Council Minutes Archives City of Harrison COUNCIL MINUTES February 20, 2007 Council met in regular session with Mayor Gieringer presiding. Members present included: Mrs. Deborah Acra, Mr. Tony Burkart, Mrs. Judy Kercheval, Mr. Joel McGuire, Mr. Bill Neyer, Mr. Jim Robertson, and Mr. Randy Shank. Mr. Bill Deters, the Law Director, was also in attendance. The meeting opened at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Burkart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to add an item to the agenda regarding the meeting agenda. Roll Call: All - yea. Mr. Burkart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to address the business scheduled for the February 6, 2007 meeting (which was cancelled due to weather) be addressed at the February 20 meeting and that the meeting be adjourned after the passage of this motion. Roll Call: All - yea. There being no further business, Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to adjourn the meeting. Roll Call: All - yea. Council met in regular session with Mayor Gieringer presiding. Members present included: Mrs. Deborah Acra, Mr. Tony Burkart, Mrs. Judy Kercheval, Mr. Joel McGuire, Mr. Bill Neyer, Mr. Jim Robertson, and Mr. Randy Shank. Mr. Bill Deters, the Law Director, was also in attendance. The meeting opened at 7:35 p.m. Mr. Shank made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Kercheval to approve the regular Council meeting minutes for January 16, 2007. The minutes were approved as presented. Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Acra to approve the February 2 purchase orders. Roll Call: All - yea. Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Acra to approve the February 16 purchase orders. Roll Call: All - yea. Mr. Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to approve the December 2006 Finance Report. Roll Call: All - yea. Mr. Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to table the approval of an ordinance permitting council members and part-time employees of the City of Harrison to receive city-provided health and dental insurance. Roll Call: All - yea. Mr. Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shank to approve a resolution requesting the Hamilton County Auditor to make payments of taxes pursuant to Section 321.34 of the Ohio Revised Code. Roll Call: All - yea. (Resolution #1 - 2007). Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burkart to approve an ordinance approving the lease purchase agreement of two life squads and two staff vehicles for the Harrison Fire Department. Roll Call: All - yea. (Ordinance #2 - 2007). Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burkart to approve a resolution authorizing the City of Harrison to participate in the State of Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program. Roll Call: All - yea. (Resolution #2 - 2007). Mayor Report The Mayor reported on the following receipts from the January 2007 Mayor’s Court: City of Harrison - $12,444 ; Treasurer of State - $2599; Drug Cases - $105; Computer Fund - $535; OVI Cases - $340; Interest for 2006 - $192.58. Mayor’s Court receipts are up $3620 in comparison to January 2006. Mayor Gieringer thanked the 3rd grade teachers and students from Harrison Elementary and the Cats Kids News members for their donations to the Harrison Mayor’s Fund. He also thanked the congregation from the St. Johns United Church of Christ for donating a portion of their Christmas offering to the Mayor’s Fund. Mayor Gieringer reminded Council that Claire Palmer of Community Services West will be visiting council in the near future and to be prepared to offer a donation again this year as in the past years. Law Director Report Mr. Deters reminded Council that labor negotiations with the Steelworkers Union will begin in March or April. He also reported that the City of Harrison has been named a defendant in a new lawsuit which was filed last week by Walmart against the Hamilton County Board of Elections of which the City was named an additional defendant in the case. The issue is whether the action by Council to approve the consent decree was legislative in nature and/or administrative. Mr. Deters also reported that he has given Mr. Robertson a copy of specific language that he has suggested to the Harrison Planning Commission for the creation of a B2 Zoning District for the City of Harrison. Council - Committee Report Mr. Neyer reported on the following items from the Utilities Committee: The committee briefly discussed the schedule for the Dry Fork Road sewer extension . The committee discussed the need to have a new contract in place for emergency snow removal due to the death of the contract’s holder. The committee discussed the storm water program and storm water fees. Mr. Neyer announced that the next Utilities Committee meeting would be held on March 12 at 4:00 p.m. Mr. McGuire announced that the Streets Committee would meet after the Utilities Committee on March 12 at 5:00 p.m. The committee has submitted 3 proposals on how to improve the Stone Drive/New Haven Road intersection. JMA will review the proposals. Mr. McGuire reported on the ongoing contract negotiations with Mainstreet Harrison, Inc. Mr. McGuire announced that the Civil Defense Committee would meet on February 21 at 5:00 p.m. to discuss a proposed table top drill on a flood scenario. Mr. McGuire noted that the Safety Committee would not meet until May but reminded directors to update the committee on recent shots and immunizations. Mrs. Acra reported on the following items from the January 30 Buildings & Lands Committee: The committee is in the process of reviewing items concerning the city and township division of the Community Center. The committee decided to meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for February 17 at 6:00 p.m. Mrs. Acra reported on the February 5 meeting of the Western Joint Ambulance District. The members discussed implementing changes brought on by the passage of the Levy. The district now has 3 medics on a 24/7 schedule and the district is now in the process of adding the necessary equipment to add the fourth medic. Mrs. Acra reported on the following items from the January 17 Police Committee meeting: The public lobby flooring installation is now complete as well as the installation of a new squad room door. The committee discussed budget revisions due to the budget cuts in the amount of $66,560.36. This includes cutting: one additional Police officer hire, replacement of a lease car, motor patrol program, and the citizens Police academy. Mrs. Acra reported that all officers and Police clerks completed a 4 hour CPR re-certification course. Officer Willig attended a 24 hour course on water fatalities and Officers Ramsey and Seiter attended a 4 hour course on Prescription Drug Abuse Enforcement. Mrs. Acra announced that the 2006 Annual Report was submitted by Chief Lindsey and any information contained in this report is available to the public upon request of the Chief. Then next Police Committee meeting will be held on February 21 at 6:00 p.m. Finally, Mrs. Acra offered her thanks to the City Service Department as well as the Police and Fire Departments for their work during the recent winter storms. Mrs. Kercheval reported that the Economic Development/Resource Committee members committee worked on their time line for specific goals for the year at the February 5 meeting. They will meet again on February 26 at 4:00 p.m. to finalize the time line. Mrs. Kercheval thanked all those who worked on the Valentines for the Troops project. This year 525 valentines were sent. Mrs. Kercheval thanked the Street Department and Fire and Police Departments for their assistance during the winter storms. Mr. Robertson announced that the Finance Committee would meet on March 12 at 5:00 p.m. at the Community Center. He also reported that he, along with several members of Council, Gayle Grubbs and Mayor Gieringer attended the post audit meeting with the auditors on February 6. Mr. Robertson reported that he and Mr. McGuire attended the Annual ICRC meeting on January 20. Mr. Robertson reported that he will be meeting with Dan Brooks on the annual boundary survey for the official census map. Finally, Mr. Robertson reported that the large recycling cylinders around the Community Center are on loan as a recycling incentive. The bottle recycling containers can be purchased or rented for special events. Mr. Robertson reported that the Solid Waste & Environmental Committee is looking for additional recycling incentives to move the city to the next recycling level, which could over the course of a year could add an additional $1000 in incentives. Mr. Burkart reported that the February meeting of the Fire Committee was cancelled due to the weather. Mr. Burkart announced a list of cuts by the Fire Department in response to the across the board 3% budget cuts approved by Council. The cuts include: $30,000 in Fire salaries, $25,000 in the Fire Pension Fund, and $15,000 reduction in the capital reserve fund. Total reductions total $70,000. The next meeting of the Fire Committee is scheduled for March 14 at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Burkart reported on the January 24 meeting of the Harrison Recreation Commission: The committee reviewed the budget and cut 3% which totaled $2,000. The committee elected the following officers for 2007: President: Mary Roehm; Vice President: Terry Fritz; Secretary: Connie Dickerson. Lynch Fireworks and Rozzi Fireworks were in attendance and gave quotes for 2007. Since the Jr. High dance was not well attended, the Committee hopes to work with the Junior High to come up with a new program. The skate park has two new quarter pipes. The committee hopes the participants will be active in keeping the park clean. The Reds game for the Seniors will be scheduled in June or July. The committee is always looking for new volunteers. Mr. Burkart announced that the next meeting of the Recreation Commission is scheduled for February 28 at 7:00 p.m. Representatives from organizations interested in ball field assignments need to be at this meeting. Mr. Shank announced that the Personnel Committee will meet on February 28 at 5:30 p.m. Mr. Shank thanked the Street Department, Police and Fire Departments for keeping the streets clean and the community safe during the recent winter storms. Mayor Gieringer reminded residents that the Mayor’s Fund Run will be held on Saturday, February 24 at 9:30 a.m. Mayor Gieringer announced budget cuts that have been made from the following city departments: Senior Center - $5700 (outreach services and contractual services) Street Department - $16,000 (salt and related materials) Community Center - $3300 (salaries), $508(fringe benefits), $11,005(contractual), $650(supplies) for a total of $15,934. Mayor Gieringer also received correspondence from the Compass Point Condominium Board on February 13. They reported that they have not received the final letter from Dan Brooks summarizing the findings of the engineers. Mayor Gieringer noted that he will discuss this with Mr. Brooks and Mr. Deters. There being no further business, Mr. Shank made a motion, seconded by Mr. McGuire to adjourn the meeting. Roll Call: All - yea. ATTEST: Daniel J. Gieringer, Mayor                 Carol A. Wiwi, Clerk Back to top • Home
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