ANNA VILLAGE COUNCIL
The Village of Anna adopted the resolution that would allow them to apply for funding that would go toward reconstruction projects in the village at their regular meeting on Sept. 10.
Mayor Cindy Naseman stated that the village garage sales will be held from Thursday, Sept. 26 to Saturday, Sept. 28. The village of Anna will also be hosting their Trick-or-Treat from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31.
Village administrator Bill Kessler announced that, after submitting samples for lead and copper testing, the results came back and showed that no one is out of compliance.
The EPA is also planning a time to come and make sure that Anna’s claim from 2017 of no lead service lines is still accurate. There have been many steps taken to assure this and Kessler feels the village is in “pretty good shape.”
With football season beginning, Police Chief Darrin Goudy mentioned that homes near the high school have had issues with attendees parking at their residences. The police force is now working to post signs that will prohibit this moving forward.
With the closing of the US Bank, the village of Anna has officially moved their funds to F & M Bank. Council member Randy Van Horn brought up the possibility of investing some of the funds gifted to the village. Since Anna is a municipality, they are not allowed to be stockholders.
Naseman and Van Horn planned to meet with F & M Bank to discuss what could be done with that money.
There will be a public hearing in Anna to discuss agricultural animals, marijuana dispensaries and solar panels held at 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 1.
There was discussion of making the door to the village hall more accessible, while also complying with Historic Preservation of Ohio. The village hall is in the registry and must follow their regulations to keep their status. Kessler reported that, if the door to the building was not widened, they will be able to add automatic door openers.
Fiscal Officer Stacy Meyer also introduced the idea of updating the inside of village hall. No decisions were made.
The next village council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 24 at Anna village hall.
ANNA BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Anna Local Schools Board of Education held its regular meeting for the month of September at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.
The principals updated the board on back-to-school items for the buildings. Johnson reviewed the increase in Run Club participation. Purtee announced plans to bring cyber safety speaker Jesse Weinberger to the school in October.
Superintendent Andy Bixler asked the board to consider an out of state trip for members of the FFA to travel to the National Convention in Indianapolis.
Treasurer Cathy Doseck asked the board to transfer the required funds to the maintenance fund and bond retirement fund. She also proposed appropriations for fiscal year 2025 and asked the board to accept a donation from Strands of Love.
Finally, Doseck reviewed financial data provided by the state.
Bixler reminded the board of upcoming meetings pertaining to their various committee assignments. In addition, Bixler presented the opening day enrollment of 1,125 students, 15 less than a year ago.
The school board acted to approve the out of state travel, bus routes for the school year and the employee contracts as presented.
Additionally, the board approved the transfer of funds, FY25 Appropriations and accepted the donations as presented.
Finally, the board acted to approve a depository agreement with Farmers & Merchants Bank.
The next regular meeting of the Anna Local Schools Board of Education is set for Monday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
MINSTER VILLAGE COUNCIL
The village continues to move forward on street improvement projects following the Sept. 17 Minster village council meeting.
Council passed a resolution authorizing the village administrator Don Harrod to prepare and apply to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement Programs and to execute contracts for the reconstruction of Hamilton Street.
The village administrator said they intend to request a $250,000 grant and $500,000 for an interest-free loan. The project would include a new street service, curbs and sidewalks, along with all the underground utilities.
The proposed bike path between Minster and Fort Loramie moves along with approval of council to enter into a $38,900 agreement with Choice One Engineering for the development of a study on a multi-use trail between Ft. Loramie and Minster, with a spur to Lake Loramie.
Council approved a first reading of an ordinance levying a total of $68,748 in special assessments for the improvements on State Route 119 West in the Village of Minster Ohio; such improvements include the installation of sidewalks.
Another first reading was approved of an ordinance levying a total of $50,741 in special assessments for the improvements to West Seventh Street in the village such improvements include the installation of asphalt, sidewalks, curb and gutter and drive approaches.
For both assessments, the village administrator said the residents who will be assessed a portion of the cost of improvements can choose to either pay their bill within 60 days or have the bill added to their real estate taxes.
To pay for the new Paris Street shelter house, council approved a resolution transferring $402,500 in funds.
The council’s Safety committee, chaired by Nicole Clune, said they had been discussing a possible $20,000 five-year contract for the use of new tasers, body cameras and in-car cameras. She said they would present the project to council at their next meeting.
Under new business, they approved three measures.
First, they accepted the August 2024 Income Tax Report as submitted by the City of St. Marys that amounted to $340,910, for a year-to-date total of $3,505,000.
They approved a motion to seek bids on a new 20 MVA Substation Transformer. Approximate cost is $1.5 million. Harrod said this transformer will be added to the Dannon substation to balance the electric feed to the Dannon plant.
Finally, Police Sergeant Bryan Koesters was approved to move from introductory period status to full time permanent status and granted an hourly pay increase from $31.37 to $32.07.
Council also approved receipts of $1,929,374.48 and invoices of $565,352.95
The village administrator reported that various projects continue to move forward.
He said work on the police department building is wrapping up. The contractor HA Dorsten has finished with most of the work. They completed a punch list of items that needed corrected last Friday. There are a couple of other issues that need to be resolved, but for the most part this project is wrapped up.
He said have moved the recycling area and the brush/grass drop off area to directly behind the Public Works Department Building. He said they are in the process of preparing the normal recycling area and brush drop off area for paving. Once paved, they will move everything back to its normal location.
Harrod reported that on Saturday, September 7th, there was a water line break on the 12-inch line that runs along State Route 66 just south of Greenhills Drive. When crews excavated the line, they found a hole in the bottom of the pipe which was causing the leak. Crews were able to repair the line and have the water back in service by around 11:00 a.m. that morning.
The village administrator said he and John Neuman will be attending the annual AMP conference, which begins on Sept. 30. AMP will have all their project meetings and provide updates on each project during the conference. They will also have educational session during the conference.
On Tuesday, the Public Works Department fixed a water line break in the raw water line that comes from the Four-Season Park wellfield. When crews excavated the line, they found a hole in the top of the pipe which was causing the leak. Crews repaired the leak in a couple of hours and placed the raw water line back in service.
Last week, Vaughn Electric helped the electric department set the last two steel poles out by the golf course substation. These steel poles were for the 69 KV transmission line and the village’s digger truck was not big enough to handle the poles. This wraps up the pole replacement between First Street and the golf course substation.
Before the council meeting, council held a public hearing to allow comments about a proposed installation of a DORA project in Minster. Harrod said two people attended and both were simply curious about how the provision, that would allow outdoor drinking, would work.
The village of Minster will hold their next council meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 1.
MINSTER BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Minster Board of Education met Monday, Sept. 16 for their monthly meeting.
The Board accepted donations that include $125 from 4th grade parents for negative lunch accounts, $500 from Minster Journeyman’s Club and Minster Civic Association for High School PBIS, $2500 from Minster Service Club for free admission to athletic events for students, $97.44 from an anonymous donor for negative lunch accounts, and a homemade tongue drum and cajon drum from an anonymous donor for the music department.
In his report, Superintendent Josh Meyer updated the Board on the recently released State Report Card. He said overall scores allowed Minster to achieve a 5 Star rating, while earning 24 out of a possible 25 stars.
Elementary Principal Mandy Albers shared details of the “Minster Milestones” program at the elementary school, a reward program designed to support local families and businesses.
The principal said “Minster Milestone” awards will be given out by teachers in each grade level for recognition of accomplishments. This new award will replace previous awards such as “Book-It” and “Blazin’ Performers”. The “Minster Milestone” was initiated by parent, Tony Luebke over the summer. She explained Luebke wanted to create an award that would help Minster families support local restaurants.
As part of his report to the Board, Junior/Senior High Principal Austin Kaylor provided the Board with a list of class officers and student council members.
Kaylor shared with the Board the Homecoming Court for this year. He said this year’s king and queen will be crowned before the Homecoming game vs. Versailles on Oct. 11. The dance will be held in the HS gymnasium from 8-11 p.m. on the following evening.
He also informed the Board that 94% of their 7-12 students are involved in either an athletic team or participate in band.
Under the Curriculum and Instruction report, District 4th grade teachers Tracy Halpin and Katie Eilerman presented the “40 Book Challenge” program to the Board. The “40 Book Challenge” is inspired by the book, “The Book Whisperer,” by Donalyn Miller.
The fourth grade teachers focused on building a community of readers and instilling a love of reading among the students. Overall, 86% of students met or exceeded this challenge and many positive outcomes were observed and acknowledged by students, staff, and parents.
As part of her report, Treasurer Gina Selby gave the Board a budget performance update, requested a temporary transfer from the general fund to the rec fund for the Melcher St. playground project, modified appropriations in capital outlay and recreation funds and requested that the Board return temporary advances from the Title VIB fund, the Title I fund and the Title II A fund back to the general fund.
During the Superintendent’s Consent portion of the agenda the Minster Board approved an early graduation request, a snow removal contract with Ruhenkamp Boring and Trenching, a FFA request to attend the National and State conventions and finally, al a carte pricing in the cafeterias.
Under New Business, the Minster Board of Education approved a Memorandum Of Understanding with the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities for behavioral support and consultation.
The Minster Board of Education set their next monthly meeting for Tuesday, October 15 at 7p.m. in the Large Group Meeting Room.
RUSSIA VILLAGE COUNCIL
The Russia Village Council approved moving forward with installing seat walls at the splash pad at their regular meeting on Sept. 11.
Fiscal Officer Mary Jo Voisard reported that there was a large refund processed in August, but after the refund, year to date income tax receipts are $60,000 higher than 2023. She also reported that interest receipts from Star Ohio were $16,352.68 with a 30-day yield of 5.42% during August.
Village Administrator Jared Goubeaux reported progress on the Lift Station upgrade. The sewer laterals will be running a line on top of Main Street with a cover that resembles a speed bump. This project should begin after the first of the year and should last about four months.
Nick Selhorst, of Choice One Engineering, brought up the change order on the Village Paving project and a motion was passed to approve the change order to $5,925.73 for additional materials.
They also approved a change order of $2,588.50 for additional asphalt for park path paving.
The council approved Pay app 1 for both ODNR Nature Works Park Paths for $69,923.00 and 2024 street paving program for $112,753.38.
Council approved the final retainage payment for the pavilion and splash pad project of $38,834.85.
Goubeaux informed council of the effectiveness of acoustical panels, with hopes to install them in the pavilion. The motion was passed to allow the purchase of these panels for the cost of up to $5,000.
With a quote of $8,690.59, the motion was passed to move forward with the installation of seat walls at the splash pad. The seat walls were in the original plan and had yet to be installed.
Russia Council set Trick-or-Treat in the village for 6-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31.
They will have their next meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Oct. 9.
RUSSIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
Russia Board of Education set a tentative date for their grand opening celebration to be 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 10 at their regular meeting on Sept. 18.
Many motions were raised an approved for the employments of different positions in the school.
The board approved a resolution to advertise and receive bus bids through the SWEPC.
They also approved a contract with Catholic Social Services for guidance services for the 2024-25 school year.
A donation of $989,649.23 from the Community Foundation of Shelby County was accepted to be used for the building project.
Principal Janel Slonkosky reported that Russia School ranked #2 in the county for state testing results from last spring.
HARDIN-HOUSTON BOARD OF EDUCATION
Hardin-Houston Local School discussed their elementary and high school building goals during their regular meeting on Sept. 16.
They approved service agreements with the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center for the 2024-25 school year as well as memorandums of understanding with the Hardin-Houston Education Association and Sidney City Schools, with the latter regarding Non-Public Title 1 services.
They finished the meeting with discussing the elementary, high school and district goals for the 2024-25 school year.
The next board meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21.
SIDNEY BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Sidney Board of Education held their regular meeting on Sept. 16.
The board approved a motion to advertise and receive bids for the purchase of one or more school buses with the help of Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council to advertise and receive bids on said Board’s behalf.
Board members moved to adjourn to an executive meeting to discuss the consideration of the (appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, demotion, or compensation) of an employee/official of the school district, the investigation of charges or complaints against an employee/official of the school district, considering the purchase or sale of property, consulting with legal counsel, discussing negotiations or collective bargaining, discussing matters required to be kept confidential by Federal or State law and discussing security arrangements or emergency response protocols of the District.
The meeting adjourned after the executive session.
The next meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 21.
