FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION, SERVICE,
ENGINEERING and GORMAN FARM
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
April 1, 2014
The Finance, Service, Engineering and Gorman Farm Committee met at 4:00 pm
on April 1. Present were Councilmembers Finan and Schaefer. Councilmember Hartman
was absent and excused. Also in attendance were Chris Schuermann,, Cynthia Caracci,
James Jeffers, Jim Bothe, Jack Cameron, Chief Hauck, Mayor Apking Karie Novesl from
Hylant, and Stiney Vonderhaar.
Finance
Cynthia Caracci presented the financial report. The income tax revenue was for
March was $1,382,690.19. For 2014, the income tax is at $3,429,688.06. This is
$470,549.60 higher than last year at the end of March. March also ended with a surplus
of $625,797.67 excluding the Evendale Commons TIF. Year to date, the Village has a
net surplus of $388,483.51. The unencumbered balance is currently $14,057,934.38.
There will be a transfer Ordinance on the Council agenda reducing the amounts of
petty cash. This is made possible by the greater credit card use and will make tracking
Village expenses easier. This committee recommends that this ordinance be passed as an
emergency.
Chief Hauck also indicated that he will have an Ordinance to purchase breathing
apparatus. This will be reimbursed by grant funds that the Fire Department will receive.
There will be a similar Ordinance from the police department regarding an ATV.
Cynthia has indicated that the new finance computer program, Authority BIS, is
installed and operational.
Cynthia also indicated that the Village capital fund will have a prior excess of
$525,000 should the Hollywood purchase and demolition not take place.
The representatives of the State Auditor will attend the May committee meeting.
Administration
Jack Cameron introduced Karie Novesl from Horan. of Horan. Karie went over
the liability insurance packages that will be renewed in before July. These include general
liability insurance, boiler insurance, fire insurance, vehicle insurance, public official
insurance and law enforcement liability insurance. Horan is the broker for the Ohio Plan
which is exempt from competitive bidding. Horan will obtain quotes from other
insurance providers as well. The current limits are 5 million dollars with a seven million
aggregate and a five million umbrella policy. Hylant acted as a consultant over the last
two years. They are going back to an agent relationship with the Village because the
benefits from the consultant relationship did not materialize. Additional information will
be provided over the next few months.
Jack Cameron reviewed the Health Insurance program which is scheduled for
renewal before July. Jack indicated that the same procedure will take place that occurred
at the last renewal, about a year and a half ago.
Jack Cameron indicated that Kinetic Vision site visit and promotional addition to
the website has still not been scheduled.
Mayor Apking discussed the possibility of making more levels of the Cultural
Arts Center handicapped accessible. Tim Hammond and James Jeffers are exploring the
options and costs. There was a general discussion of various options, but no
recommendation was made.
The committee briefly noted that Tim Burke has circulated a legal opinion on the
council vote necessary to eliminate Type A daycare from the zoning code in residential
areas.
Jack Cameron also went over the status of the Dover house. The committee
recommended that the lien for demolition be placed of record as soon as possible. The
status of TLC and the Root house were discussed. Essentially, the committee
recommended that the buildings at TLC and the Root house be demolished in the near
term and the area seeded. James Jeffers will look into the possibility of using the hill on
which the Root house stands for fill to reduce or avoid grading costs on the site.
Service/Engineer
James Jeffers provided a written summary of the status of the ongoing projects. It
is attached.
James provided a building schematic for the shelter house. The committee
suggested that the fireplace be set into the wall of the restroom, storage area portion of
the building in the same manner as the existing shelter house. The committee also
suggested moving the restroom doors to the area next to the rear (east side) of the
structure. The committee suggested using brick rather than a stone façade on the
restroom/storage area of the structure. The brick should be consistent with the Founders
Pavilion.
The committee next discussed the sign that is proposed for the Village entrance
way. Councilmember Schaefer expressed concern about the content of the reader board
essentially inviting the general public when the event is limited to residents.
Councilmember Finan expressed some concerns for the sign in general. Mayor Apking
indicated that the information posted on the sign could be limited to events where the
General Public is welcome to attend.
Gorman Farm
The written report of the Gorman Farm is attached as are the 2013 financial
reports. Chris Schuermann highlighted several items.
With expenses paid by a grant from the Marge Schott Foundation, inner city
students from St. Francis De Sales, St. Josephs, and Silverton Piediea will be able to visit
the Farm this spring. St Francis DeSales has made their visit. The other two schools will
visit over the next few weeks.
The bids for the waterline project are being evaluated. Both are below budget.
Chris Schuermann also provided copies of the Edible Ohio initial launch of the August
event and provided information on the Savor the Season event which will include a
brewing event this year.
The Flying Pig will be a cosponsor of the Farm Run that will take place at the
time of the Sunflower Festival.
The meeting adjourned at 5:55 pm.
___________________________
Christian J. Schaefer
Committee Chairman
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