Public Service Committee Minutes

 

September 17, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Gore at 7:00 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  John Gore, Dan Fogt, Mark Reams

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Kathy House, Tracie Davies, Phil Roush, Brian Palmer

 

AGENDA:

 

1)     Traffic Study

 

The Traffic Study was presented at the last Public Service Committee Meeting.  The Committee was asked to review it, then discuss it at this meeting.  The members were asked for any input received or what direction should be taken.  As discussed at the last meeting, it would be best to do everything in order to get the full picture.  Cost to do everything proposed in the study is $152,526.  That money is not budgeted and would have to be appropriated.

 

Mr. Fogt noted Item #13, Conversion to One-way, 4th & 5th Streets.  He doesn’t see any way that 5th Street can be turned into a one-way street.  If we do one way, it should be 6th and 4th.  Mr. Roush said both scenarios were given.  Mr. Fogt feels one-way on 5th would hurt the businesses.  Joining them on the east and west would be much easier than 6th and 4th.  Mr. Reams feels both options should be studied. 

 

Mr. Gore feels it’s necessary to do the whole study, and not just parts of it.  There is a critical need to get the traffic through town.

 

Messers. Gore and Reams agreed to sponsor the legislation for the appropriation for the entire traffic study.  Mr. Fogt is hesitant about doing the entire study due a change in the administration next year.  He would not want to have to do it all over again once the City has a new Mayor.  Response was it wouldn’t have to be done over again.  The study will not be done by the first of the year.   If Mr. Fogt decides to sponsor the legislation, he will contact Connie Patterson.

 

Mr. Fogt questioned Rt. 4 & Milford Avenue.  Did the school do a traffic study.  Mr. Roush said if he had to leave anything out of the Traffic Study, it would be that part.  The school was told to add a left turn lane on Milford Avenue to Rt. 4.   They are also making two turn lanes along Rt. 4 to their new drives into the school property.  If this area were in the study, they would look at whether or not the intersection should be signalized or whether a round-about would work there.

 

Mr. Roush feels the entire study should be done.

 

          2)  Bokes/Mill Creek Watershed Funding

 

Ms. Davies said the City has been contributing towards the cost of the salary for the Watershed Coordinator for Bokes/Mill Creek.   City pays 1/3 of the cost along with the County and Scotts Company.  City fronts the money for the Scotts Company, and they reimburse the City so it’s eligible for state matching dollars.  Original commitment to the Soil & Conservation District was for three years, through 2008.  Ms. Davies met with Gary Lee and Chris Schmenk, representing Scotts, to discuss another three years, through 2011.  She asked what the Committee thought.

 

Mr. Reams asked how much of the watershed was in the City limits.  Ms. Davies was unsure how many miles, but noted that the majority of the watersheds that have been identified as being problematic are in the City limits.  City’s share is roughly $9,000.  Committee agreed to support the contribution for the next three years.

 

3)     Possible code changes governing unpaid utility fees.

 

Ms. House distributed a memo from Mr. Morehart.  This has been an ongoing problem for quite some time with tenant/landlord utility billings.  The most recent example of that is one of the landlords had their property taxes certified for $675 for a water bill that a tenant racked up over the summer months.  There is always a dispute about whose responsibility that should be.  The City Code authorizes the Finance Department to certify any unpaid utility bills, once a year in August, to property taxes.  An example of how Columbus is handling this issue was attached to Mr. Morehart’s memo.   Mr. Aslaner is reviewing and will determine if this needs to be a code change or simply a policy.  Committee agreed to support.

 

4)     2007 Goals

 

·        Continue working on the traffic study – already discussed.

·        Continue working on the Town Run.

                   Mr. Gore noted that Mr. Eric Phillips mentioned at the last City Council meeting that a committee had been formed to address issues with the Town Run.  John Gore and John Marshall are on this committee, along with several others.   The intent needs to be addressed and hopefully something can be done with it.  From the City’s perspective, next year’s budget will include some money for application and engineering work.  There may be some grant money out there for work of this type.  Feels it would be best served to hire a consultant to coordinate the applications and design.

 

                   Mr. Fogt asked about the replacement of the culvert on 4th Street.  Is this part of this project?  Mr. Roush didn’t think so, but he’ll check on it.  City is going to have the Maple Street bridge inspected, so they’ll look at the culvert at that time. 

 

·        Sidewalk maintenance discussion.  Mr. Reams asked how the program was going.  Ms. House said three applications were received and all have been approved.  She said feedback indicates that quite a few business owners would like to take advantage of the program, but it was set up for residential properties only.  She feels it would be good to open it up to business owners if residents aren’t going to take advantage of it. 

 

Mr. Reams stated the goal is to get sidewalks in.  We need to get those sidewalks in.  This is an incentive, but eventually it could become a mandate.

 

Do we need to expand the area and open it up to business owners?  There is no money proposed in the budget for that.  $10,000 was originally put in the budget for this program.  Mr. Reams would like to see the area expanded, as well as open it up to businesses.

 

                   Committee agreed to keep $10,000 in the budget for next year.

 

·        Stormwater – no updates

·        Street paving – This year’s paving is complete.  Chemcote still needs to correct a couple problems from last year’s paving.  Mr. Fogt asked about the area in front of the Eagles.  Mr. Roush noted that is part of the ODOT program from last year.  Mr. Tracey plans to work on that as time permits.

·        Water and sewer projects – Hope to have the bid documents together yet this month for the water reservoir.   Bid opening for the reservoir will be early November.  There is a possibility it could be started yet this year. 

·        Explore a comprehensive impact fee – no updates

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.