Dover authorizes emergency supplemental appropriations
Justin Perkowski is sworn in as Dover Council president by Law Director Doug O’Meara, filling the position vacated when Shane Gunnoe became interim mayor. Holding a Bible are his children, Jase, 6, and Reagan, 3.
Dover Council voted to authorize an emergency ordinance to help shore up funding for numerous reasons. Finance committee chair Kevin Korns asked for suspension of the rules in passing the ordinance to meet the current obligations in the city of Dover.
Auditor Nicole Stoldt gave the reasons for emergency ordinance 30-22 at a finance committee meeting on June 6.
“What started to be a small appropriation has now grown a little bit with certain things that have come to fruition in the last couple of days,” Stoldt said. “I'll hit some of the major points. The first one, of course, is because we're paying for two mayor salaries. We had to increase all the salary, Medicare, OPERS and medical/life. So that is the first section that we had to increase.
“The next larger one, parks and recreation, have had a few repairs that need done. So I increased a couple of their lines and then nondepartmental miscellaneous. We have an abundance of legal fees, of course. So I had to increase it until we get through this next round of litigation that city has against them, unfortunately. But we are now getting to where after this, we may have to change our master capital allocation to put more money in the general fund if it continues. Because like Shane (Gunnoe) and I've talked, the money tree is getting pretty bare.”
She said the city needed to be very vigilant from here on out. Extra money was needed to repair a bad well at the park; it needed cleaned and a new motor. Work was projected to be completed on that project next week.
“In the street department, we had some vehicles that have had trouble with some exhaust and some undercarriage repairs. We're choosing to repair some of those because we can't get vehicles right now. We’re on the list; some of them are years out. So we're going to put some money into some of the ones that we have right now,” Stoldt said.
Processing fees through Smith Ambulance went up for ambulance service, and an increase was needed there. There was an increase in the traffic signalization project of about $20,000, as well as an increase in the funding needed to cover the purchase of a Kubota to use at the cemetery.
“In the water fund, you'll see we have money in water, electric and sewer, but our utility manager is going to be retiring. That was not budgeted for, so we need to put money in there for their payout when the retirement happens,” Stoldt said.
Problems with some of the lights at the fields at the park also will initially take more funds to replace. The lights are 25 years old. They are leaking, cracking and going out.
“We're going to try to do a little bit in the next couple of years. That is going to be a shared project between the electric fund and master capital. It's the same type of retrofitting that electric field division is doing throughout the city with the new lights. It'll be very beneficial for the city with cost savings,” Stoldt said.
Gunnoe said the light issue was addressed in a staff meeting earlier in the day. Though the lights are expensive initially, they would last about 30 years. This would decrease the amount of power used, and the lights would pay for themselves over time.
More manpower is needed to address the light problems, adding to costs.
“We're going to try to put some money in there, try to get a few fields done and see. They're kind of playing it by ear to see if maybe we can reduce the amount of lights on each field because these lights are brighter. So this will just get us started,” Stoldt said. "Then we'll know what the budget is in the next couple of years to do the rest."
Other changes made were transfers from one fund to another. Some departments had the money, but it was needed elsewhere because of breakdowns and other various things.
The total appropriations made in the general fund under mayor in four categories was $48,162; police for vehicles, parts and gas totaled $11,500; traffic under telephone was $125; parks and recreation's three categories totaled $10,500; nondepartmental under miscellaneous, emergency management agency and small capital expenditures totaled $93,871.50; street fund under material, parts and equipment was $35,000; cemetery fund in two categories was $4,300; Dover ambulance fund was $25,000; master capital fund for traffic signalization phase II and cemetery Kubota was $22,500; water fund was $19,200; and electric fund under five categories totaled $98,900.
Transfers were $25,000 from call-out time to five categories receiving $5,000 each, relating to equipment, grounds, gas and travel in the general fund.
In the master capital fund, $59,360.85 was transferred to ball-field renovations/lights and traffic signalization.
In the sewer fund, $74,200 was moved from capital improvement and M&R equipment to salary, OPERS and materials, and parts and equipment.
Interim Mayor Shane Gunnoe gave a mayor’s report. Some of the highlights were a meeting between the City of Dover and the Dover Schools safety task force to work on strategic planning for their ongoing safety and needs.
“As recommended, following council's investigation authorized by resolution 3-21, tomorrow all employees under the authority of the mayor's office will undergo ethics training. Future trainings will be provided regarding sexual harassment and drug-free workplace policies,” Gunnoe said.
Gunnoe also announced former council member Don Maurer has agreed to serve as an appointment on the planning commission.
“With this appointment all city boards with the exception of the architectural review board are now full. We have one vacancy left to fill on that board,” Gunnoe said.
Gunnoe commended the electric field department for its response last week on June 2 when a five-person crew provided mutual aid to the City of Hudson as a result of the damage they received from the recent storms.
The crew assisted Hudson employees and provided three bucket trucks and one pickup truck in the effort and returned to Dover early the next day. Gunnoe said he received a thank you from Hudson City Council.
The Local Broadcast Network, a business that specializes in advertising and marketing across multiple platforms, was welcomed to the city.
Demolition has begun for the walking path at the city park.
“The stairs leading to the amphitheater are now closed, and we're looking forward to the finished product. Due to ongoing construction, the pool road will be reduced to one lane temporarily. We ask that all those using pool road please use caution,” Gunnoe said.
Gunnoe also congratulated the members of the Dover Exchange Club for a successful Canal Festival over Memorial Day weekend.
The city is still looking for more summer help in various departments. Anyone interested should contact the service director.
As part of the city’s efforts to better communicate with residents, a new Facebook account was established. The account is City of Dover, Ohio Municipal Government.
Gunnoe also requested a special session of city council on Monday, June 13 at 7 p.m. to hear a presentation and a proposed agreement with Omni Fiber, a new company wanting to provide high-speed affordable internet access to Dover residents and partner with the city through that process.
Other ordinances passed at the meeting were emergency ordinance 26-22 authorizing funding for the TUS Dover Signals project phase II. The city would pay $123,360.85 of the $2,088,924.86 project, with the rest coming from federal funding.
Council also passed emergency ordinance 29-22 to opt out of Ohio House Bill 172 and reaffirm the ban on discharging, igniting or exploding fireworks in the city of Dover as set forth in chapters 545 and 1519 of the codified ordinances of Dover.
Donations are now being accepted for a bronze statue to honor former K-9 officers for the City of Dover. Below the statue will be space for paw-print-shaped metal plates for the dog’s name. The statue would be placed on the square by the police station. According to Sandy Moss, who researched the project, the total cost is estimated at around $17,000. Anyone wishing to donate can send a check to the City of Dover with “K-9 memorial” in the memo line.
Council went into executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss personnel issues with no action being taken.