item is uh the mayor uh at our meeting I believe it was maybe in December there was a discussion about the solar panel language in our zoning uh code and uh mayor asked if the sustainability committee could take a look at that. Um there we've um I have submitted uh revised language to the committee. Unfortunately, I really have not received uh many comments. Um but um I have shared it. I believe um you know the whole approach that I took in reddrafting it was to take a very positive approach on solar panels. the uh issue in the past and this happened to me when I was putting solar panels in happened to another resident of uh Orange Village when she was working with a consultant. They both said this

language tells me I can't put solar panels facing the street. Now, I know the mayor had said we have conditions in there to allow it, but when your consultant is just saying don't even ask, that kind of sets the wrong tone. We wanted to encourage the reddraft that I did u was try to you know really kind of reflect that positive approach to that that issue on terms of solar panels. Uh and the other only other thing that we might want to consider going forward is we really don't talk about um wind generators as part of uh household use. Um there is a lot of technology that's evolving. Um but we have no language in our zoning to deal with that and that is something that we may want to start thinking about as well. There is a lot of technology that needs to be employed uh as we go forward. We're going to see nothing but rate increases um in our electric bills. And so I think we as a village need to get ahead of this thing and try to do something about it. So those are, you know, the solar language is just I think a fairly simple one. Um I not married to the language I submitted. So don't hesitate to edit as necessary.

Do you give that to the law director? Uh I've submitted to the mayor has copies of it. some of the other members. I don't know if he shared that with but and I think but I can get it to you and from there it'll go to the planning and zoning committee before it goes to council about the wind technology. I looked into um installing some wind they have they have these things they call them flowers or petals or something.

They're like this tall. They go on your roof. Um, there's a company that's starting to develop this, but they're not ready yet. So, it's kind of hard to talk about that until we know what will be required, uh, what kind of how they're going to be installed and and things. So, it is something that is on at least my mind to you would have to go to planning and zoning and to council to change change a few things to allow it. But it seems promising if they can get the technology out. Well, there's no language at all in zoning right now regarding this. So, it's put a pin, put them,

it's what comes first, the horse or the cart, you know? Um, anything they come in, you're doomed. I don't know. Can we create language through planning and zoning about what it's going to look like or what it's going to be like? I mean, it can't be an issue of first impression. I mean, other communities have dealt with it in some capacity. And so, I think what you're saying, John, if I'm hearing it correctly, is you're right. I mean, there there is there's nothing to deal with now, but the problem becomes one if one lands here and we don't have anything, we're stuck behind the eightball. Yeah. But one of the things that can look at what other some other communities have done.

Absolutely. the um the situation that I we've dealt with here is we have put in a provision it's not it it it has been driven by people not wanting to see them on the front of the house. I know there have been discussions at the planning and zoning commission about granting variance uh right now because the wind generation is not permitted as an accessory use. It's not permitted in the village. Now, there have been like pond bubblers that have been generated electricity with a little uh windmill type thing that have been around for ye years, many years. Um, and if there's been one in the village, we've never we've left it alone. We've never never bothered it. Um, but that would be an example of sort of a lawful non-conforming use of the accessory, you know, generation of energy from from the wind. In any event, we can get language from another community and put that in in the village if that's council's desire.

I I would think that maybe this would be two separate I I would think that we would keep them separate. I agree. Well, right now they are separate. Solar is permitted under certain circumstances and wind is not permitted. That that's the way it's separate right now. We could bring legislation to amend the solar and we could bring you know to enact wind. The the you know the the large generators are you know 100 to be 100 feet high. I don't think there's a place in the village that you're looking to to do that. Um,

but the village should actually think about that. You've got a tower right back here for, you know, a microwave. I don't know why as part of this whole rehab of village hall, we at least wouldn't look at that. That is also something um that NOEC uh may be able to bring some expertise to the table. It's something you, you know, you may want to consider. Like I said, energy prices are just going to go up and you know, we might want to get ahead of the curve.

I agree with you. I think you're making some great points and definitely things that we should be considering as we look ahead and having some language is at least gives us something to work with or start with. It can be vague. It can be broad, but it's good to have something rather than nothing. I' I'd like some more um research into it into what these things actually look like. and also what their effects are. I I I guess I'm just picturing a really big one. Maybe I'm just picturing something old. I don't know. Perhaps I don't know what what this looks like and I don't know what the effect is on birds or wildlife. And I just think a little bit of research into it would be helpful.

There's lots of different I did one a couple years ago. There's one that was unidirectional. Jeff, can you talk in your microphone? There's lots of different shapes and configurations. Um I looked at some years ago and it was unidirectional made out of Canada. Um trees buffer area buffer zone above the trees where there's dead and there's no flow. So you have to go out pretty high above the trees to get effective movement. So it just depends on where they're placed.

But I agree with you. It's value looking at for sure. Anna suggested that she could reach out to her um her organization of council clerks to see if cities have legislation and what they're doing, get some information so we can start researching and sounds like a good plan. Yeah. And Steve, you could research and too

and I would recommend that go to NOPEC. They they are just a treasure trove of information. I think mayor would agree. Uh there is just so much. They're a governmental entity. They're not selling a product. They u offered to set up a a workshop to present a lot of you know just good objective generic information that will help all of us as we move forward. Sounds good. Thank you.

Okay, next is comments um from the mayor and uh he he says he misses us all. I saw him today, but here's uh his report. It's mostly announcements. Uh Monday's President's Day Village Hall is o is open and there is no change in trash pickup. Uh, please have your bins out by 7 a.m. Ramadan begins at sundown on Tuesday, February 17th. And I would like to wish everyone a blessed Ramadan. That's Jud wishing them. And me, too. Um, paper shredding's Friday, February 20th from 9 to noon at the service department. Orange schools are closed on this Friday and Monday. Please drive carefully. February is Black History Month. It's time to honor the contributions of black Americans and remember to keep elevating black voices and fostering inclusion throughout the entire year. February is also American Heart Month. He encourages everyone to take a moment this month to focus on their well-being and take advantage of any health resources available to us, including active orange physical wellness on February 14th at 2 PM at Village Hall with Brian. Last but not least, happy Valentine's Day to everybody on Saturday. That concludes the mayor's report. I do not have a report today, so we will move on to reports by council members. Starting with you, Mr. Bilski.

All right. Thank you. Yeah. Um just a reminder the active orange uh our physical wellness session will be here this Saturday afternoon uh with a fellow Orange Village resident Jod Trosler joining me uh 2 to 4 p.m. here and then the following weekend which will be before our next meeting uh please remember we'll have a session on financial wellness also here from 2 to 4 p.m. uh be a nice discussion both both will be nice discussions uh high level uh you know kind of the basics uh tailored to the audience I hope you know it's it's a small enough group I think we can have a good discussion ask questions and um hopefully everybody can learn something so um the other thing that I I just want to touch on because we've we've I've had some questions from other residents um and perhaps Bob Zugan might want to comment just for the record so everybody's aware to just kind of revisit uh the snow plowing of the uh trails. Uh you know, we've talked about this a few times. Uh we I think they've been doing a fantastic job snowplowing the trails, the the large walking trails, the wider walking trails up and down the main roads, but I know there's some complications when it comes to plowing the ones in the village. So Bob, I just again for the record so you know those at home can you know hear hear it again firsthand why we're not able to do the ones in the neighborhoods as easily. [clears throat]

Hello.

First of all starts with uh identifying exactly what we're describing here. recreational trails when they were put in, they were taken on and installed with the maintenance and um repair and stuff taken on by the village. And it was determined at that point we would you know wait and see how things worked out and eventually obviously council passed the approval to purchase the equipment to remove the snow on there. Um that's because the village is responsible legislation or our ordinance sidewalks are the responsibility of the homeowner and they're responsible for that and that would be in all areas whether it's commercial or residential. So the thing about snow removal, the trails are wider than the sidewalks are. um that was discussed and what we were going to do when we purchased it and our obligation was to do the trails only. And so the equipment we have now is simply for the trail use. Sidewalks are 5 ft wide. The snowb blower is literally 5t wide. The plow is literally 5T. there's zero room for air to go off hitting sprinkler heads, landscape beds, you know, pavers, stuff like that, you know, within the uh sidewalk area. The other one is that again, most of the developments are all front loading garages. All the snow gets pushed up at the aprons. And as you know, this year driving down those developments, all the snow, the piles are five feet tall at the end of the drives,

which is essentially right where the sidewalks and trails are. Makes it very difficult to get in. Yeah, we've been doing it on the trails. Um, you know, we've had uh some feedback, very positive and also negative about doing uh the trails. Um, but our obligation was as we uh move forward is that we were going to do snow removal on the trails only. On that note, I don't I just want to uh thank your guys did come out and um unberry fire hydrants. Yeah, very much appreciated. My dog [clears throat] really appreciates that. Thank you. [laughter]

Well, that's and that's in the way I view that. Um, you know, my department's um, you know, we're responsible for another a number of things and damage control, I'm going to put that in damage control is one of those. We need to have access to our fire hydrants. We have residential snow plowers that are burying them and I think it's important that we keep, you know, these hydrants opened. I asked Anna to put a blurb in our next e- newswe. It's probably getting late in the season now, but um, for safety purposes, we went out and cleared the hydrants. I do think next year maybe it's too late for this year but maybe when um the snow plowers do get permits they have to sign off on something that says that they will not um you know bury the the hydrants because they and I I do see where they have you know but there are some choices about where you put the snow and you know put it on the other side so that the hydrant is not buried. I just think it's a

permitting runs through the building department and they're giving out all that information. I believe they even um put the code that they need to follow which is they're not allowed to push across the street. They're not allowed to block uh you know th those areas in the rightway uh burying hydrants so on so forth. So

until we start ticketing them I I I don't know what to say because it's it's an issue. I would like to circle back to our previous discussion though about about the um the snow plow rem or the snow removal on the trails. I got a email right before I came here this evening from a gentleman who wondered about um why we're not keeping the trails cleaner and um you know he he said he pays a lot of taxes and he expects a lot more from our community. We all got it. Okay. All right. Great. But I guess the question that came out of that letter to me was um legally he he kind of threw some legal stuff around like that we're going to be sued because we're not taking well enough care of of the trails. So

I would direct that the Steve issue. Steve, what do you think?

Direct that to the law director. in the state of Ohio that makes [clears throat] very clear that in the wintertime it snows. Be careful. Um, ordinary accumulations of snow are not a basis for liability. And now if we go out and we ice down, if we spray it with water and let the water freeze on, don't do that. Don't don't make ice patches on on our trails. But if it's just natural accumulations of snow, there's zero likelihood of liability. Before you get to the question of immunity, and there's no exception to the immunity rule for sidewalks, the only thing to avoid is intentionally causing problems. And obviously, we try to keep our sidewalks as as in repair as we can.

I think, you know, on that issue, it was an extreme issue with the weather. I mean, we had an awful lot of snow in a in a short amount of time and the decision was made, and I agree with the decision that was made, which was to concentrate on the roads over the trails. And then I see that they did get to the trails. It just took longer. And that's okay. I think I agree with the decision 100% that the roads should be done first. And I think, yeah, I'd be shocked if anyone here disagreed. Do I said roads are a priority? And then I would mention after that we do we do have a limited number of people and I know that they were working a lot of hours and it's exhausting to do that snow plowing.

They have and obviously um you know and thank you for that understanding. Obviously there is a a priority. Um it it even goes with the road snow removal. Um you know what roads we do first, second, third on down the line. But uh you know it was probably three days after the snow storm finally ended. I mean we were still we had complaints uh with the amount of snow that people couldn't get to the mailboxes. Well mails deliveries important as well. So item number one after that was clearing for mailboxes. You know then we started moving snow around and making sure that when snow does melt that you know that water gets into drainage ditches and storm sewers and stuff. So yes it was a last pecking order and certainly it was hard. It took us almost three days of snow blowing these trails to get through. And it happens when you get 20 some inches of snow on it.

Yeah. The email did say sidewalks. I don't know if they they were thinking trails and just it seems to me they were asking about more of the sidewalks that would be the homeowner's responsibility which which clarified. Yeah. I had that impression too. Yeah. [snorts] So, thank you Bob. Hey, Ryan, you still have nothing further. Thank you. All right, Jeff.

Of course, I want to say uh happy um Black History Month, but I think in this um time of um strife, I think each group needs to take the time to celebrate themselves, but also celebrate others. So while you want to celebrate and acknowledge the gifts and accomplishments of other people, you also want to take the time to celebrate and acknowledge the gifts of other people so that you're more inclusive as a community.

Um Stacying um I first wanted to thank Scott Lewis, Rifka Clayool, John Ned, uh Stacy, and all who committed to being a part of the charter review commission. I was grateful to be able to attend the meeting on Monday after the schoolboard meeting and I know they will do an amazing job. It was a great discussion right off the bat. So, I want to thank you all for taking that on. And while I'm not sharing a school report here, I did want to pass on a message from our school board president who asked at Monday's board meeting that we share the board's thanks to all of our service workers and staffs for a fantastic job keeping the roads clear. um since we were just talking about that and safe and also to the administration for keeping the communication lines open during this awful winter so that the buses could get through. So they wanted to note that appreciation and I wanted to pass that on to you. Our arts and culture committee held its first meeting of the year last week and worked through an overview of the committee's goals and objectives. Uh we are putting out a call for local artists. I think it made it into the the newsletter. Anna, do you did it? Yeah. So Oh yeah. So, it's like just a one line to call for artists um to begin to organize a directory of the multitude of talent that we have right here in Orange Village. Um this will range from musical arts to visual arts to creative arts and everything in between. If you consider yourself an artist, this is a call for you. Um we're hoping to connect these artists and also find opportunities to showcase um their work in a myriad of ways. Uh we're also looking to formalize a mission statement to guide our planning. Uh we are now meeting on the first Tuesday of the month uh for this year. That's a change from last year. And um as always, we welcome all interested residents. Uh speaking of arts, the Orange Library asked me to share with everyone that they're doing an art supply swap on February 21st from 10 to 12. You can bring new or gently used art supplies to swap and pick up something new. So if you bought something thinking you were going to use it and you found out you didn't, bring it in, pick something else. Um and the event is free and open to all throughout all of our

communities. Um the artisan and farmers market board is meeting next week and they'll determine at that time the September market date at at that time and then we will ask the committees once again to host one of the markets. I think that worked well last year. Um I also want to wish everyone a sweet Valentine's Day and um along with Ramadan a happy Chinese New Year um as we celebrate the year of the horse. Okay, great. Thank you. Thanks for the sound effects. Amanda,

I wanted to um congratulate Michael Houndshell on joining the Orange Village Police Department, which of course is the best department around and helping to keep our mic to Joyce ratio. Um I already had somebody already gave me a chance, you know, bagel wanted to thank the covering of the fire hydrants. It was really appreciated. And um when as far as the resilience committee um we are still going to be meeting on the second Tuesday of the month and we had a conversation yesterday. The committee was very big yesterday. there were two of us um about how if we can get when the village hall and I know that's you know a ways out whatever is starts is reimagined um and if we can get solar panels for the village it would be a large purchase and maybe as part of that there's possibly the opportunity for residents to join in on that buy so that to help decrease the cost because it's a very expensive um thing and So, just a thought that maybe we can make this help the rest of the village as well, not just village hall. Um, as far as the charter review committee, um, it's really interesting stuff, at least to me. Uh, if any residents have any suggestions, you know, you can look at the charter. It's online. It's available. Um, if you have any suggestions, please tell anyone on council and we'll pass it along. You can also show up to the meetings to listen. They are on the uh second and fourth Monday of the month.

Amanda, we'll go on to you, Kim. Thank you. Um, I just want to uh thank Anna for your hard work on these um flyers that will be going out for the women's self-defense workshop on June 4th at 6 o'clock and the fire safety training um the safety training which is going to cover um also uh stop the bleed. It's not a CPR course, but it is it will be helpful information that anyone and everyone really should should have. So, the um the two flyers will be going out. I guess we'll have them on the website or can we put put them on the website is Yeah, maybe we can include them in the flyer or something. I don't know. All right. So, we'll get those out. That'd be great. Kowanas does have a meeting on Wednesday the 18th at 7 PM at the Orange Senior Center. And um surprised my two buddies over there didn't say that, but uh please consider Kuanas just does so many wonderful things for our um really for everybody and we do things even internationally, but we we really do a lot um locally uh to help especially our kids and I just think it's it's a great organization to be involved in. And um I think that is it. I'm sure I'll think of something later, but we're good for now. uh six self-defense will start at 6 pm on June 4th and um the safety and stop the bleed will start on also at 6 pm on Thursday April 2nd. Um so those are the two things and then obviously the space is limited for both but if there are more people that are interested we'll hopefully the the goal is to sort of you know offer these again. And I think it's good for for our for our residents to have these. And then just one last uh thing, don't forget if uh someone is having issues with um mental health and

crisis, uh star 988 is a great uh resource for everybody to have. So please utilize it. And the first call, I think first call is coming along. Um I'm surprised Jud didn't have that in his announcements or maybe maybe he did last. No, he wasn't here last week. Um, but the first call program is moving along and moving forward with Orange as part of it. Um, so it's a it's a wonderful um program that we're going to have. I'm very excited that that's going to be um coming to our our village. Mr. Bole, you're up.

Just briefly, one um on the charter review the I did they did up uh set up their schedules and I think they're meeting the is it the first and third or second? second and fourth Mondays, which I think getting a set schedule will be very helpful. Um, two, I don't know if anyone mentioned Scott Lewis, but he's running the chair, and um, you know, it's always easy to blend in on the committee. You can appreciate this, Lisa. It's harder to run it. Um, and I I I give him a lot of credit. Scott's a a a true gentleman in all sense of the word and and is will do a really good job of it. And, um, finally, just wishing the mayor good luck and God speed in his recovery. meeting tonight. Do I have a motion to adjurnn that motion?

You want to second it? Thank you. Um Anna, will you call the role? Bilski, yes. Foster, Vincent,

Boille, yes. Perry, yes. Thank you everybody.