by JP Miklovic
The North Baltimore Village Council was all “discombobulated” this evening, as they started the meeting without council member Leslee Thompson and Village Administrator Allyson Murray. Normally this would not matter so much, but tonight council needed to appoint a new council member, needing to wait for Ms. Thompson so that the full council (five members) could vote.
Thompson sits on the Wood County Planning Commission, who’s monthly meeting coincides with the first council meeting of the month, the commissions meetings begin at 5:30. Murray was also at the planning meeting, speaking to the need for the village to continue the development of the ADA compliant sidewalk entrances at the intersection of N. Main St. and Walnut St. (North sides).
Once the meeting was on track, the most important business was appointing a new council member to replace Matt Archer, who took a job in the Columbus area. Turning in written letters of interest by the deadline were Holly Emahiser and Malcolm Cameron. Greg Waaland submitted his letter of interest electronically, but it was received past the deadline.
Emahiser was the only person nominated and received all five of the council votes for appointment to fill the term which ends 12/31/2019. Emahiser, 31, is a 2003 graduate of North Baltimore High School and was recently named Assistant Director at the NB Public Library. She also was recently appointed to the NB Planning Commission. Holly said, “I am a home owner here and plan on being a lifer, so I want this town to be the best that it can be!”
In other council activity, Council welcomed North Baltimore High School, incoming senior, Kiah Powell as the new student representative to council.
Council learned that there was some unforeseen damage found on the municipal building roof project, that resulted in a change order for $7,363.85. It had been discovered that some damage to a bearing wall, at the police department, had been compromised in a fire years ago and needed reinforced, to hold the weight of the new roof structure. Helms & Sons, the contractor, and Peterman & Associates, the engineer, were taken to task by council person Ty Carles, who expressed his concerns that this might be the start of additional change orders. Murray tried to allay his concerns, saying she had reasonable assurances that there should not be additional issues. The change order passed 4 – 2 with Carles and Rich Rose voting “no”.
Council discussed the upcoming agreement with Amplex Internet for their installation of equipment on the village owned water tower out by I – 75. Amplex is the primary communications provider for the Wood County Sheriff, who needs to expand their coverage to the southern end of the county. In exchange for providing Amplex access and space for the installation, the village will receive up to six free business enterprise class internet connections for village functions. In addition, some village residents, with line-of-site on the tower, will have another option for high speed internet and able to get away from the cable monopoly held by Time-Warner (or whatever they are called now…).
Phil Walter was hired as both a part-time Police Patrolman and as a part-time EMT. Walter has over 20 years in safety services.
Additional Report from the various departments will be posted in the near future.
