By Sue Miklovic
There was plenty of Public Participation at the July meeting of the North Baltimore Village Council. Council President Matt Beegle led the meeting, as Mayor Goldner was out of town. Councilman Tim Engard was selected to serve as President Pro Tem for the evening.
The Public Participation segments included issues with flooding, due to the recent heavy rains. Village resident Sam Bretz shared how he had lived in the same home on Gillette St. for 47 years and not had this problem previously. “Thank you for whatever you can do to help the situation,” he said. DPW Superintendent Doug Wickard said, “We had to go in to the backyard, to a catch basin, and dig it out by hand, because it’s too wet to take any heavy equipment in there. The problem is it’s probably full of tree roots.”
Resident Shirley Hutchison shared for the second time in as many months, her issues with standing water continues, as her problem stems with a situation apparently caused by CSX, and their unwillingness to respond to any communications from either Ms. Hutchinson or the Village. She lives directly beside the tracks and said, “This has not been right since they added that third set of tracks” Village Administrator Michael Brillhart said he has contacted CSX through letter and email without response. Councilman Aaron Patterson suggested, “Maybe we should try to contact the FRA-Federal Rail Authority.” Brillhart shook his head in agreement.
Tall grass and weeds were the concern of three residents from the Poe Road, George Street area, who are fearful of an abundance of mosquitoes and ticks from the overgrown area. Village Clerk Kathi Bucher, who has responsibility of contacting property owners for violations to the village policy for overgrown grass, has been unable to find the correct contact information for the property owner. The owner no longer lives at the address.
Besides the weed situation, Resident Bob McCartney also asked about an orange cord that appears to be plugged into a power pole in the area. Department of Public Works superintendent Doug Wickard said he believes it is a cablevision situation.
Village resident Martin Smith also voiced his concern during Public Participation regarding a property he owns at 400 E. Maple Street. This area is where the Safe Routes to School grant project sidewalks are being installed. He inquired about the size of the catch basin that was being placed at the corner.
Mr. Tony Swartz updated the council on all the financial improvements he is working on, including software implementation for emailing water bills and any other fees due to the village; 2019 Appropriation ordinance update; 2020 estimate of revenues ; possible change of software for the payroll, budgeting, accounting, inventory-more suitable for a village of our size. He also mentioned he is pursuing grants for vehicle (truck) replacement, preparing to interview candidates for the vacant clerk position, and working on a completing monthly Book to Bank reconciliations for 2018. Councilman Aaron Patterson said, “I hope you will stay until all this done and that it takes, like twelve years!” Mr. Swartz replied, “My goal is to stay until whoever I hand this off to, has a good understanding of how to make it work (with what has been put in place)”
Village Administrator Michael Brillhart’s report included giving updates of the status of several grants the village is working on.
*The Safe Routes to School (sidewalks) project is happening right now (Drive down to East Maple Street and check it out)
*The Downtown Revitalization grant, for the 100 block of North Main Street is expected to begin on August 5th.
*The Neighborhood Revitalization Grant is expected to begin the design and engineering phase for the 6 projects selected, in July or August.
*The new basketball goal systems acquired for the Village Park through a Wood County Park District grant are ordered and expected to be installed during July.
* Also, N.B. Downtown Enhancement project public information meeting will be held at the Depot Community Hall at 6:00p.m. on July 15th
The Council approved a request from the North Baltimore Chamber of Commerce to close streets for the Good Ole Summertime Festival on Saturday, July 27th from 6:00a.m. until midnight.
The meeting began with prayer from Pastor Mike Soltis of The Bridge Fellowship, who prayed for “the Village and those that serve”
