Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 7:30 pm at the Rockford Village Hall.

Invocation was given by Gene Steiner

Pledge of Allegiance

Those present: Gehle, Steiner, McKee, Pontsler, Searight, Rutledge.

Also attending: Judy Koesters, Jeff Long, Sergeant Stetler

Motion Steiner. Second Gehle to accept Agenda as

Orders of the Day and allowing Ron Searight to report for Rules Committee

first. Pontsler called for the question. Steiner = y, Gehle = y, Pontsler = y,

McKee = y, Searight = y, Rutledge = y. Passed 6 yes.

Motion: McKee. Second Searight to accept the minutes from the

December 2, 2008 as submitted by the Fiscal Officer. Gehle

called for the question. McKee = y, Searight = y, Gehle = y, Steiner = y,

Pontsler = y, Rutledge = y. Passed 6 yes.

Correspondence:

Christmas card from Mercer County EMA.

Visitors to Address Council:

Rules Committee: Ron Searight

ORDINANCE 08-08

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF INCOME TAX ORDINANCE NO. 10-19-2004 OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO; REPEALING INCONSISTENT LEGISLATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Motion McKee, Second Searight, Gehle called for the question. McKee = y, Searight = y, Gehle = y, Steiner = y, Pontsler = y, Rutledge = y. Passed 6 yes.

(Changes late fee from $5.00 to $25 until June 1^st. After June 1^st will be $50 late fee charge. Penalty for not paying taxes from $100 to $150. 2^nd offense will be fined up to $500 or imprisoned not more than 60 days or both.)

Searight left meeting at 7:35.

Village Administrator’s Report – Jeff Long

1. Leaf pickup resulted in over 1000 cubic yards of leaves collected and composted.
2. The water line to the Laurels is completed and will be online the first of the year.
3. The new water treatment plan is progressing. Rural development is reviewing the plans and bid documents. They are saying that could take up to a month. Bids to be advertised in February. Met with meter supplier to review specs. Will have a pre-bid meeting so each company bidding can see exactly what we need them to do installing the meters..
4. Received the cost to add 3 street lights in the corporation on West Market St. Installation charges are $285. Need to sign the proposal and they will install.
5. For information: total cost for village electric this year $55,760.58. (Excluding street light lease). Lower than last year.
6. Met with Fremont and Strand Engineering on the proposed new wastewater treatment plant. We need to meet with the Public Utilities Committee to go over items of Fremont participation. We have submitted project plans to the State – there is an anticipation of a federal stimulus package that may fund large projects. We told them we have a funding gap of $2,408,000. We are asking for that amount of funding. This is very preliminary as nothing for this is decided but we wanted our project to be one of the first they received. Strand believes they can have the design ready by June 1, 2009 and if funding becomes available it will be for projects that are ready to proceed quickly.
7. South Main St plans are in to the state and bidding will be in February. Due to this project being constructed earlier than the water plant, the village will install 18 meters and pits so it happens with the street project.

There will be approx. 50 meters inside. Mostly downtown & apartments. We may have to change the ordinance going back to renters putting up deposits and having renters be responsible for water bills.

Rates: First payment will be made with grant funds. This will give us time to train on system and send flat rate bills along with meter rate bills so residents can start conserving water and/or fixing any water problems they might have.

This will help us set needed rates.

Committee Reports:

Finance Committee: Todd McKee

Motion Steiner to pay bills as submitted by Fiscal Officer in the amount of

$5,814.34. Second Pontsler. Gehle called for the question. Steiner = y,

Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, McKee = y, Rutledge = y. Passed 5 yes.

ORDINANCE #06-08

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PAY SCHEDULE FOR ALL HOURLY AND SALARIED EMPLOYEES OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, OHIO FOR THE YEAR 2009.

1^st reading – 11/18/08

2^nd reading – 12/02/08

3^rd reading – 12/16/08

Motion: Pontsler. Second Steiner. Gehle called for the question. Pontsler = y, Steiner = y, Gehle = y, McKee = y, Rutledge = y. Passed 5 yes.

ORDINANCE #07-08

AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, STATE OF OHIO, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2009.

1^st reading -11/18/08

2^nd reading – 12/02/08

3^rd reading – 12/16/08

Several questions regarding adding an extra police officer. It is in the budget for now. Will have to review again in April. Since many are laid off, we may not collect as much in taxes. Will make needed cut backs if tax collections drop.

Facts and data available for public review.

Motion Gehle, Second Steiner, Ponstler called for the question. Gehle = y, Steiner = y, Pontslet = n, McKee = y, Rutledge = n. Passed 3 yes.

Motion: Gehle. Second Pontsler to approve a “Thank You” pizza party for the Web Design class at Parkway on December 22^nd. Steiner called for the question.

Gehle = y, Pontsler = y, Steiner = y, McKee = y, Rutledge = y. Passed 5 yes.

Service Committee: Steve Gehle

Mayor: Meeting with Health Department regarding Trailer park. Owners have 30 days to come into compliance.

Safety Committee: Kathy Rutledge

Safety Committee Meeting scheduled for January 13, 2009 at 7 pm.

Economic Development Committee: Eugene Steiner

No RADC meetings this month. Will be getting consumer questionnaire ready to go for delivery in January.

Public Utilities Committee: Greg Pontsler

Will be scheduling a committee meeting next month.

Rules Committee: Ron Searight

* See above for Rules Committee report.

Old Business

New Business:

Village Employees Christmas bonus was paid on first check of December.

After taxes amounted to about $35. May go back to gift cards next year.

Meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm

____________________________ _____________________________

Mayor Fiscal Officer