CENTERBURG — Centerburg Village Council met for a regular meeting Monday, March 4 and approved the regular council minutes from February with one correction; Mayor Beck was appointed as one of many directors for the Area Development Foundation.
Council members met on Feb. 11 with the Hilliar Township Trustees to again discuss potential funding for the Centerburg Community Park, beginning with a review of an agreement provided by the Knox County Prosecutor’s office which was not acceptable to either the Village or Township and included incorrect maps and parcels according to Mayor Beck, but otherwise no consensus could be reached. The minutes from this meeting were approved. There was no further discussion of the park at the meeting except to note that Brian Morgan with the Knox County Prosecutor’s office will be holding public meetings at the Hilliard Township house on Monday, March 18, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 30, at 9 a.m., to hear input from residents and community members on the park; maintenance, shared ownership and other concerns they might have.
Centerburg Village Administrator Joe Hardin reported potholes are being filled as the weather allows, filled in with stone when the weather is too wet or too cold. The pothole on Main Street, he reported, needs to wait for good weather and hot asphalt. Hardin also reported selling surplus and steel scrap in January and approximately $2,300 in brass in February.
Action on a building on North Hartford Street was discussed. The building was burned in a fire Jan. 4, 2018, and was shortly afterward condemned. The original notice prohibited human habitation. Village Solicitor Kyle Stroh has made multiple attempts to contact the property owner to give notice that they have 30 days to demolish the building, but has been unable to contact them. Notices will be posted and the property owner will have the opportunity before that deadline to have it extend, within reason, to better organize the building’s demolition.
Councilman Tom Steward reported 12 applications have been received for the position of fire chief of the Central Ohio Joint Fire District. The top five will be selected to come in for interviews. The building addition is again open for bidding. Bids should be lower this time since the building timeline is bumped back to spring and contractor costs won’t need to factor in winter weather.
The annual fiscal report is complete and notice has been given.
No one was able to attend the most recent Regional Planning Committee meeting. Also, the most recent Safety Committee meeting did not take place. Council members John Jackson and Tom Stewart agreed to reschedule it to Thursday of this week.
Council also reviewed:
•January EFT payments, February warrants and EFT payments and approved. Clerk Teri James and Deputy Clerk Molly Thompson estimated over 40 percent of refunds have been sent, leaving around 55 percent to go.
•February water and sewer accounts receivable report and approved.
•February Appropriation Supplemental and approved. James explained that the months were off, with some of January’s wages being paid in December, but that it was in the process of getting back on track.
•A Canyon Construction invoice for $13,560.34 was approved for payment. Village Administrator Joe Hardin explained that this was the last invoice to be paid regarding the repair of the Jan. 17 sewer line collapse and that the overall project was cheaper than anticipated, closer to $20,000 than $25,000.
•An invoice sent from Hilliar Township totaling $8,162.57 in reimbursement for property tax loss due to annexations from 2016 and 2017. Village Solicitor Kyle Stroh will review the initial payment schedule and agreement as well as confirm the accuracy before the next meeting. Mayor Beck stressed the village needs to decided on a procedure for when to send the township these payments going forward.
•The Memorandum of Understanding with the Knox County Land Bank received its third reading and was approved. This authorizes the Land Bank to operate within Centerburg according to the agreement on how the Land Bank will acquire, maintain and sell properties, as well as how and when it demolishes structures as outlined in the memorandum.
•Ordinance to authorize village administrator and clerk to acquire property and liability insurance was given a second reading. James explained the insurance company requires updated information annually for the liability insurance. Prices for the renewed policy aren’t available yet but should be available before the policy renews in May. Whether they are available at the April meeting or not, the village can wait until the May meeting to approve.
