Council - Regular Meeting

Yeah, it is 6:30. I'll call this meeting of the St. Mary City Council to order. Roll call, please. Cup here. London here. Fitzgerald here. Squro here. Gillan here. Please rise. Join Pastor J.

Heavenly Father, we uh again come before you this evening. Father, I pray for uh this council. I pray that for the decisions uh be made for this city Lord that it would be uh the right uh decisions to be made Lord. So I just pray over this meeting pray that you protect them. I also as this week is law enforcement appreciation week Lord I just pray over the law enforcement and St. Mary's and surrounding communities all law enforcement Lord that you would protect them as they perform their duties. Lord, we thank you for for them to keep peace in in our uh communities. Also pray for all the first responders as well and that you would keep them safe, Lord. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Please join me in the pledge. I pledge algiance 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.

You all received a copy of the minutes of the last meeting. Are there any questions or comments? With time, may I have a motion to accept, please? Mr. Buff, Mr. Cannon, all those who accept, please. Mr. Coral. No. Oh, yes. Mr. Coral, you change. You want to change your vote? Yeah, it was just Okay. All yeses there. Thank you.

Thanks for the petitions communication. Let's permit a transfer from SBA realy to Patrick Pride Market. Uh which is just a name change. It it is and it's just under new ownership but there's no issues according to Chief Turkey. Okay. Thank you. Uh this is being under petitions communications. This is where we invite members of the audience to address council. Does anyone wish to address audience? Sir, please just give us your name, where you live, and my name is Dakota Humphrey. I live at 925. Okay. With the address right now. Yeah, that's fine.

Okay. So, I'd like to bring before the council. I know we don't have anything about data centers right now, but there's a lot of data centers popping up all over Ohio. Right now, we have 88 counties. There's about 80 planned throughout Ohio right now. Um, I just like to bring a few points up. Um, the environment is direct statewide destruction of ex existing ecology and an indirect unknown and unnowledgeable long-term impacts, permanent non-natural industrial presences and waste, massive water and resource consumption. It also emits a lot of noise for those who live around it. We live above the uh eerie watershed and it also concludes that the economy will almost certainly have higher energy bills perhaps short-term jobs but long-term subjection to green mega corporate community draining interests. Three, it's uh our infrastructure increased risk of energy consumption. We already have an issue with sometimes with our uh city infrastructure power going out. um it would just add more overload, blackouts and and increased strain on an already strained system. Data privacy amplications of big tech's ability to collect, control and exploit our data privacy with the hyperscale data centers should likewise amplify these already long-standing concerns and society. Artificial intelligence does not seem to be making us any better as a society. Things feel more tense, stressed, squeezed, and uncertain than ever. It's highly unlikely that super boosting AI will somehow completely reverse the course. Logic suggests that we will become more tense, stressed, squeezed, and uncertain.

And that's all I have. Okay. Thank you, sir. Uh, can we have that? Yeah. So, I I I did a little investigation.

Thank you, Jim. I did a little investigation because Dakota emailed me. I didn't know much about data centers really too much. Um, what I read was the majority of them right now there's like 160 in Ohio. We're fifth in the nation and uh there's 40 more projected to be built here soon. They're mostly around the bigger cities, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus. Dakota was asking if we could have an ordinance not to allow one. And I got to think about it and thought we don't really have any land within the city that I don't think we that anything could go in.

Yeah, we share his concerns. We don't we don't think that our administration's opinion that they're good for our area. We have the same concerns. I know that they typically are located around big cities, but Zach shared an article with us. Uh they're moving to the smaller communities because we have the land that's available. We have the resources that they're looking for. we have cheap land and other things and they don't create a lot of jobs. They don't need a big workforce. So, and I share with Mr. Aquero that there could be some wisdom in passing a moratorum for 18 or 24 months. The mayor and I have talked about this for a long time now. We just really don't see any benefit in having a data center in town or even close that could draw from our water supply.

The articles that I've read, they refer to them as a giant soda straw. They will suck the life out of a community. I've read articles already where a suburb and Columbus, they're already requiring the residents to take shorter showers to conserve water for these data centers. And I think it's just going to make life miserable for individuals in in the long run. So I agree with I don't think they're good for our community. Would it would it be to our benefit or his benefit to talk to Olay County? That was my next step. Uh, I was going to try to go to the county and try to see if moving forward with that.

I don't think it hurts to talk to anybody. I and I, again, it's council's decision how they wish to proceed, but um, we have not been contacted by any folks in the data center business um because we have a a tremendous water supply might be on their target. So, like I said, maybe there is wisdom in having a moratorum just to learn more about it. I know recently that fan work went through a process. Um, and I believe that they're moving forward with it. Um, I think they got a lot of stakeholders involved, gave them a seat at the table. They did a lot of exploring. I believe they went to New Albany. Um, and some of them they converted some of them to think that this is a good thing. I don't know. I I just think we need more time to look at it. But from everything we read right now, for every article that supports data centers, you can find 10 articles that say they're terrible for the community.

I I have my reservations. Uh Mr. Frell, is there anything out there for uh a resolution? Yeah, there's been a lot of uh moratoriums passed certainly gone around the law director list serve. So I can draft something if that's council's wishes. I would motion take them or motion for that to happen. You know, motion by Mr. uh we don't need we don't need the motion necessarily. Okay. If council wishes to have a committee meeting, we could present it there. Or if council just wishes for me to draft something, then I can present it. Um and you guys could vote on it then. Okay. I think the only thing that needs to be determined is how long do you want it into effect?

How long do you guys need? I I would think 18 to 24 months would give us time. right now. I I don't want to say that for for ever we would want nothing to do with them, but we need time. Let other communities guinea pig on this. And I would I would talk to the county and I or I would go to these other communities, their council meetings, they all have them, okay? And even the township meetings and say, "Look, these aren't good for our community. Um we've struggled with it to find any good in it and we just we just don't see it. There's no income tax because they're not man." I'm thinking a moratorum. That's correct.

And no time limit. If the situation changes, we can always come back with a resolution to resend that moratorum. Then have to have a time frame on the I'll have to look into that. And it's my understanding that there has to be a time frame. That's what moratorum means. Essentially have to set a temporary moratorum as long as you can to comply. Yeah. Yep. what you guys think. I think that the what Mr. Fox said 18 to 24 months allows other people that to have it. I don't

uh I'm I'm not for it at all, but to just say, you know, in perpetuity like we can always extend it. We can always extend it to two years. Is is there one being considered in Shelby County somewhere? I believe so. I think they already have one in Sydney. I believe Yeah, it's already I believe you. Don't quote me 100%, but I remember hearing about it months ago. I I think it is happening in Sydney. And it's my understanding that Van Ward I don't know if it's the city or the county is moving forward. It's my Eric, you're familiar with it. I think they set aside like 900 acres or something. I remember I don't know if they were interested in the whole all of it. All of it.

I'll just put this out there. Whenever they build one, usually they build a cluster around the whole thing, too. So, I can imagine over years that that will fully get to them. Yeah. Okay. That being the case, may I see a show of hands to direct the law director to come up with a resolution for a moratorum? I'm I'm thinking as long as possible, we can always resend it. Y I agree with you, Jim. May I see a show of hands, please? Okay. Thank you, sir. Thank you, council. Thanks, Dakota. You're welcome for bringing that to light.

I want to do what I can myself to try to better the community. I know we all can't all have a little bit to do with it, but everything all us can do together will help. Absolutely. I' I've had my resation. Yeah. I've been uh a little bit in contact with one person that's over in Mercer County trying to get a petition passed over there right now. Okay. Okay. Thank you, sir.

Welcome. Uh, anyone else wishing to address council? That being the case, we'll go down to reports of city officials. We have the mayor's report. Mayor Herbert, I have no additions or corrections to my report, but I want to bring to your attention the uh invitation that was sent to council members from the American Legion Post in reference to the Memorial Day parade. Um, according to the invitation, the golf carts will be provided. we won't have to chase them down like we did last year to make sure we have enough golf carts. They'll be provided. Uh the gathering, the lineup begins at 9:00. The parade at 9:30 and then the uh memorial service will take place in Elm Grove at at 10:00. But if you're able to attend, I'm sure they would appreciate it. I would as well. Thank you. Any questions or comments for council?

Okay. Next, we have tax commissioners report. Uh Mr. Terrace only to add that April as usual was a good month for us. Any questions or comments from council? Next we have the director public service and safety report. Mr. Fox.

Uh Mr. just a few dates and events I'd just like to remind council of. So Thursday the 14th will be our first tour of the safety building. We'll go through the police and fire side of police and fire um park wherever we can find. We'll start with the police and then we'll end with the fire. That's at 5:00 Thursday the 14th. As as Pastor Gilmore indicated that this is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Week. It started yesterday. It goes through Saturday. So, anything you can do or just a simple thank you would be appreciated by them. Saturday the 16th is Armed Forces Day. That's a day that we show our appreciation to active duty military members. That's their day. Um, the legislative breakfast is Friday, May 22nd. It's a chamber event uh from 8:30 to 10:30. The tickets are $25. It's open to the public. I believe Mr. Aguero is uh providing the food. Yes.

So, that's that's worth going just for that. Last year it was excellent. Uh the speakers are good. The mayor will be there, superintendent, uh and some others. So, that's uh Friday, May 22nd. Just contact Angie Chamber and she'll get you taken care of. As of the close of business today, we had 576 customers sign up for the senior discount. Uh so that's about 18% of our customer base town uh refugees customers. And then last Friday was kind of the unofficial uh opening of our museum. That was the first uh visitors that we had. It was the third graders. We had seven groups. Um there's a lot of work to do yet. Uh but we are moving forward. We have five display cases up there now. Um it was kind of a a lot of work at the last few days, but we got it done for the classes. Um after the council meeting, if you'd like, we can go up there and just take a look around. Uh there's still a tremendous amount of work to do. We're still trying hard to get the word out. Uh we participated in the chocolate walk Friday. Uh although there was only 39 folks who came through, there was a small handful who had no idea what the museum was. And so Kim and I have talked and others, the mayor, trying to figure out how do we get the word out there that this museum is there and we're simply trying to honor our local veterans.

I'm sorry. Oh, then that I'll be glad to answer any questions after the mayor talks. If I could add one of the things that the museum wanted to do is a lot of people wanted to make donations to the museum, but they wanted to actually have some eyes on what are you guys going to do and how you going to display it. So this will give them an opportunity to come put some eyes on what's going to happen. Obviously, it's in the beginning stages, but at least they have a visual of what the museum could potentially be. So, the display cabinets were made, and they're not they're not ornate oak fancy display cases. You can't stick army equipment from the wars in fancy cabinets. These are more of an industrial look. So, don't be shocked when you see them. That's exactly the way we wanted them to look.

So, after the meeting, we can shoot up there and take a look at it if you'd like. Okay? But otherwise, I'm I'm available to answer any questions you might have. Hey, I do have one. We're in uh we're into the downtown phase three, and I don't think I've ever seen any of the drawings or anything like that. Is is that available to us? Yes, it is. We've had open houses, but yes, we can get that out to you. Well, or I can stop up and they're still they're still taking comments from some of the some of the business owners. So, yeah, just just stop up. Okay, we'll do any other questions. Yes, sir. Um, you let us say who's interested in that 32 acres on McKinley to expand.

Um, at at this point, we're not comfortable talking about the company at a public meeting. Be glad to tell you privately. Um, there's just a long ways to go. I don't know that we get there. I just simply wanted to make you aware of it and also to put that information out there that that 32.2 2 acres is for sale. Um, we are meeting tomorrow with our consultant to discuss some of it in more detail and then we have a meeting set up then with them on Thursday. Um, I don't know I I just don't I just don't think it's going to happen. Um, I don't know that it's in our best interest right now and so we're just doing our due diligence.

Any other questions council? I did fly over to town this morning. I see the keel drive is moving along rather nicely. There's one is done is done. One looks done but doesn't have any cloud now. And I got a funny feeling the third house I saw. We might be able to move in next week sometime.

Yeah. Yeah. They're there. It's good to see the the progress. We've had some complaints just about the congestion on the road. I know police department is working hard to keep the road open. Um, we want to be known as an administration that's friendly to developers, that there's a lot of construction trailers out there and we've asked them to either park on one side or at least park them off each other. You know, right now they got them side by side that's very narrow going through. And so the police department is is is keeping an eye on it. Our engineering folks have been out there to talk to the contractor to say, "Look, you know, and also to keep the the construction debris off the road. It's always there seems to always be dirt and stone and gravel on there." So we're I mean progress is good and u but I think they can do a better job keeping the road clean and clear so traffic can get through.

Okay. Thank you. Yes sir. On the report Greg, but we had last week I think it was we had the report that there was a spill that was maybe coming through the river or the canal and being diverted. Any issues or any problems with that after the fact? I know right now that we're not involved in any of it. I know that Troy Anderson uh is involved. He also has the Ohio EPA, ODNR, and some other folks involved in it. Uh it involved a farmer north of town. Um some of the farming practices south of town. South Yeah. South of town, north of Great. I'm sorry.

Y I got lost in my thoughts. Um so yes, thank you. Um and so there's some corrective measures that need to take place. I I haven't received a briefing from Troy lately. I can talk to him tomorrow. Um but it moved through our area kind of unbeknownst to anybody. Um ODNR was cooperative. We were able to shut down a treatment train to protect it from any of the solids moving through. Um we also worked with ODNR and the canal folks in the Ohio EPA. We were able to shut down the feed to the canal. It was all diverted to the river which you knew was up and kind of raging and so it helped move it through town a lot quicker. Um the mayor was there looking at it and you know he's our water guy and you couldn't tell really. There was no appearance. Um there was really no smell. It's my understanding that the farmer andor the applicator that was responsible for it. It's my understanding that they overloaded the field. uh the weather conditions weren't favorable and they knew that and so that there are consequences for that. Um it's my understanding as well that the fish kill had they have been counted and that they're going to be held responsible for that as well.

Okay. Thank you. Uh did are you able to talk about the sewer backup

on Dorothy? Um I can a little bit. Um so we had to have a rate event. We had some folks unfortunately uh experienced sewer backup on Dorothy Lane. Dorothy runs, it's a north, yes, it's a north south road that runs between Hillrest and Gordon Grove. Uh it affected both sides of the road. Um our sewer line was clean and looked good. We've worked through our insurance provider. Um right now, because there was really no negligence on our part, um our insurance provider has indicated that we should not be responsible for any of it. that information has been uh conveyed to the the property owners that have been affected. Um I was down there that day when they were TV the the sewer line and um there was a large root ball that was stuck into a tab. So our main goes down our main sewer line goes down the middle of the road and their laterals come from the house to our main. Well to make that connection is what's called a tap. We make that and they their plumbers tapped into that. Well, one of the taps had a very large root ball in it and that root ball had grown into our sewer main which caused the blockage. We were able to get in there. We we saw it with our camera system. They were able to get in there with the high powered vector that jetted it out with high pressure water. So, they got it cleared. Um I think they are still investigating it. Our concern was that the roof wall was that big in in the tap, you you had to been experiencing some plumbing issues. So, the thought was maybe it was an abandoned tap. If someone relocated their plumbing or did whatever, they might have established a new one. And so, we're looking at that. But, um, you know, we're going to follow the advice of our insurance provider. Uh, they indicated that there was no sign of neglect on the city's part. Um the fact that some of these folks have indicated that they've been there 25, 30 years and have never experienced

uh a situation like this is evident that there was no neglect on our part. Um it's it's unfortunate and we feel bad that it happened. Um but it did and so that's what we have insurance for. Um they'll have to go through their insurance carrier to figure out how to get it resolved. Okay. So our practice, you read in my report every two weeks, you know, they TV the sewer lines. uh they jet the sewer lines. Uh we have a schedule of every five years of doing that. I'm not sure where this particular section, this Dorothy Lane fell in that 5-year uh program. Uh but I certainly can find that out, but I just know that we were not negligent and therefore we are not financially responsible for any of it. Okay. Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome. Okay. Anyone else? Yeah. Um I can't remember when was the project out there the mill out there by Kroger's supposed to be complete and active. Are we anticipating trucks this year? Next year? No, I think it's and the rest of the administration folks can help me. I think it actually is not going to be open for business until maybe next fall. Got I believe Mike, does that sound right? So

I I think and I can follow up on that too. We we did receive the study back um the final study for the for the traffic survey at that intersection. Um we are currently reviewing it. Uh we have set up a time to talk with township trustees uh to get their input. We've also set up a a time to meet with uh our county engineer. Um, right now ODOT is saying that based on what they anticipate with the increase in truck traffic, they're not recommending any major changes in that intersection. Um, they did, however, offer to help us financially on McKinley Road. Uh, McKinley Road of course tease into or 66 there. The north side of that, they're saying that we could push that back north further. The concern is with the trucks leaving the mill as they get in that turn lane, that left turn lane to go south, some call it turn lane, some call storage lane, some call a stacking lane. Right now it's only designed to hold one semitr. And so the thought is because that road kind of narrows is to push it further north and we have the ability to do that with the easement. That way that storage lane can now hold two semi trucks and trailers. Um otherwise they're going to block the traffic and you couldn't, you know, the regular traffic that's going, you know, across the intersection into Fort Drive or going north. They won't be able to move. So the state has indicated that they're willing to help us with it. It's about $100,000 improvement, but I think our engineering department wants to make sure they get through all the details of the report. They want to make sure that Noble Township and the county engineer are in agreement on all these changes. Anybody else?

Moving on. Then we have no reports of city uh from city council. Uh readings of ordinance resolution. We have no third readings and second reading. We have resolution 12607 an emergency resolution opposing end Ohio's request to increase distribution rates and requesting the proposed utilities commission of Ohio deny the request. Any questions or comments from council? If not, this will be backwards reading at the next meeting. Under new legislation, we have ordinance number 202606. May read, please. Mr. Aquar, Mr. Gillan, council vote to read, please. All yeses. Ordinance 2026 and authorizing and directing the mayor to enter into a partnership agreement with Always County, Ohio for the submission of the county's fiscal year 2026 community housing impact preservation chip program grant application and declaring emergency. Mr. Fox,

Mr. Harris, I'm good to defer Mr. Ber. So back in 2024, council passed a similar uh resolution ordinance that authorized us to partner with the city of Aleta in Augs County to apply for a million dollars in chip funding. What that funding goes towards is low-income um homeowners who have improvements they need for their homes. It's also expanding to owners of trailer homes. So this allows us to leverage more money to help uh those low-inccome homeowners make need repairs. It could be roofing, plumbing, HVAC, um any kind of handicap ADA compliant accessibility. So, this is something that again, this is the second time we've done this, and it's just something that we think will benefit the community and is pretty much a no-brainer. And we really just hope that more people take advantage of the program. There's a lot of paperwork that goes into it. There's a lot of income verification that goes into it. I think often times people think that it's too good to be true, but the money is really there. it's out there and we just want people to take advantage of the program.

And and the ones that do participate, folks need to know is that that information is kept private. They do require some financial disclosures um because they don't want you to have $100,000 at the bank and then they're giving you a free roof. And so, but we got to find a way to promote the program. It's a good program. The Rock has used it a couple times. It's it's it's good. So, we got to figure out how to promote it. How do we convince these people that their information is safe? that is given to the county and then they can get this work done. So, so the breakdown is $400,000 for all county and $300,000 for each of the cities. Any questions or comments from council?

If not, this will be back for it second meeting at the next meeting is closing. We need to reschedu May 25th regular council meeting unless you want to come here during uh Memorial Day. Anybody got any ideas?

No, Tuesday's good. You can't do Tuesday. How about Wednesday? How's Wednesday? How about you, Jim? I'm retired. I can meet anybody.

All right. So, may I have a uh a motion to move the May 25th meeting to May 27th? Mr. Aquaro, Mr. Fitzgerald, council vote to move Jim, that's at 6:30. I'll be at 6:30. Okay.

Oh, yes. that down. Next, I have a May I have a motion to excuse Mr. Luns and Miss Slater, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Aquaro, council vote to excuse Mr. Luns and Mr. Mr. LS and Miss Slater. All yeses. Is there anything else come before councel? Mr. B. Motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn by Mr. Buff. Second by Mr. Buchanan. Council vot please. All yes. We're done. I love it over the