Middleport Council Makes a Final Decision on Economic Developer Position

MIDDLEPORT – Middleport Council held a meeting on June 9, 2014 with council member Penny Burge being absent; and discussed some positive things happening in the village but the focus of the night was mainly on the Economic Developer position that has been talked about for some time.

Due to the changes that needed to be made to the April 28, 2014 meeting minutes the April 28 minutes were read first and after the necessary changes had been made they were approved. A quote attributed to Vaughn previously stated that he said he knew how to run the sewer/water system and knew what he was doing in changing the sewer rates. After reviewing the recording it was found that Vaughn actually said he knew how to save money with the system. After that the minutes for the May 12, 2014 meeting were read and approved.

A motion was made to approve the payment of bills totaling $37,191.01. The Finance Report, Income Tax Report, and Public Works Report were also read and approved. During council reviewing the Finance Report council member Manly asked to know who gets paid out of the water and sewer. Susan Baker said she would have that information by the next meeting.

Joseph Verdier came to speak with council and the public as a representative from the Meigs County Health Department. Verdier said now days Health Departments focus more on preventative measures such as exercise, healthy eating, and tobacco free lifestyles. The Meigs County Health Department recently helped revitalize the playground behind the Village Hall through the Healthy Communities Initiative. Verdier said they need citizens to attend meetings and participate by giving their ideas and time. The Meigs County Health Department is currently working on a playground for the Mid-Valley Christian School in Middleport and wants to later this year work on resurfacing the basketball court at the Ferman Moore Park Playground. A sign will be put up at the park to show who donated the money and effort to rehab the park.

Denise Alkire returned with the finalized budget for the Neighborhood Revitalization Grant. The budget is as follows, $18,000 for demolition of the pool and the garage on South 5th Ave., $51,600 for sidewalk repair with a focus on South 2nd Street, South 3rd Street, and North 3rd Street, $37,500 for rescue equipment for the Middleport Fire Department, $15,900 for repairs and new equipment for the General Hartinger Park, $60,000 to contribute to the walking trail, $29,500 for street improvements with a focus on refacing Powell Street, and $57,500 for a small skate park. Alkire will be presenting the budget for approval from the County Commissioners at this Thursday’s County Commissioners meeting at 11:20.

Next on the agenda was the renewal of the Liability and Property Insurance. It is the 2nd year of the 3 year renewal. This was an automatic renewal that did not need voted on, but was just a reminder to council that it was renewed.

It was discovered that a house was built over top of a water line at Logan and Hysell Street. The water line has to be moved and replaced. The cost of the engineering will be $9,660 the total cost of the whol project will be $40,000. Council approved to fix the problem and accept the bid from Choice One for the engineering.

There was a resolution for Council to adopt the 2015 Gallia, Jackson, Meigs, Vinton Solid Waste Management Plan. This plan is the recycling plan for the area. Council voted to adopt the plan with Manly abstaining from the vote.
Ordinance 92-14 to reduce the rate charged for wastewater service was discussed again. Mayor Gerlach said due to the agreement with the OWDA council would not be able to enact the ordinance as it was because of the loans borrowed from the OWDA Middleport is required to be able to pay the loans and all expenses with the water/sewer department. With the ordinance as is the system according to the OWDA would most likely be broke in a month and a half. Until further research is done the matter was tabled by a motion from Manly.

The jail told council they need to hire two part time jailers. Two of the current employees have moved to other jobs so the positions need filled as soon as possible. The jail needs someone there 24/7 and most of the other employees work other jobs and are not able to take more hours. Council approved hire of two more employees.

Council member Manly made a motion to hire someone for the economic developer position. Mayor Gerlach’s referral to council out of the two that applied was the woman that applied. Gerlach said her qualifications were better than Fred Hoffman’s. This statement was received with laughing around the council table and Sharon Older commenting that she would be qualified if, “we are flipping burgers.”

This comment was followed by Manly saying she might be qualified, “if we are making pizzas.”

Mayor Gerlach reminded council that she has two college degrees. Council member Heighton came to the woman’s defense saying, “She is like most college grads in the economy today. She is just working jobs to get by until she finds something in her degree.”

Older, Vaughn, Dixon, and Manly all admitted to reviewing the resumes before the council meeting and deciding together that Hoffman would be who they would hire. Throughout the discussion of who to hire these four members of council continuously referred to the person who would have the job as “he” when they were working out details about the job.

The Mayor and Susan Baker told council regardless of who they pick to hire; the village could not afford to pay anyone for this position. The funds to pay the economic developer would have to come out of the general fund and currently there is not enough extra, unaccounted for funds to pay for the work done in this position.

Disregarding the mayor’s recommendation, council voted to hire Fred Hoffman with Heighton voting no. At this time no hours, pay, or where the funds to pay Hoffman will come from have been discussed.

Older asked the mayor again about the no parking sign and he said he would look into it.

Manly said there has been a complaint that when the fire hydrants are flushed, they are being flushed into people’s yards.

Manly also said there is a need for a stop sign coming out of Dollar General.

A motion was made to go into executive session to discuss sale of a property, the old school building, with the village solicitor.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting.