Council approves wine to be sold at farmer’s market

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SIDNEY — Shoppers at this season’s The Great Sidney Farmer’s Market will be able to sample and purchase wine along with other local products at the weekly summertime market.

Sidney City Council passed a resolution Monday evening authorizing the the consumption and possession of beer and liquor on public property, and authorized the city manager to enter into a special event use agreement with Sidney Alive, in connection with the The Great Sidney Farmer’s Market between May 27 through Oct. 14, 2017.

Winery vendors must follow special regulations to participate in the market. Among other regulations, no more than four wineries may participate on the same day at the market; participating wineries must produce less than 250,000 gallons and the specific wines poured at the market cannot be distributed with a wholesaler; samples, of a maximum of 1 ounce, must be paid for, with no more than one sample per variety per person per day allowed; wine must be sold in sealed non-glass containers, to go, only; wine must be poured by permit holder, family member or employee; no more than five bottles per day can be sold per household; and the area where wine is consumed must be in a sectioned/fenced off controlled space.

A PowerPoint presentation containing pertinent information for wineries and markets interested in selling wine at the farmer’s market can be found on the city’s website within the city council’s April 24 agenda packet.

In other business, council adopted an ordinance to amend a section of an ordinance regarding the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) surcharge rates for excessive loads from industrial users for years 2017-2019. Total suspended solids/lb will increase to $0.60 from $0.319/lb, and for chemical oxygen demand/lb will increase to $0.214 from $0.119/lb.

Other than the resolution regarding alcohol sales at the farmer’s market, council also adopted seven other resolutions, and they are:

• The reappointment of Michael Jannides to the Sidney City Tree Board for a three-year term to expire on April 30, 2020;

• The reappointment of Kevin Behr to the Sidney Downtown Design Review Board for a three-year term to expire on May 1, 2020;

• Authorization of the city manager to apply for a grant through the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for funding through the transportation alternative program for the restoration and installation of a historic metal truss bow string bridge system in Tawawa Park.

Parks and Recreation Director Duane Gaier said contingent upon grant approval, a donation agreement has been made between the current owner of the truss bow and the city. The bridge, which will be placed across the center of Amos Lake in Tawawa Park, will provide a pedestrian walkway to and from Benjamin Trail. He said the two existing footbridges, located on each side of Amos Lake, will be permanently removed due to their condition. This will eliminate the need for future replacement at cost of $31,000 per bridge.

A preliminary estimate for restoration and installation is expected to cost $758,700. The grant will cover 95 percent of funding and the city will pay the remaining 5 percent. Federal funds will cover $720,765. The city’s portion will cost $37,935. Gaier said Sidney’s five year plan includes $50,000 that is budgeted for the project.

He said it is believed the bridge was built in 1875 in Cleveland, Ohio, and was installed over the Miami-Erie Canal, near Fort Loramie and was there during the 1913 Flood. The bow string bridge is identified as ODOT’s Historical Bridge Inventory and eligible for a national register designation.

• Authorization of the city manager to submit an application to the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) for funding on behalf of Sidney and Shelby County under a 2017 Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) program $850,00 grant.

The CHIP program provides funding from a community-wide approach to improve affordable housing for people with low/moderate-income. Grant money has allowed Sidney and Shelby County to help provide private owner rehabilitation, home repairs, and tenant-based rental assistance for close to 20 years.

CHIP will assist six private owner rehabilitations averaging $43,416 per unit in the form of a deferred loan. It will also assist 20 owner occupied houses in need of home repairs averaging $12,000 per unit and the local housing authority for assistance with rental payments up to 60 client households in the form of a grant.

Community Services Director Barbara Dulworth said 80 percent of the loan will be forgiven, with the remaining 20 percent to be repaid upon transfer of ownership. Any recouped loan money will be put back into the city’s program income account for future rehabilitations.

• Acceptance of the March 23, 2017, recommendations from the tax incentive review council (TIRC) regarding enterprise zone agreements, community reinvestment area agreements and tax increment financing agreements. The TIRC annually reviews all agreements that grants property tax exemptions to ensure property owners are in compliance with the agreement. Dulworth said all companies, except Energizer Personal Care, are in compliance. Energizer Personal Care is now called Edgewell Personal Care. The business fell below by six in the number of full-time employees required. Dulworth and Mayor Mike Barhorst said they expect to see growth, which will add jobs and bring the company into compliance soon.

• Authorization to submit a proposal with ODOT Division of Aviation for 2018 funding from the Ohio Airport Matching Grant program for paving improvements at the Sidney Municipal Airport. The project is estimated to cost $125,000. If approved, the grant will cover five percent, or $6,250, of the costs. The Federal Aviation Administration’s share will cover 90 percent, or $112,500, and the city’s portion is estimated to cost $6,250.

• Authorization for participation in the ODOT winter contract for road salt. Sidney’s Finance Officer Ginger Adams told council the city is required to purchase at least 540 tons of salt, with the ability to purchase up to 660 tons. Sidney has requested 600 tons.

By Sheryl Roadcap

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4823.

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