Wellsville Village Council held their regular bi-monthly meeting Tuesday evening, April 17, at Village Hall. Mayor Susan Haugh presided. Except for Councilman Don Brown all Council members were present along with Fiscal Officer Dale Davis and Village Administrator Thom Edgell.
Rebecca Smith, one of the Riverside Roadhouse restaurant co-owners, asked Council's approval to obtain a D5i Liquor License. The Riverside Roadhouse is nearly a full service restaurant located at 565 Wells Avenue Extension in the village. Smith related the license would be for on-site consumption only by their dining customers. They are not attempting to start a bar. Their goal is to be competitive with some of the Calcutta establishments and feel it would contribute to Wellsville's revitalization if approval is granted. Councilman Tony Cataldo advised that once the application is submitted, State Dept. of Commerce officials will send paperwork to the Clerk of Council for Council's consideration. The owners must first submit an application. It was noted that liquor licenses were allocated in some of the smaller communities. It is possible Wellsville has their full quota.
Village Administrator Thom Edgell reported “this administration is all about sharing & partnering”. This week the Wellsville River Terminal helped with paying for four tons of hot patch and with their help the two surviving Street Department workers used up seven tons of hot patch in the last two days. One Street Department employee is currently off with a job related injury and hopefully will be back soon.
Edgell remarked that last year Springhill Cemetery did not look as it should, especially for Memorial Day. It was decided that wouldn't happen this year. Edgell said Eastern Ohio Correctional Center has three to five inmates that have volunteered to help in the cemetery. Wellsville First Christian Church offered the use of one of their vans with a driver to transport the helpers for five days preceding the holiday. Police Chief Scarabino will provide an off-duty police officer to supervise the work party.
Edgell commended Hammonds Park caretaker Gerald Walker for getting the park in good shape with keeping the grass cut and repair some of the playground equipment. Walker remarked there are only three swings left that need repaired. The marquee at 17th Street will have one of the decorative lamp posts that were donated to the village. The Mayor remarked that Wellsville Terminal employees are repairing the fountain at that location. She also thanked United Water Plant Manager Greg Stewart for having the grass cut around that area. The third lamp post & light will be placed on the Pete Amato Boardwalk next to the floodwall murals. Also the village is working on getting lighting on the murals.
Wrapping up his report Edgell said May 18 & 19 will be Spring Clean-Up. Dailey Refuse is furnishing six huge dumpsters that will be placed behind Village Hall those two days. Village residents will be able to dispose of junk free of charge. Items not permitted will include paint or any type of hazardous waste, tree limbs, grass trimmings, batteries or tires. However car & light truck tires are presently being accepted for disposal and piled up by the Village Garage behind the Fire Department. The tires will be collected until the end of May. They will be taken to Minerva for recycling.
In her report the Mayor noted that all volunteer help is greatly appreciated but said Village officials for the most part have a plan in place for certain areas. The Mayor asked that all volunteers check with her office before proceeding with any project to avoid any conflicts.
The Finance Committee Chairwoman said there has not been a finance report this year because the Village “did receive money from the oil & gas rights to the tune of $1.3 million. That money is currently sitting in the General Fund so (she doesn't) want to give an actual account of the General Fund”. The money will be invested but she doesn't want residents to think it will be spent unwisely. Once invested she will better be able to give an actual account of the General Fund. We won't mention any names but we are left wondering why it is necessary to keep village tax payers in the dark about their financial affairs.
Council approved a request by the Wellsville Tree Committee to close off Riverside between 7th & 8th Streets for an Arbor Day observation on Friday, April 27 from 9:15 to 10:30 AM. Students from Garfield Elementary will help plant some trees.
Wellsville resident Tim Long notified Council that the 4th Annual “Dash for Mat's Bash” will be held October 13 starting at 5:30 PM. The annual event is a fund raiser for scholarships given each year to WHS graduating student/athletes in memory of the late Mathugh Johnston. There will be costume contests for the children and a 1.5 run for prizes and awards. Long is in the process of filing the request with the Police & Fire Chiefs.
A motion was passed to enter into an agreement with Western Solutions to test water from the old reservoir. Western Solutions is a subsidiary of Chesapeake Oil. Chesapeake is looking for water sources to be used in fracking gas wells in Marcellus shale.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM. The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, May 1 at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be at Village Hall at 1200 Main St.
ole nib
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20 comments:
Finance Chairwoman Dinch has no right to not reveal information about the village's finances. Shame on the rest of the councilmen and Mr.Davis for not demanding that a full report be given. I hope that this council does not start being sneaky about money, especially since we now have 1.3 million. Come on council what are your plans ?
how nice" now we ll have convicts in town cutting grass ... thats prtecting our citizens ..bad enough we have to keep things locked up tight now ..wellsville use to benice to drive up broadway ... nows its so full of holes that never seem to get patched .. why damage yur car """ 1.3 mill in bank ... id say lets see some action and get these dam streets fixed """"" no more raises until we see these streets fixed the right way """""
To the second commenter: You must have a short memory. Broadway was one of the first streets to get patched. It does need it again but they have to be fair with some of the other streets.
We believe EOCC is a minimum security facility. They don't have violent offenders incarcerated there. According to Mr. Edgell they will be working in the cemetery. He did not say anything about having them work in town. They will be properly supervised & after last year we're glad to see them helping. We believe the goal is to put our best foot forward for Memorial Day.
nib
I would like to see the 1.3 mil used for sidewalks, level the area where 9th street pottery used to sit. What happened with developing that area? If we're not going to develop it then we should use it for the carnival and town gathering place for children. Would make a nice playground or swimming pool?
I have no problem in having the inmates from EOCC work at the cemetery. They will be supervised, put them to work, good use of taxpayers money.
At least the ones at the cemetery will supposedly be under a watchful eye,while the local convicts, crackheads,smackheads still run free around town.
Really, our new administration is great, but about the finances, they never have a problem (any administration) with announcing how broke the village is when times are hard. So what's up with the "secret keeping". There shouldn't be anything going on that needs to be kept a secret and if it's a matter of books not being balanced to give a report then git r done.
THANKS to the Village for deciding to place a Lamp Post and light on the Pete Amato Boardwalk next to the Flood Wall Murals. Also for working on getting lighting on the murals. This will further enhance the beautiful gift of the Flood Wall Murals. The Murals have been pictured in an edition of Ohio magazene and several tours have been conducted for groups interested in the history dipicted on the Flood Wall Murals. THANKS TO VILLAGE FOR TAKING PRIDE AND APPRECIATING THE MURALS.
I would think a simple public records request would resolve the issue. But why should anyone have to do that? Intentional failure to release this information clearly gives the wrong impression and fuels the rumor mill.
The Wellsville tax payers need to speak up and be heard with their suggestions on the use of the money we got for mineral rights. The Finance Chairwoman didn't elaborate on how much is going to be invested. That may be a Council decision. She didn't say when it was going to be invested but did tell us the Fiscal Officer doesn't need Council's approval to invest it. We need to let our elected officials know our thoughts, from the Mayor to each & every Council member. Letting it just sit in a non-interest bearing bank account is not a good idea.
Having a "rainy day" fund is an excellent idea but the amount should be a considered opinion of all that have a vested interest in the matter. There may be a need to use a portion of it. The Mayor's suggestion some of it be used for matching grants should definitely merit some consideration. Getting some new equipment to work with is another idea.
If Council needs to get off their duffs and order in legislation to create some new fund items then they should get moving. Even thugh not many attend Council meetings each Council person was elected to act in the resident's best interest.
Speak up Wellsville...stop by or call your Council members. Better yet --- GASP --- attend & be heard at a Council meeting. The next meeting is Tuesday, May 1 at 6 PM.
nib
In the words of the late Harold Dickerson "the tenants at Springhill are the best in the world. Not one of them has ever complained since being there!"
Those folks don't mind inmates cutting grass & doing some weeding.
nib
The last we heard anything about the 9th Street lot was that it needed resurveyed if the Village was going to give a resident a portion of it. The last Council never did anything except talk about it. We don't recall any motions made or legislation ordered in to give part of it away. The same is true about getting it resurveyed. Nothing has been said about potentially using it for anything other than serving as an eyesore. We would be in favor of getting it resurveyed and putting a "For Sale" sign on it.
nib
Yes Nib and surely our leaders understand interest bearing account is good with zero chance of any principle being lost.
It recently cost us $40 plus tax to have a dog "properly" buried after our veternarian put it down. That was in addition to the cost to have the animal sedated ($30)plus euthanized ($40)and taxed. Total bill was $111.
That probably meant that the dog was put in a deep freezer until the garbage man hauls the remains to a land fill. We didn't ask. We didn't really want to know. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, as the good book says.
If you are trying to start another controversary we suggest you start your own blog. If not we suggest you get a life...
nib
I have a life Nib,as well as questions and concerns! I didn't think asking a question in regards to the situation, was me not having a life and trying to start someting! Guess, maybe see if someone out Lisbon can answer a simple question. Wow!
Go for it kid...take it to Lisbon. At least you will have to identify yourself & won't have to be cowardly hiding behind "Anonymous".
nib
Actually no one has to give a name to obtain public records...just sayin' But i must have missed whatever comment or question was asked that got you fired up???
just saying - we didn't publish the comment since it was trying to rehash an old incident by a vindictive indivual. They threatened to go to "Lisbon" with their mission. It wasn't a request for public records.
nib
nib....good job stay on them, thats what we want accountablility. thank you..
No council meeting last night, lack of a quorum is what I hear. So much work to be done in our village, so few people to guide the work. Maybe they were expecting people to ask for a financial report ?
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