December 20, 2021 - Meeting Minutes
- The Mayor asked for any questions Council wished to pass on to the Chief. There were none.
- The Chief met with Supt. Bidlack concerning emergency safety plans. Chief Taylor wants to improve our standards and also met with business owners.
- The department had four cars per shift on Friday due to Tik-Tok threats to schools across the nation.
- Sale of property review from last meeting:
- Short lease with an option to purchase and requirement to build a structure and be in operation. Longer lease possible. The downside is that it may exclude many otherwise eligible and viable investors/proprietors.
- Keep the property for future development.
- Sell the property to recover the cost of the property previously paid. Highest bidder.
- Bloom Township Litigation (Jefferson Health Plan):
- Stark County is stayed pending determination by the Receivership pending in the Franklin County Court case. Attorney LaFayette relates several favorable rulings by the court and determinations made by the Receiver; there is no liability with any matters involving Benovation; there was a finding that the Sunshine Law had been violated by OPEC-HC; Frank Harmon and OIS claims have been denied. As a result, the deficit number is lowering and Atty. LaFayette says the percentage assessed to be reduced or least he can make a good argument that it should be. The audit continues and the Receiver is focusing on the Jefferson Health argument claim which is the big claim. Atty. LaFayette is leaving the firm and going to another firm and he wants to bring this case with him which makes sense. So he is our Counsel and I signed off on him taking this case with him this past week. He is working on a written summary of the status of the case so we will be looking to receive that soon.
- Opioid Settlement:
- Johnson and Johnson litigation is in addition to the Perdue Pharma Bankruptcy settlement and One Ohio Settlement relating to the Multi-State litigation which the Village participated in last spring and early summer. The One Ohio involved the Big Three Defendants, Cardinal Health, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen. I have applied for a registration number in order to be a part of that suit. There should be money coming although not certain. But there is strength in numbers so Brewster should join in if possible. With Council’s authorization this evening He could go ahead and participate in the settlement process. Atty. Anthony provided information from the OML. The participation agreement is to be in by January 2nd. With Council’s permission, he will get the process started tomorrow.
- Children’s Christmas party with Santa at Friends Church December 20th 6:30-7:30pm.
- Finance Committee meeting: January 18th – 6:15pm – Police, Fire, and Street Budgets review
- Finance Committee meeting: February 7th – 6:15pm – Water, Sewer, and Electric Budgets review
- The lowest and best bid is being reviewed for Brewster Parke Water Line and Hydrant Project.
- AMP Power purchase – There is 100MW solar available for $22.64MW that VA Miller is investigating
- WE Quicksall is preparing a layout for the Village on the northern most portion of the old Sturm’s property across the alley from the new Fire Station Addition.
- Council Member Schwab asked what the downside of purchasing more solar power. VA Miller stated that it is all theory to diversify your power sources. In 2025, there will be a remainder gap that could be partially filled with this solar power purchase. Clerk King asked where the Solar Power Plant was located and VA Miller stated VanWert.
- Brewster Parke Water Line Extension and Hydrant Project. The Brewster Parke Water Line Extension and Hydrant Project bid opening was December 15th at 2:00 pm. Eleven (11) sets of plans were issued. We received four (4) bids. The four (4) bids were/are:
Company |
Bid |
Ohio Erie Excavating (Bolivar) |
$52,132.00 |
Palmer & Sons (Wooster) |
$63,610.00 |
Spano Brothers Construction (Akron) |
$72,519.00 |
RBS General Contracting (Massillon) |
$46,144.08 |
|
|
ENGINEER’S ESTIMATE |
$57,628.00 |
- received its Plan Approval Letter from the Ohio EPA for the Brewster Parke Waterline Extension.
- has had the required easements donated at no cost by Brewster Parke.
- has accepted and recorded the required easements.
- Water Department & EPA Recommendations - Hydraulic Model of the Distribution System. CT Consultants continues field work necessary to construct a Hydraulic Water Model for the Village. They have taken water pressure measurements. It is virtually complete, and our next step is to meet with CT Consultants to review the model, and inquire what the model shows, especially as far as sequencing future projects. We hope to have that meeting in the next few weeks.
- 2022 Paving. Based on our new PCR assessment, the streets I am recommending should be included in the 2022 Paving Program are below and bolded. Those that are on the list but are not bolded have reasons for omission in 2022 listed. Superior Street NE is the alternate if prices come in good/low.
PCR (Rating) |
Street |
From |
To |
Estimated Cost |
Running Total |
Notes |
55 |
6th |
McKinley |
Washington |
$23,396.38 |
|
Replace H20 line first |
|
|
|
|
$10,000.00 |
|
PLUS 4 ADA Ramps |
55 |
Chestnut |
Funeral Home Driveway |
Tuscarawas |
$2,210.33 |
|
Submit to OPWC as Paving Project in 2022 for 2023 |
55 |
Chestnut |
Older pavement |
Curb & Gutter |
$36,163.38 |
|
Submit to OPWC as Paving Project in 2022 for 2023 |
55 |
McKinley |
4th |
5th |
$15,202.44 |
$15,202.44 |
EVALUATING – may need curb replacement in spots |
|
|
|
|
$30,000.00 |
$45,202.44 |
Full Depth Repair |
|
|
|
|
$20,000.00 |
$65,202.44 |
PLUS 8 ADA Ramps |
57 |
Barber |
Mohican |
East Terminus |
$3,478.37 |
$68,680.31 |
|
57 |
Glick |
Wabash |
Tuscarawas |
$11,074.93 |
$79,755.74 |
|
59 |
Chestnut |
Tuscarawas |
Wabash |
$11,537.94 |
$79,755.74 |
Submit to OPWC as Paving Project in 2022 for 2023 |
60 |
5th |
Wabash |
Cleveland |
$21,987.00 |
$79,755.74 |
Replace H2O line first |
61 |
Buckeye |
Tuscarawas |
Muskingum |
$12,768.75 |
$92,524.49 |
|
ALT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
62 |
Superior |
Wabash |
Mohican |
$30,712.00 |
$123,236.49 |
PLUS 4 ADA Ramps |
|
|
|
|
|
$133,236.49 |
PLUS 4 ADA Ramps |
- Electric Substation – SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System). We continue to make progress and work continues by GPD and the Electric Department on the SCADA system at our substation. It is nearly complete. I will keep Council informed as to the progress on the project.
- Electric Department – Transfer Bus. The Electric Department continues to work on the transfer bus at the Substation. It is approximately 90% complete. The transfer bus is used to divert power from a feeder line that has a breaker issue. If a breaker has an issue, power can be put on the transfer bus and restored (fed) to the distribution feeder that has the breaker issue.
- Electric Department – New 7th Street Line. Waiting on transfer bus to be completed.
- Decorative Street Lighting – Wabash north of Underpass. Conduit installation is complete. Waiting on connectors and boxes to get started.
- Electric Department Garage. Work continues on the plans for the proposed new Electric Garage. We are still moving forward on a new 7 bay Electric Garage and office. Some minor changes to the preliminary plans were made at a meeting held with EA Associates on November 5th.
- Electric Department – Second Transmission Feed. A lot of progress has been made regarding the second feed into the Brewster Substation to be constructed by AMP Transmission. After a second on site meeting, some plan revisions, GPD brought in a crane/equipment handling company to determine the viability and identity potential means and methods to remove each of the existing three 69/12kV power transformers after installation of the proposed 4-breaker ring-bus in the proposed location. After that review, we (Village and GPD) are satisfied that the proposed ring bus would not create any obstacles that would prevent transformer removal with the existing 21’ high 69kV north-south tie bus intact and with the proposed ring bus breaker locations as long as the minimum bus height is 21’ above the driveway access areas. So, we are moving forward.
- Street Department Garage. We continue to take steps to be able to use the northern most three (3) bays for equipment that must be kept above freezing (heated). Ceiling insulation has now been installed. We have also awarded a contract to Wood Electric for $5,770 to install a separate electric service so that those northern most three (3) bays can not only be heated but are completely separated from the southern three (3) that are planned to be used by the Police Department in the future. After a new service is installed, we can install an electric heater(s) from the Fire Department remodeling/expansion to keep equipment in those bays from freezing. These steps are being taken now so we can move the brine maker over to the northern bays without the potential for it to freeze. We still can use it in the tank for pre-treatment of streets.
- Storm Drainage Projects. The current list of storm sewer projects in their priority order, with updates on their status:
- East Main Street Drainage. Project has begun and will continue after leaf pick-up.
- East end of 1st Street SE. Will be scheduled when area dries out and we can coordinate with US Army Corps of Engineers.
- Dartmouth/Amherst relief line. First step - survey being completed
- Open ditch east of Mohican.
- Drainage from Harmon west of 264 Harmon. First step - survey needs to be completed
- Drainage on north side of 7th west of Baymere.
- Leaf Pick-Up. Leaf pick-up has concluded. Pick-up the week of December 13th was slow, and it appears that the vast majority of leaves have been raked out.
- Sanitary Sewer Main Relining Project. Wastewater Superintendent Dan Klein has been attempting to coordinate our contractor to clean and CCTV the sanitary sewer from where the Jefferson Ave Project terminated at a new manhole just north of 5th Street SE northwest to 4th Street SE. With the onset of cold weather, rather than risk scheduling and freezing attempting to bypass to CCTV, we are awaiting better weather in the Spring. Once we get the sanitary sewer CCTVed, we can explore options to fund the project.
- Brewster Council Chambers COVID Compliance Remodeling Project (aka Community Room). Demolition/construction has begun.
- Electric Power Purchase - 1 or 2 MW Off-peak Block of Power for 2025-2028. On August 16th Council passed an ordinance to buy a 1 or 2 MW off-peak block of power for 2025-2028 to hedge our bets, IF NEEDED in the future, due to market changes. We are still attempting to move forward as the cost of a 1 MW block or a 2 MW off-peak block for 2025-2028 continues to rise. I will keep Council Informed.
- Efficiency Smart - LED Incentives Available for Small Businesses For a limited time, Efficiency Smart is offering small businesses an increased incentive for purchasing qualifying LED products from a designated local business. Pre-approval is required. Standard incentives still apply for all other qualifying purchases. Those interested can contact Efficiency Smart’s customer support team at (877) 889-3777 or info@efficiencysmart.org for a list of designated local suppliers and contractors or for more information.
- Efficiency Smart - 2021 Retail Lighting. A participation agreement is in place with Belloni’s for reduced cost LED light bulbs. The inventory has been delivered.
- Efficiency Smart – Rebates. Efficiency Smart’s Home Energy Rebates program provides money back on qualifying products that can help you save energy and money. Residents can save even more with increased rebates on the following products:
- Smart Thermostats: Now $100
- Heat Pump Water Heaters: Now $300
- Dehumidifiers: Now $30
- Sale of Surplus Property. Following up on the recent sale of two (2) Police Department vehicles on the internet, we have a vehicle and two (2) other pieces of Street Department surplus property previously acquired for the use by Village Departments which are not needed for public use any longer or are obsolete or unfit for the use for it was acquired that we would like to sell via internet sale process.
- Cap for the former Water Department pick-up truck (formerly the Fire Department pick-up) which is no longer needed as it has been “replaced” by a rack and open bed during its “tour of duty” with the Street Department.
- The 2001 International in the Street Department replaced in 2018 for use as a brine truck. It has engine issues which are far too expensive to fix than the vehicle is worth – estimated more than $6,000.
- Sale and/or Lease of “Sturm” Lot. As I indicated at the last Council Meeting, I have initiated the process to create a plan/sketch of a proposed parking lot that would serve, Village Hall, the Fire Department, and the Legion as well as the general public next to the widened alley for the Fire Department. That is needed to serve as a base point to solicit quotes to survey and split the proposed parcel that Council is deliberating selling and/or leasing. That initial sketch has been done, and I am continuing with the next steps to allow a specification to be done to sell and/or lease the requested parcel.
- Mayor Hawk thanked Council Member Hess for his service over the last four years and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
- Working on year-end processing and preparing for 2022.
- Winners of the Annual Christmas Lighting Contest: