Minster Village Council approves 2019 budget

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MINSTER — The Minster Village Council approved a 2019 budget of $30,389,636 at their regular monthly meeting last week.

Village Fiscal Officer John Stechshulte presented the overall budget, as well as details of what expenses and purchases are anticipated in each department.

For example, the Fire Department’s $410,500 portion of the budget includes an anticipated $171,500 purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The department’s current SCBA are set to expire at the end of 2019. They also are allowing $220,000 for building renovation.

The Police Department’s $61,000 budget includes earmarks to purchase a 2019 Ford Explorer police cruiser and three tasers.

Among the $2,236,220 in projected capital improvements are funding for new pickleball courts, expected to cost $484,000. Other capital improvement projects planned are renovation of the gazebo, replacement of the library roof, money for the new Second Street sanitary sewer project, and annual street resurfacing.

The village’s Issue One budget for the Second Street sanitary sewer project is $2,800,000.

Part of the electrical department’s $1,856,262 budget is planned to be used to build the new Northwest Electric Substation.

Of the $95,450 Parks budget, there are plans to spend $11,250 for a new fitness trail, a Kabota cab tractor, mower, and pick-up truck.

In other actions, the council held a first reading of an ordinance to accept a low bid of $2,607,813 from Helms and Sons Evacuating of Findlay for the Second Street sanitary sewer project.

Village Administrator Donald Harrod said he wanted to review the bid details to make certain they were best for the village. Three other bids were submitted.

Second readings of alley ordinances vacating two alleys were also approved. Weigandt has requested vacation of the alley between Jefferson and Garfield streets south of Fifth Street. Nidec requested a vacation between Cleveland and Ohio streets north of Sixth Street.

Council also approved an ordinance to provide fire services to the Village of Fort Loramie from the north shore of Lake Loramie to the village limits. Fort Loramie will compensate Minster $14,975 for this service.

The Minster Historical Society was granted permission to hold a Food Truck Rally on June 1, 2019.

A third and final reading was approved for an ordinance regulating installation of small cell technology in public areas. A second reading was approved to have the State of Ohio Attorney General to collect delinquent income taxes. There was a first reading of a revised village credit card policy that meets current ORC guidelines.

In his report to council, Harrod reviewed progress on a number of projects.

He said Parks Drilling had completed the drilling and pouring of the caissons for the steel structures for the new Northwest Substation. Bid documents for the steel structures that are part of the project have been sent out to prospective bidders and are due back to the village toward the end of the month.

Harrod reported that the water main break on South Lincoln Street, on Jan. 29, was the only one during this year’s cold weather.

Electric crews have started the process of relocating wires and poles in alleys between Fourth and Third streets, east of Hamilton Street and west of Hamilton Street.

He said Stolly Insurance and the Ohio Plan village property and liability insurance premium of $59,817.00 had decreased from the previous year.

Finally, Harrod said the village is currently undergoing the 10-year review of their ISO rating by Insurance Service Organization. ISO looks at the capabilities of the Fire Department and our Water Department and develops a rating that is used by insurance companies to determine property and liability insurance premiums for residents and businesses in the village.

By Sandy Rose Schwieterman

For the Sidney Daily News

The writer is a regular contributor to the Sidney Daily News.

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