SIDNEY — Sidney City Council was introduced to the city’s new utilities director and new water treatment superintendent during Monday’s workshop session, as retiring Utilities Director Larry Broughton attended his last council meeting.
Oct. 13 will be Broughton’s last day as a city employee, but council recognized his service, Monday, with a standing ovation.
Before introducing the new city employees, Gary Clough, assistant city manager/public works director, said Broughton was one of the most “dedicated, compassionate, passionate and honest employees the city of Sidney has every seen.”
Mayor Mike Barhorst invited Broughton to the podium to hear a “resolution,” which Barhorst had teased Broughton about for months, that would prevent him from retiring. However, the document Barhorst read acknowledged “a job well done” and wished Broughton “a long and happy retirement.”
Barhorst said Broughton performed his duties quietly, but with strength, conviction, with great competency and brought undeniable knowledge and skill to his job.
Broughton said, with some emotion in his voice, as he thanked the mayor and council, “When I came here, I was just a little skinny kid with a 28-inch waist, long hair and a little bit of a southern accent. My waist isn’t where it was; the rest of it is still pretty much the same. But, the good Lord blessed me in a lot of ways. I’ve got to do things that I never could have dreamed … Thanks to Gary and Mark for allowing me to move up, and I’m just going to miss you all.”
William Blakely, the new utilities director, began with the city on Aug. 28. He previously served as water and wastewater superintendent for the village of Montpelier, Ohio. Blakely holds an Ohio EPA class III wastewater certification, a class III water supply certification and a class I wastewater analyst certification.
Brian Young, the new water treatment superintendent, began with the city on Sept. 5. Young previously served in various water treatment positions with communities in Ohio, Minnesota, North Dakota and American Water in Leavenworth, Kansas. Young holds a Minnesota class A water supply system operator certification and Minnesota class SA wastewater treatment facility operator certification.
Council also received a presentation from Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst Zack King on the city’s new GIS online interactive maps that was to be launched for the public on Tuesday morning.
The maps are a new and more highly functional digital mapping tool that works similar to Google Maps. As users seek information, such as restaurants or other geographical locations, it adds layers to the map. During the search for pertinent content, the maps zoom, pan and turn layers on or off.
King said at a previous council meeting that the old platform was about 10 years old, a little slower and is accessed through the city’s private intranet network. The new platform is more advanced, has greater customization capability and may be accessed through the city’s web page to view publically shared geospatial data, King said.
City Manager Mark Cundiff said he hopes the maps will help new residents get a better feel of the community for what is available and where.
In other business, council received a presentation on the city’s snow removal policy. Street Manager Brian Green told council due to the mild winters over the last two years, the city has used less than average amounts of salt. He said prices have come down each year from its peak price in 2015. Green said he does not expect a salt shortage and reported prices are lower again this year.
Currently the city has approximately 900 tons of salt on site, with an additional 250 tons at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) field yard. Sidney is under contract for 600 tons of salt this year, at $48.22 per ton delivered; last year the cost was $58 per ton delivered.
Green told council the city’s salt dome is currently under construction and should be complete in the next few weeks. It has a capacity of approximately 2,000 tons. He said the city will purchase salt to fill the dome with money remaining in the budget this year and with next year’s budgeted money.
During council’s comments, Council member Janet Born passed on the request for a ramp to be installed going up to the stage at the Senior Center. Cundiff said they will look into it.
Vice Mayor Mardie Milligan announced the marquee was place on on Monday afternoon at Sidney’s Historic Theatre.
Cundiff reviewed prospective City Council agenda items for the next 30 days and announced that there will not be a Planning Commission or Zoning Board meeting on Monday, Oct. 16. since no cases are on the schedule.
In final business, council went into an executive session to consider the employment of a public official/employee and for pending or imminent court action. There was no action taken when council emerged from the session.
