Council Minutes Archives COUNCIL MINUTES City of Harrison February 19, 2008 Council met in regular session with Mayor Joel McGuire presiding. Members present included: Mrs. Deborah Acra,  Mr. Tony Burkart,  Mr. Matt Hiatt,  Mrs. Judy Kercheval,  Mr. Bill Neyer,  Mr. Jim Robertson,  and Mr. Randy Shank. Mr. Bill Deters,  Law Director, was also in attendance. The meeting opened at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Shank made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Kercheval to approve the Council meeting minutes for February 5, 2008.  Mr. Shank made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hiatt to approve the Executive Session meeting minutes for February 5, 2008. Roll Call: All – yea. Mrs. Acra made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Kercheval to approve the purchase orders. Roll Call: All – yea. Mr. Shank made a motion, seconded by Mr. Robertson to approve the January Finance Report. Roll Call: All – yea. Mr. Doug Moorman, vice president of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, addressed council to discuss the responsibilities of the Cincy USA Partnership for Economic Development. The partnership covers three states and 15 counties whose purpose is to promote economic growth through out the region. The partnership has been in existence for five years and is responsible for attracting new jobs and businesses as well as retention efforts. Within the past five years the partnership has managed 800 prospects. Approximately 80 of the prospects have turned into new expansion projects or investment that has created 8000 jobs. The partnership, since its existence, has touched 1 in 4 new jobs that have come into this region. It has also invested in a data base, known as Tracker, which is a prospect management system for economic development. He explained the system is available to the City of Harrison at no cost along with the necessary training. Besides the data base, the partnership also has a real estate locator website. Mr. Moorman described the partnership’s retention efforts within the city of Harrison. He also reported that they are working with Duke Energy to find solutions with regards to the electric reliability problems within the city of Harrison. Mr. Burkart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Neyer to remove an item from the agenda. (The item was mistakenly placed on the agenda. The ordinance was approved by Council at the February 5, 2008 Council meeting.) Roll Call: All – yea. Mr. Shank made a motion, seconded by Mr. Robertson to approve an ordinance creating the Recreation Activity Fund and approving the earmark of funds raised by the Recreation Commission. (Council had a long discussion with regards to the Recreation Committee charging small fees for specific activities, the use of funds for a future recreation complex, the possibility of turning facility upkeep back to the Building & Lands Committee, etc.) (Bill Lutts, president of the Harrison Recreation Commission addressed Council with concerns and comments regarding field maintenance and the role of the commission in keeping the facilities at their best.) Roll Call: All – yea. (Ordinance #14 – 2008). Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mr. Robertson to add an item to the agenda with regards to the approval of an ordinance regarding the City’s website. Roll Call: All – yea. Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mr. Robertson to approve an ordinance approving a license agreement with Qsend Technologies, Inc. for website design and support services. Mr. Hiatt briefed Council members on the responsibilities of the website designers for Phase 1, all the types of city forms that will be available on the website, etc.) Roll Call: All – yea. (Ordinance #15 – 2008). Mayor Report Mayor McGuire invited the public to participate in the Mayor’s Fund Run and Healthfair on Saturday, February 23. The Healthfair starts at 9:00 a.m. at the Harrison Health & Fitness Center, with the 5K Run/Walk beginning at 9:30 a.m. Law Director Report Mr. Deters had no report. Council – Committee Report Mr. Neyer announced the Storm Water Committee will meet on February 21 at 6:00 p.m. Mayor McGuire reported (due to Mr. Neyer’s illness/absence)) the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals had a joint training session for members. Mr. Deters put together a packet for the members explaining all the city’s zoning tools and codes and briefed the members on Ohio Law. Mr. Hiatt reported the Economic Development Committee worked on the ordinance for a new website designer that was approved earlier this evening. He also reported the Recreation Commission will meet on February 28 and all organizations that requested field assignments will be given their permits at this time. Mrs. Acra announced the city version of the Buildings & Lands Committee will meet on February 21 at 5:30 p.m. Mrs. Acra reported on the February 7 meeting of the Harrison Bikeway Committee. The committee discussed items and suggestions from the last public information session; the committee decided to offer a spring public information session at the Harrison Library. The committee completed the design for the Bikeway logo. Mrs. Acra reported the WESTJAD meeting of February 12 was cancelled due to the weather and has been rescheduled for March 13 at 5:30 p.m. Mrs. Acra reported the following training notes from the Harrison Police Department: Officers Rhoades and Yeager attended a 40 hour course on Dignitary Protection and Threat Assessment; Officers Jenkins and Maurits attended an eight hour course on Street Drug Identification. The next meeting of the Police Committee is scheduled February 20 at 5:30 p.m. Mayor McGuire thanked Mrs. Acra for volunteering to be the Council Representative on the Mayor’s Fund Executive Board. Mrs. Kercheval announced the Law Committee will meet on Thursday, April 3 at 5:00 pm. The committee will continue their work on a timeline for various tasks given to them by the Mayor. Mrs. Kercheval reported the Fire Department hosted an Ice Rescue Technician class on February 7. Twenty-four personnel from Harrison, Crosby, Whitewater, and Miami Township in Delhi attended this training and have received certification as basic ice rescue technicians. The fire department will have their annual physicals completed next week at Station 56. Mrs. Kercheval reported the new quint is scheduled for the first week of March pending final inspection. Chief Hursong and the truck committee will leave for Wisconsin to complete the final inspection. Upon arrival all personnel will attend 40 hours of aerial operators training before driving this piece of apparatus. On March 25-28 the Harrison Fire Department will host a swift water operations level class for Region 6. The class is funded by a grant through the State of Ohio. On March 10 Firefighter Aaron Hopkins will receive the Firefighter of the Year Award from the American Legion. Mrs. Kercheval announced the Harrison Fire Department is waiting on a response from the Academy of Medicine for the site visit to approve the paramedic program proposal. Mrs. Kercheval thanked the Street Department for removing the snow from the streets. Mr. Robertson reported the Personnel Committee met on February 19 and discussed different ways to honor city employees. Mr. Robertson reported the Solid Waste & Environmental Committee met on February 19 and discussed recycling incentives to increase recycling in the city. Mr. Robertson reported he attended the annual William Henry Harrison Birthday celebration in North Bend on February 9. He arranged for ICRC to cover the event. It will be telecast when the playback schedule is released. Mr. Burkart had no report, but announced the Utilities/Street/Stormwater Committees will meet on February 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. He also reported the Civil Defense Committee meeting will need to be rescheduled due to the Fire Chief’s out of town inspection. Mr. Shank announced the Street Committee will hold their next meeting on February 21 Mr. Shank announced the Finance Committee will meet on February 27 at 3:00 pm. The committee will discuss consolidating our investments and report simplification. Mr. Shank noted that at last month’s Finance Committee meeting, members began negotiations for insurance with Humana and our brokers. They have set-up an employee benefit fair for February 20 from 11:30 – 1:30. There being no further business, Mr. Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Kercheval to adjourn the meeting. ATTEST: Joel McGuire, Mayor            Carol A. Wiwi, Clerk Back to top • Home
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