Council - Regular Meeting

It is 5:15. I'll call this meeting of the St. Mary City Council to order. Roll call, please. Here. Lun here. Chrisman here. Children here. Here. Here. Here. All right. Pastor pray.

Let's pray. Almighty God, we thank you uh for what has been this year 2025 and all of the blessings and curses that have come along with it. We thank you for uh just bringing us together as a community, God. I pray your continued blessing upon us as we seek out your will in 2026. We want to thank you uh for your special blessing upon this community. We want to say a very special blessing to the officers and the and the first responders who were involved in the incident uh the day before yesterday. We ask God that we're thankful God that that ended the way it did and thank you for the safety of all involved. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.

Please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance 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.

All received a copy of the minutes of the last meeting. Are there any questions or comments? If not, may I have a motion to accept, please? Mr. Aquero, Mr. I'll vote to accept please Mike. You can get it from there.

All yeses. Thank you. petitions, communications. This is the uh opportunity for people in the audience to address counsel. Does anyone wish to address council at this time? Yes, ma'am.

Hi everyone. Okay. My name is Oh, sorry.

Go ahead. Uh my name is Ashley Miller and earlier in the year my husband and I purchased 150 East Spring Street. Um it's a commercial building with multiple service based clients or tenants. Uh before we closed off the building we were aware of the parking issues on our block. Since we closed, they've become my problem. I filed about 10 complaints with the local PD and code enforcement and we still have the issue of people violating the two-hour parking on our block. I know we're not the only ones with the issue of it happens all downtown. Um, I don't think that we have a parking problem. I think we have a walking problem. And I think what it boils down to is the employees and tenants of downtown businesses or apartments are the ones who tend to violate that most. Um, the current system is not working working. So, I'd like to request a streets and sidewalks committee meeting to see if we can find some other legislation that works. Um, my personal opinion is that the continued violations are a nuisance to those that do abide of it. abide by the parking and I think that maybe there's room to add legislation to match that. Um I would like to even possibly discuss finding the building oders owners in addition to the violators. I think that if you're going to have a downtown business or apartment, your people should be following the local ordinance. It's that simple. Um that's all. Thank you.

Thank you. We'll take it under advisory. Okay. Thank you. Is there anybody else wishing to adjust counsel? Okay, moving on to reports of city officials. We have the audit report, Mr. Ezy. I have no corrections. Any questions or comments from council? Next, we have the treasurer's report. M any questions or comments from council? Next, we have the director of public service and safeties report. Mr. Fox, Mr. Harris, I have nothing to add in my report, but I'm glad to answer any questions. I realize that no one's had checked to see it. Just one quickly. Yes, sir.

I noticed we're hiring two new refugees workers. Is that just a move? We're moving jiggling people. Well, part of it is retirement from John Makers retiring and then we are creating a position that we know will create openly a maintenance position. Okay. Absolutely. Okay. Our assumption is it will end up in solid waste. So, nobody quit. No. Is what I was thinking. No. Anybody else? Yes, sir. Anything to add about the situation at standoff on Wednesday. Anything to add on that?

Um only that we were there to assist uh the sheriff's office. It was basically their show. Um as you know, the sheriff does have jurisdiction in city limits and they had requested last week that we assist them with this uh process. Uh we're glad that it ended the way it did. Uh we were we did everything they asked us to do. So, I don't have any more information than that. Thank you. That makes sense. Can we confirm that based on the recent wind event that the trash cans that got blown down streets did not end up at the city and be recharged and sent back out? We can confirm that. Thank you.

That is a good idea though. I mean, they were to give a notice to paint the numbers on their or somehow the numbers on their Thank you. I'd like to commend you. They've had a couple of rough nights. They've had to deal with some stuff. So, yeah.

Thanks, guys. Any other questions or comments from council? Okay, moving on. We have no reports uh from committees. Under readings of ordinances of the resolutions, we have ordinance 202526, an ordinance authorizing ordinance setting forth for wages and benefits for the fire chief and other fire department employees not represented by collective bargaining agreement. Any questions or comments? If not, this being third reading may have a motion to pass. Mr. Scott, Mr. Chrisman, council vote to pass. All yes. Thank you. Next we have ordinance 202527 emergency or Mr. Ryan for wages and benefits for the city of St. Mary's supervisory personnel and non-representative employees. Any questions or comments from council? If not a motion to pass Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Yul council vote to pass please. All yeses. Thank you. Next, we have ordinance 202528, an emergency ordinance setting enforce for wages and benefits for the chief of police and other police department employees not represented by the collective bargaining agreement. Any questions or comments from council? If not, may I have a motion to pass, please? Miss uh Childrey, Mr. ones tell us about the pass. All yeses. Next we have ordinance 202529 emergency ordinance adjusting the sari and the director of public service and safety. Any questions or comments from councel?

If not may I have a motion to pass please? So move Mr. Gil Mr. Chrisman council vote to pass please all yeses. Thank you. Next we have ordinance 202530. It moves an ordinance setting forth the rates of pay and providing for circuit French benefits for the city of St. Mary's dispatchers represented by the Ohio benevolent association. Any questions or comments for council? If not, may I have a motion to pass, please? Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Quero, council vote to pass, please. All yes. Next, we have resolution 202516, an emergency resolution authorizing the disposition of city property through internet building. Any questions or comments from council? If not, may I have a motion to pass, please? Mr. Buck, Mr. Chrisman, council vote to pass, please. All yeses. Thank you. Under second readings, we have ordinance 202531. There's an ordinance to make appropriations for current expenses and expenditures for the city of St. Mary's, state of Ohio during fiscal year meeting December 31st, 2026. Any questions or comments?

Mr. Harris, this has not been amended, but we know there are changes coming. We will reduce the voted tax by about $540,000 and we will reduce the pool fund by about $60,000. Okay. So those those changes will be noted and others as necessary at our third reading. That's we I'm kind of surprised we're not amending it now, but uh yeah, as the numbers become firmer, you guys always have we always have to amend.

So any questions or comments? This will be back for its third reading at the next meeting. Next, we have ordinance 202532, an emergency ordinance authorizing the purchase of various materials, equipment, and services to apartments for the city of St. Mary's. Any questions or comments for council? This will be back for its third reading at the next meeting. Now, I've been advised under new legislation, this is the usual, pardon, end of year flurry of getting this stuff passed. So, at this point, I'm just going to ask for ordinance 202533. May I have a motion to read under suspension? Mr. Chrisman, Mr. ones. Council bill three. All yes. Ordinance 202533 in emergency ordinance amending ordinance number 202502 establishing the classifications pay rates fringe benefits and other terms and conditions of employment relative to the employees of city represented by the utility workers union of America local 552 miss

backs

okay as it states this amends that ordinance this that ordinance was passed at the beginning of this year uh regarding the three-year agreement with the UWA way. Uh we recently signed anou with them establishing the new positions of plant maintenance operator and chief plant maintenance/operator. And we also um deleted a couple positions, the foreman one, the foreman and two at the water and sewer departments and we renamed the foreman and three just foreman. Uh these were all in the water and sewer departments. uh the positions were previously in the bargaining unit. Um and the previous superintendent felt that this the maintenance type of work could be done um externally. Um we have a new superintendent Lonnie has taken over. He has a background in maintenance um which he feels that we can do it internally and it will be more coste effective. And he's here as well if you have any questions. And this is the maintenance that's done at the water plant, the wastewater plant, the lift stations, the pool,

anything. The what? Wells and the water plant. Wells and water plant. So So Mr. How would you like to add anything to that? No, I mean I can feel questions, but I just feel that anytime we can bring the work inhouse, I can utilize those guys to not only in plan operations, but those jobs can they can more be specific to the job and do PM work to keep cost down and be more proactive than reactive. So, we would request you pass their suspension of the rules.

Any questions or comments from council? If not, since I've asked for this to be uh read under suspension of rules, may I have a motion to pass, please? Mr. Buff, Mr. Chrisman, council to pass, please. All yeses. Next, we have ordinance 202534. May I have a motion to read under suspension, please? Miss Childrey, Mr. Chrisman, council vote to read under suspension. All yeses. Ordinance 20254 and emergency ordinance authorizing the director of public service and safety to advertise for bids for certain lots owned by the city of St. Mary's. Mr. Fox.

Uh, Mr. Paris, this orders will allow us to sell two city- owned lots. One of the lots is in the city limits. The other lot is not. The lot that's in the city limits is located at 8:15 East Spring Street. It's down there East Spring Street at Maple. It's west of the tracks right beside where Cliff Federers used to have his mower shop. Uh that lot was owned by the Lore family. At some point, it was donated to The Rock. uh when the rock uh decided their services were no longer needed, they donated it to the city. I believe it was in November of 2022. Uh we now have some contractors in town that kind of prefer a little bit smaller lot in our building. We would like to sell that lot and we'll take sealed bids on it. Reserves have been set. The second lot is out in Villanova. Uh there was a water tower. It's a corner lot 703. I believe it's Westway. Uh we refer to it as the water tower lots. Um I never remember a water tower being there, but some of you older folks might. Um we would like to sell that lot as well. So those two lots we would like to sell. We have to advertise for bids for 5 weeks. Uh as you know, we had good success with the Western Street lots. We sold seven of them and made some good money on them. So we would like to sell these. Uh we're just currently mowing them.

Any questions or comments from council? If not, since I've asked for this to be read under suspension, may I have an ordinance to pass, please? I need a motion to pass. I'm sorry, Mr. Luns. Mr. F council vote to pass, please. All yes. Thank you. Next, we have number 20 202535. May I have a motion to read under suspension, please? Mr. Mr. Yul, Mr. Pup, council vote to read, please. All yeses. Ordinance 202535, an emergency ordinance setting forth the rates of pay and providing for certain French benefits for the employees of the city of St. Mary's Fire and EMS Association. Council previously ratified the agreement with the firefighters and this is just a summary of the pay and benefits.

There's no changes from what was presented to you in executive session.

Any questions or comments from council? If not, since I've asked you read under suspension, may I have a motion pass? Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Yul pass, please. All yeses. Thank you. Next we have ordinance 202536. May I have a motion to read under suspension please? Mr. Aquero, Mr. Chrisman, council vote to read under suspension, please. All yeses. Ordinance 202536, an ordinance to adopt the cyber security program and declaring an emergency. Mr. Fox.

Well, Mr. Harris, I've asked Mr. Ryer to be here tonight. He's our uh network administrator. He's the one who's been working with our insurance carrier, Staly Insurance, on this policy. He's also consulted with uh a gentleman by the name of Travis Thompson. He is the vice president of risk management for Staly Insurance. I'll turn it over to Kim. Uh so basically it's House Bill 96 was enacted into law which requires all municipalities to adopt a uh cyber security plan based on best practices as set forth by the state auditor's office. So we worked with Stallies and our risk management consultant and we basically tweaked our uh cyber security plan to be in compliance with with what the new uh law now reads. I think it's going to kind of be a dynamic type of situation until the state auditor's office determines how they're going to implement or or enforce any of the guidelines that they have in the uh in their new new law. So, uh so it's it's all of our opinion that what we put together now complies with what the state auditor wants and that we'll have the opportunity if we need to change anything in the future, we can do that.

Any questions or comments? I ask this be under suspension of rules. May uh may I have a motion to pass please? Mr. Chrisman, Mr. Aquar Council vote to add uh pass please. All yeses. Next we have ordinance 202537. May I have a uh do I have to read this? I officer certificate. No. Okay. Just the ordinance.

Okay. Um so may I have a motion to read this under suspension rules, please? Mr. Luns, Miss Chry, council vote to three, please. All yeses. Ordinance 12537 ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of notes in the maximum principal amount of $1,650,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds for the purpose of paying the cost of the acquisition, construction, renovations, equipping and installation of a municipal building, including the cost of design and engineering for the municipal building. demolition of existing structures and the acquisition of real property together with all necessary apprentices there are to and declaring an emergency. Mr. Fox u Mr. Harris this we currently have a loan out $1,650,000. It's a loan or note as it's referred to in this as you'll recall in March of 2022 we borrowed almost $3.6 million. We borrowed $3,585,000. We used that money to buy the properties that used to sit at this location, including the old touchdown club. So, we bought those structures, we raised those structures, we hired an engineering firm for the design and engineering of this building here. And so, that's what the money was for. Over the last couple years, we've been able to pay down almost $1.9 million of that. This is the balance that we owe. Unfortunately, we are not able to pay down any of that debt or pay it off. So, we simply need to roll that note over. We need to roll that loan over for another year. Uh we've talked that this is what we think is in our best interest. This note is payable in on February 12th. So we have to have it done by then. The auditor's office will need time to look around for the best rates and to get the get the paperwork done.

Okay. So unfortunately um we just weren't able to pay to get it down. We need to roll over.

Any questions or comments from council? If not, since I've asked this to be read under suspension of rules, may I have a motion to pass, please? Mr. B, Mr. Yul to pass, please. All yeses. Thank you. Next, we have ordinance 202538. May I have a motion to read under suspension of rules please? Mr. Chrisman, Mr. Aquar to read please

all yeses. Ordinance 2025 emergency ordinance authorizing transfer to the swim pool fund. Mr. Fox. Uh Mr. Harris, this ordinance is basically annual legislation. Now, we have to uh the pool doesn't just make a lot of money for us. Obviously, if the pools made money, they would be done in the private sector, not the public sector. So, this orders will allow the auditor to transfer $87,000 to the swimming pool.

Okay. Any questions or comments from council from the new people? This is this is definitely an annual event. If not, since I've requested this be read under suspension of rules, may I have a motion to pass? Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Aquar, please.

All yeses. Thank you. Next, we have ordinance number 202539. May I have a motion? Motion to read under suspension under suspension rules. M Shry, Mr. Christen, council vote to read, please. All yeses. Ordinance 202539 emergency ordinance to make appropriations for current expenses and expenditures of the city of St. Mary City of Ohio during fiscal year ending December 31st 2025 to the new members. This is the balancing of the books.

Mr. reason you have Mr.

I can I can address it Mr. Harris. So the uh the total amount is $1,18,9806 $1,18,9806 and supported by the mayor. They have been approved by our auditor. I'd like to just point out a couple of the larger ones that we had to deal with. Uh you'll see in the fire department it's an additional almost $131,000 in wages. As you know, we put on additional staffing this year. uh we had planned to do that. We had a pool of good candidates. We hired ahead and so the wages there 131,000 additional uh funds. The biggest one, however, is in the new municipal building fund, the 304 number towards the bottom of the first page. You'll see it there. It's $586,000. This is not new money. This money was tied up in a purchase order for 2024. We had a negative balance. We had to close that purchase order out. When you do that, those funds go back into that account. And now we are simply reappropriating it minus that negative balance which was about4 or $60,000 I don't remember. So that $586,000 is not new money. We just are reappropriated it. Um if you look at the second page uh electric distribution wages went up almost $60,000. U and then the third page you'll see please and fire pensions. We had some additional funding there. So those were the biggest uh draws on it. But again, the the largest one was the building. That $586,000 was not new money.

Any questions or comments to council? Yes, Greg. Uh on the fire wages got 130,000 for the 130,000 line for the fire w what's the split for the 40,000 on the next page? On the next page, you got fire wages for 139,961 and then was additional fires were included in that and then you got additional three firefighters for the additional 30,000. Is there a difference in what those two accounts are for county? Yes. You're talking about the the transfers on the appropriations. Yeah.

Yeah. Are you talking about the fire pension in the bank? You got the first one was fire wages and then the next one you had added three fires in 2025 for 40, right? That's to cover the pension. You're looking at the smaller sheets and not the actual budget. Yeah. Okay. I'm not Okay. All right. Sorry. That's okay. Okay. Attention 829 830.

Okay. Is there any other questions for comments from council? If not, since I requested uh this be read under suspension of rules, may I have a motion to pass, please? Mr. Luns, Miss Children, council vote to pass, please.

Oh, yes. Thank you. Next, we have resolution 12518. May I have a motion to read this under suspension of rules, please? Mr. Chrisman, Mr. Yul, council vote to read under suspension. All yeses. Resolution 202510 emerging resolution approving additions and deletion to the fosification plan of the city of St. Mary's. back.

Um, this is to add the new plant maintenance positions that I previously spoke about. The chief maintenance position also delete the foreman one and two and modify the three and just say foreman. But another thing that we also are asking to do, we're deleting the positions. These are not a bargaining positions of the technical operations coordinator and the superintendent of solid waste um operations. Um, we have modified that from superintendent to supervisor. So,

any questions or comments from councel? If not, since I requested this be read, may I uh a motion to pass, please? Mr. Pup, Mr. Lungs, council vote to pass, please. All yeses. Thank you. Let me schedule the miscellaneous business and closing. I don't have anything. Uh when the new year rolls around, we are looking at a streets and sidewalks this month. So I think we can put that in on the itinerary agenda. Is there anything else come before council? Mr. B. Motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Buck. Mr. Y please. Thank you.