SIDNEY — Awaited research about neighboring communities’ swimming pool concessions was presented to Sidney City Council during Monday’s meeting.
Parks and Recreation Director Duane Gaier surveyed 11 area communities during the fall, and presented his finding on the seven which responded in an effort to begin making Sidney Water Park’s (SWP) concession stand profitable.
He said five communities operated their concessions in-house, and two contracted out-of-house. Two communities had vending machines present; one of which only had vending machines available for customers. However, Gaier said, when he reached out to several vending machine companies, none were interested in operating at an aquatic facility in the future, as they experience a lot of theft, or loss at these facilities from children saying they lost money in the machine, etc.
Staffing and financial reporting varied greatly from community to community, Gaier said. And he found that six of the seven aquatic facilities allowed food and drink to be carried in by families.
For 2018, Gaier said SWP staffing will again be reduced in an attempt to make the concession stand profitable. Two staff members will work to maintain concession food preparation and point of sale areas. Operations will be supplemented, he said, with the help of Recreation Specialist Jennie Rogers during busy times when she is at the park.
Council agreed to continue to allow SWP guests to continue to bring-in their own food and drink. It was noted that some visitors may either have a specialized diet or choose to consume options not available at the concession stand.
In other business, council passed an ordinance, by a 6-1 vote, for a limited blanket authorization for the Sidney’s Law Director Jeffery Amick to initiate and defend the city through usual and customary litigation operations.
The ordinance will save unnecessary publication expense, provide greater flexibility in the conduct of routine legal matters, and lessen the need for multiple legislative, Amick said.
“Of course, litigation which may be needed to appropriate property, to engage in complex legal matters, or, which in any way would be said to be outside of the normal daily operations of the city would be exempted from such blanket authorization,” Amick said. That will still require council’s “authorization on a case-by-case basis.”
Vice Mayor Mardie Milligan voted no because she feels the authorization is too broad. She told Amick she appreciates the effort put forth and he did try to answer her questions, but she said she can’t support the legislation.
Council adopted a second ordinance Monday, which was introduced simultaneously, and was passed as an emergency regarding small cell facilities and wireless (cellphone) support towers in the right of way.
It was declared an emergency so it will become effect upon passage.
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director said it was important to adopt it as an emergency because although the governor will sign the bill in April that challenges the cities’ authority for regulation, its effective date is unknown. Sidney’s ordinance must be in effect at least 90 days prior to the submitting of an application to place a tower for it to be in effect for that application, he said.
The ordinance establishes general procedures and standards for the siting, construction, placement, collocation, modification, operation and removal of small cell facilities and wireless support structures in Sidney.
Council also adopted two resolutions to reappoint Frank Ratermann to the Shelby County Regional Planning Commission and to authorize City Manager Mark Cundiff to enter into a special even agreement with Raise the Roof for the Arts.
Ratermann’s three-year term will begin retroactively on Jan. 1, 2018, and will expire on Dec. 31, 2020. He has served on the Shelby County Regional Planning Commission since 2006; his last term ended Dec. 31, 2017.
The special event agreement allows Raise the Roof for the Arts to use a portion of Sidney’s property, which is commonly knows as the Ohio Building parking lot, for three outdoor concerts on June 23, July 28 and Aug. 25, 2018.
Council member Steve Wagner noted July 28 is the last day of the fair. He was told, in response to his question about the procedure if Raise the Roof for the Arts wanted to change the concert date, that the organization would need to return to council for permission if they wanted to choose a different date to use the city’s property.
During city manager’s comments, Cundiff mentioned the recent ruling in which a judge upheld an Ohio law allowing the state to collect municipal business-profit taxes from cities, counties and villages. Cities, including Sidney, sued last year, calling it a power grab by Gov. John Kasich for one of the largest revenue sources that Ohio municipalities continue to control. Cundiff said “it’s not over with,” as the coalition of cities’ case is advancing through the appeals process.
Cudiff also announced the city received the Bronze Award for work on its 2017’s United Way Campaign. Council applauded and thanked Assistant Resource Coordinator Kelly Holthaus for her hard work running the campaign.
Council also went into an executive session to consider discipline of a public employee and to prepare for negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees. There was no action taken when council emerged from the session.
