City Commission - Regular Meeting

You know what I mean? Yeah. That's Welcome to the March 9th, 2026 meeting of the Sunduski City Commission. An invocation will be offered by Commissioner Wadington followed by the pledge of allegiance. God our father, as we gather for this meeting this evening, give us the guidance and wisdom to make the proper decisions. Amen. Amen. Amen. to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Am I the first? Miss Myers, will you please call the role? Miss Fargo. Mr. Wington here. Miss Wilson

here. Mr. Coons here. Mr. Crrael here. Mr. Bjo, Mr. Tucker. Yes. Can we get a motion to excuse Miss Vargo and Mr. PJO? I'll move that we excuse uh Commissioners Vargo and Pujo for the for this meeting. Second. Motion in a second. Miss Myers, we call the role.

Miss Fargo. Mr. Wington. Yes. Miss Wilson. Yes. Mr. Coons. Yay. Mr. Crarael Mr. Tucker. Yes. Okay. We will now accept nominations for the chair prom to run tonight's meeting. I'll make a motion for chair promp tonight be commissioner crab. Is there a second? Motion in a second. Is there any other nominations? Miss. Myers. Will we call the role please? Mr. Wington? Yes. Miss Wilson? Yes. Mr. Coons? Yay. Mr. Crrael? Yay. Mr. Tucker?

Yes. Um, I declare that Mr. CrarAel gets the votes and uh, welcome and uh, Chair Prom, it's your meeting. It was a close vote. Um, do I have a motion to approve the minutes? So move. Second. Any objections? Hearing no objections. Motion passes. Uh, we move to public hearings. Uh, anyone who would like to address the commission on the agenda, uh, you have three minutes and if you would please state your name and address.

Mr. President, Tim Schwang, 362 Sheffield way. Just a couple of observations and a couple of questions on the agreements for Dina G. Going back to the 2025 agreement. It looks like in 2025 the municipal accounts which is all of our city buildings etc etc was for a 12-month period. And then of course everybody else which is res residential and small businesses. It was for 14 months under the new agreement on the agenda for today. It's flip-flopped. The city government um accounts are for 24 months and my mine is only for 18 months. And I'm just wondering too as this was negotiated, why is it that fewer accounts with the city which I believe is 125 127 is almost two points lower than the thousands of people thousands of accounts residential and business is two points higher. That seems a little bit backwards too. You would think that through bulk purchase that the residents and the businesses would get a better rate than 125 city accounts. I I don't know who negotiated these these, but if anybody here that was in negotiations with that, maybe we can get an answer for that. Also, I'm just curious. This is from me. I'm curious if we pay Buckeye Energy brokers any amount to broker what is supposed to be the best the best rate uh every time we have these aggregation agreements. Thank you. Is there anyone else? Then we will close the audience participation. Um do I have a motion to accept all the communications that have been received? So moved.

Second. Any objections? Hearing no objections. Uh that motion is approved. Uh we move on to the consent agenda. Uh Miss Meyers, would you like to present that, please?

Number A, liquor license transfer of ownership for Sunduski Drive-Thru LLC. Item B, which is a second reading, is approval to amend section 549.16 of the codified ordinances. Item C, approval of yard waste collection services for calendar year 2026 with Hi-Chei. Item D, permission to dispose of unneeded sandstone slabs. Item E, approval of submerged land lease for 1409 Cedar Point Road. Item F, approval of submerge land lease for 1401 Cedar Point Road. Item G, approval of replacement encroachment license for 217 and 223 Westwater Street, the Kilborn.

Commissioners, what is your pleasure? Uh, Mr. Chairman, I move to accept the consent agenda A through G either ordinance or resolutions as presented with section 14 of the city charter. Second. We have a motion and a second. Questions or comments from any of the commission? Mr. Chair. Yes.

Um I just wanted to get an explanation, you know, for the public's benefit for um item B [clears throat] and that's on the um 549-16 Yeah, weapons commissioner. That was uh drafted and presented by the law department uh with my review. So, I would defer to the law director if you will, please. Okay.

Yeah, sure. Um that is to make our ordinances more consistent with Ohio law. Uh Ohio law forbids us from doing anything on guns and now knives. So, we amended our codified ordinances to be consistent with that. Our ordinances also in the past had outlawed things like pepper spray and and tear gas. And I guess the consensus was that we'd rather people carry since you're allowed to carry a gun or a knife without our permission. I guess we'd rather you had tear gas or pepper spray. Right. Right. Thank you. I appreciate that. I think the public would appreciate knowing that. Thank you.

Anything else, commissioners? Then Miss Myers, would you pull the commission on the motion, please? Mr. Wington, yes. Miss Wilson, yes. Mr. Coons, yay. Mr. Crrael, yay. Mr. Tucker, yes. And now on the uh resolutions and ordinances, Mr. Wington, yes. [clears throat] Miss Wilson, yes. Mr. Coons, yay. Mr. Crabel, yes. Mr. Tucker, yes. Miss Myers, would you please on the regular agenda uh give us item number one?

It is requested an ordinance be passed amending part 15 fire prevention code chapter 1505 registration of vacant commercial and industrial buildings of the codified ordinances in the manner and way specifically set forth here and below. This is a first reading. Commission. What is your pleasure? Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. I move for the adoption of this ordinance to uh pass at first reading. I'll second.

We have a motion and a second. I think this would be an opportunity if any of the commissioners had questions or comments. If not, Miss Meyers, would you please pull the commission on the motion? Mr. Wington, yes. Miss Wilson, yes. Mr. Coons, yay. Mr. Crabel, Mr. Tucker, yes. [snorts] And now on the uh ordinance, Mr. Wington, yes. Miss Wilson, yes. Mr. Coons, Mr. Crra, Mr. Tucker, yes. [snorts]

Miss Myers, if you would. Item number two. It is requested a resolution be passed authorizing and directing the city manager to enter into a mutual aid agreement with Ohio Water Wastewater Agency Response Network to share resources and assist in the event of emergencies that disrupt utility services and declaring this resolution shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Do we have a motion on this, Mr. Chairman? Yes. I move for the adoption of the ordinance as presented and in full accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Are there any comments or questions on this? Um I would just note that for the public's benefit um that this is the same kind of um mutual aid agreement that both our police and fire have with surrounding police and fire agencies. Uh but in this instance uh it is for uh water and wastewater uh should there be any kind of emergency that would pop up. So Miss Myers, would you please pull the commission on the motion? Yes. Mr. Wington. Miss Wilson. Yes. Mr. Coons. Yay. Mr. Crabel. Yay. Mr. Tucker.

Yes. And now uh on the resolution. Mr. Wington. Yes. Miss Wilson. Yes. Mr. Coons. Yay. Mr. Crrael. Yay. Mr. Tucker. Yes. Miss Miss Myers, if you would please. Item number three. It is requested a resolution be passed declaring the necessity for the city to proceed with the proposed 2026 sewer lining project approving the specifications and engineers [clears throat] estimate of costs thereof and directing the city manager to advertise for and receive bids in relation thereto and declaring this resolution shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Commissioners, what is your pleasure, Mr. Chair?

Yes, sir. Move for approval of this resolution under item three in full accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Is there a second? Second. Have a motion and a second. Any comments or questions? Mr. Chairman, I talked to John and Freddy about this is sleeving the significant amount of money that we save by doing the sleeves versus digging up holes and putting in laying new pipe. So, it's got a big cost savings.

Yes. And it's very beneficial for infiltration and that into the system. So um we try to uh use our funds as uh often as we can for this just like other communities like Erie County uses the same process. It's a very uh cost-effective uh approach to uh getting our sewer lines uh in good shape. So we appreciate uh having the funds to do that.

Any other comments or questions? I would just note that uh there has been historically or have been historically um some issues uh with our waste water uh on the east side of town. Uh and I trust that this is a step in the direction of solving that. In other words, keeping storm water out of the wastewater uh flow. So, uh, hopefully that will be, uh, to everyone's benefit. Anything else? Miss. Myers, if you would on, um, would you please pull the commission on the motion? Yes. Mr. Wington? Yes. Mrs. Wilson? Yes. Mr. Coons? Yay. Mr. Crrael? Yay.

Mr. Tucker? Yes. And now on the resolution. Mr. Wington? Yes. Miss Wilson? Yes. Mr. Coons? Yay. Mr. Crabel. A. Mr. Tucker. Yes. Miss Myers, if you would. Item number four. It [snorts] is requested an ordinance be passed authorizing and directing the city manager to enter into an agreement with Dery Energy Services East LLC of Irving, Texas for electric service for the city's electric accounts for a period of 24 months beginning in June 2026 and declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Commissioners, what is your pleasure on this? Mr. Chair,

chairman. Yep. Yes, Mr. Wink. I move the adoption of this ordinance under suspension of the full accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Second. It's been a motion in a second. Mr. Orzac, would you like to address the questions that were raised?

Yes. So, um the uh as far as item number four, I'll address that and um item five together because they're both uh interrelated, so to speak. So, um, item four is all of our, um, big, uh, [clears throat] accounts and small accounts. We have about 124 accounts. Um, you know, all the plants and all of our facilities. So, um, last year we were only in one year, as Mr. Schwanker mentioned, and, uh, the costs have gone up considerably, as everyone knows. We only got into a one-year agreement last year. Um we're when uh they broker the accounts, they get bids from uh different energy u folks. They give a 12 month, an 18month, and a 24month rate um for each of those. Um we picked the 24-month because it was the cheapest and um best out of all of the bids that came in for um item number four. Similarly, with item number five, it's the same process. Um our broker has to uh file filings with PUCO with um uh mailings um which are required um keep track of the um opt out program. Um there's also uh request for bids for that and uh Michelle and I got those bids in the um 18month was the best rate and uh by the you know companies that were submitted. So, um that's why we're recommending that. Um as a caveat, uh anyone is can opt out of this program if it's not the cheapest. Um I would encourage folks to um shop around and if they get better rates, then they obviously should do that. the uh we took a gander at a website today to compare and there's a lot of uh rates uh throughout the system that are um very close and similar to the rate that uh is

being um proposed here and we won't know until the close of business is it today Michelle if approved then we can lock in the the agreement tomorrow.

Okay. So um you know it fluctuates all the time. So we'll get the you know whatever the rate is at that time. But um these were the bids that came in um through that process. And uh um like I said every their gas is the same way. We um know people are frustrated um with that as everyone is. But uh we don't control um those commodities and uh I would say um you know even even the city accounts are um less the taxpayers are still paying the bills and uh we're fortunate because the bills for our our [clears throat] buildings and um infrastructure are quite large. I think uh we had to budget what $100,000 uh extra last year um because of the electric that had gone up from the prior year in 24 to 25. So um pay a lot of money, but the taxpayers are obviously funding that. So for us to get a rate, it's not benefiting, you know, me or Michelle or anybody here. It's to benefit the taxpayers to um get the best rate possible. So

may I ask a quick followup? the inversion that uh uh Mr. Schwanger uh addressed, in other words, that the city is getting a better rate than what the what the public rate is. We don't have a control of that. It's what the bids are when they come in. Am I correct? That's correct. Okay. Any other questions or comments from the commission? Miss Myers, would you please pull the commission? Yes. Mr. Wington, yes. Miss Wilson, yes. Mr. Coons, yay. Mr. Crabel, Mr. Tucker, yes. And now on the ordinance. Mr. Wington, yes. Miss Wilson, yes. Mr. Coons, yay. Mr. Crabel, Mr. Tucker,

yes. And now, Miss Myers, if you would. Item number five. It is requested an ordinance be passed authorizing and directing the city manager to enter into a second amendment to the master agreement with Dergy Energy Services LLC of Irving, Texas to provide electricity to both residential and small commercial customers within the city of Sunduski's aggregation program in declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Commissioners, what is your pleasure on this? Mr. Chairman. Yes. I move for the adoption of the ordinance as presented and in full accordance with section 14 of the city charter.

Second. The second. The second. [clears throat] Questions or comments. Hearing none. Missy, if you would, would you please pull the commission on the motion? Mr. Wington. Yes. Miss Wilson. Yes. Mr. Coons. Yay. Mr. Crrael. Yay. Mr. Tucker. Yes. And now on the underlying ordinance. Mr. Wington, yes. Miss Wilson, yes. Mr. Coons, yay. Mr. Crrael. Yay. Mr. Tucker, yes. And that finishes the items on the agenda. Uh, we now move to the manager's report. Mr. Orzac,

thank you. Um, we have a number of donations. The, uh, park and recck would like to thank Debbie McInness for donating a karaoke machine. Um, Mike Petrick for donating $20 to the Midtown Supper Club. Uh, Sunduski Kroger for donating 20 cases of water to the Midtown Supper Club. And Park View Community for donating musical instruments, black history banners, and signs for use at Mills. If I get a motion to accept those donations. So moved. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Are there any objections? Hearing no objections. That motion passes. I have one more donation from Allied Data Center for once again sponsoring our Movies by the Bay series for the summer of 2026. Sponsorship totals $5,000 and includes eight uh screenings of family-friendly movies each Monday from June 8th through August 3rd. Get a motion to accept that donation. So move. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any objections? Hearing no objections, that motion passes.

The uh city was recently recognized with two awards. The American Council of Engineer Companies of Ohio awarded a 2026 Engineering Excellence Award to the Columbus Avenue Improvements Project and the Ohio City and County Management Association recognize the city and the Jackson Street Pier redevelopment with a 2026 redevelopment project award. Uh the code compliance division went live on March 5th with new software from Govwell. The first phase of utilizing the software is for tracking complaints, inspections, and compliance for housing, trash, and uh grass mowing complaints. The public will be able to enter complaints online that will generate a record for code compliance to investigate. Soon, we'll be utilizing the software for long-term and short-term transient rental registration. BSNA will still be used for some existing registrations and complaint investigations, but we'll be migrating data from BSNA to Govwell system in the coming weeks. For finance, the deadline to file 2025 municipal income tax returns is April 15th. All individuals and businesses can utilize the regional income tax agency's website, www.reda.com. The city recently had a rating call with Moody's prior to the issuance of bonds for the city's rec center. The paramount of the general bond obligation bonds will be $9 million. The city received an A1 rating today from Moody's. The rating is considered an upper medium grade investment with high quality and low risk, low credit risk. This rating should lead to favorable interest rates. The bond sale is scheduled to be completed by the end of March. When the sale is finalized, we'll communicate the results. Uh the public works with projects ramping up as the weather improves. Stay updated on the various projects as they progress by visiting www.c cityofosofuski.com/projects. The Cedar Point uh drive water line project is about to begin installing water mane under the roadway of Cedar

Point Drive north of First Street, which is private property. Construction representatives have advised us that the roadway will be fully opened through traffic prior to the park opening in May. There will be a subsequent phase of work addressing the bridges and roadway once the park closes this fall. Um that concludes my report. Happy to answer any questions that you have.

Thank you, Mr. Orzac. Anyone? Well, then uh is there any old business to come before the commission? Is there any new business to come before the commission? I don't know if this is under new business, but I attended all the three housing seminars that we had last week and they were very well attended for the most part and I just want to thank our staff. There was a lot of input and they did a lot of writing and a lot of input at those and I thought they were very worthwhile and I hope the citizens that participated felt the same way. I would concur. You were there with Mr. Tucker. I was I was right there with you. Um and um I'm very encouraged. I think I think we're we're moving in the right direction in in all three cases. So, any other new business? Okay, time for audience participation. This is you have five minutes. Uh, we ask only that you give your name and address.

Uh, thank you again. Uh, Tim Schwanger, 362 Sheffield Way. Um, I'm here today to give the commissioners and staff um, a message from the boating community that uses the Seduski Shelby Street boat ramp. I don't know if you guys can all see this or not, but these are the ramps that we put in last year at $2240,000. Uh the ramp, I believe it could be put back together again, like Tinker Toys and and that kind of thing, but it looks like uh for 2026, uh Colleen and the recck department have uh put out RFPs for brand new docks at the actual boat ramp, which is phenomenal. And then we're going to take these, I believe, if I'm correct. Anybody correct me if I'm wrong, please do take these docks and then put them down where the courtesy docks are at, which you know, which that's cool. My only question was, and the question actually I'm getting from the boating community is we're waiting [clears throat] until almost boating voting season technically starts May 1st. This city commission is going to approve that contract on April 13th or 15th, something like that. So, the new whoever gets the contract's going to have to have time to put their stuff together and get it on site. The concern was that this probably should have gone out for proposals probably in January or February so that the work could have started in April and it could have been ready by May 1st. That's the only concern. It's too late now, but I told him I'd share it with I use the boat ramp probably about five times a year pulling my boat in and out of the water. So, I'm still a user, but there's a lot of people that come here from Cleveland, out of town, whether whether they're fishermen, I know there's some go fast boats, I call them Miami Vice Boats [laughter] that come from Cleveland. You know, they come here four or five times a year. They eat here, they, you know, restaurant here. They stay here overnight and then they go to the islands, you know, spend some more money. But that was their concern is

that we should have probably started on this in April, but, you know, it is what it is. But it's it's good to see this is happening. Thank you. Okay.

Greetings everyone. Tom Lark at 20648 Street. Um I didn't plan on speaking but uh Mr. Pujo this is his second meeting that I'm aware of that he's missed and it's only two months three months into the year. That means he's missed half as many meetings I have had have missed. Um hope I'm excused as well. But uh really that should be nipped in the bud here soon. I hope I understand he has full-time position in the uh legal uh services, what have you. But um you know, you run for office, you need to attend the office that you uh run for. That's my only comment. I understand he's a great guy. um my social security only increased like 50 bucks, you know, and now we've got an increase on the trash pickup. We got an increase on the um water bills. We've got an increase on the electric bills. And uh there was something else. Oh, the u the sticks that they pick up at my house went up another two bucks or so a month. Um everybody's grabbed at my 50 bucks and I've got nothing left. So, I can't even get a doers and water. But um seriously though uh let's see if we can get people coming to the meetings public again. [clears throat] Is there anyone else?

Darwin. [clears throat] Uh good afternoon. Still, it's not yet. How's everybody doing? Good. Good. I'm just curious. I after I had a a work situation came up. I meant to get here on time to see how the process was when you didn't have the uh address.

Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you. Dary Gary [laughter] on 315 Decator Street, Susie, Ohio. Thank you. I was curious how was the process worked in picking the president over the persons in charge today since the president and the vice president were both absent. I was just curious how that process worked and like I said I had a work situation come up. I couldn't get here at 5:00 to see.

Yeah, Mr. Garrett, the uh process was similar to what happened when we didn't have [clears throat] a president vice president at the beginning of the year. I started the meeting off. Um the commission nominated Mr. CrarAbel to run the meeting today and they all voted for Mr. CrarAbel to run the meeting. So that was the process. So then if it happens again, maybe Mr. Crarabel or maybe Mr. Tucker or Mrs. Wilson or Mr. White, Mr. Maybe someone else. Okay. Thank you. In other words, we followed the law. [laughter] And I was going to ask that as as close as we can. You did. That's why we have law director. Anyone else? Seeing as how we have no executive sessions, would take a motion for adjournment.

So moved. Second. Motion in