Members Present:

Mayor Mr. Rolfes

Law Director Mr. Reichert

Councilpersons Mr. Simpson, Mr. Welch, Mrs. Romweber, Mr. Nunnery, Mr. Boll, Mr. Sammons 

Clerk Ms. Ross

Mr. Sammons arrived at 7:50 P.M.

MINUTES:

Mr. Welch moved that the December Minutes be accepted. Mr. Boll seconded the motion. Motion carried 100%.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Mr. Welch moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report.

Mr. Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried 100%.

Mr. Welch moved that the Clerk/Treasurer be authorized to pay the bills. Mrs. Romweber seconded the motion. Motion carried 100%.

MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR’S REPORT

Supervisor Gillespie reported that the new steps were put on Post Avenue to the fire department parking lot. They mulched the bushes on Post Avenue and around the Municipal Building. They picked up garbage on both sides of Shady Lane. They replaced two new basketball nets.

The Christmas lights were removed in the Village as well as the Christmas tree in the park.

The flags were lowered in honor of President Ford then put back to full mast today.

New reverse lights were put on the pickup truck and a spotlight on the rear of the dump truck.

A tree was removed at Post and Taylor Avenues and also Washington Avenue. Also the stumps were removed.

The Department put up the flags for Martin Luther King Day.

The Department salted the roads on the 21^st. The hydraulic hose broke on the dump truck. Mr. Boll picked up the new hose and fittings while the department continued to plow the streets with the pick up truck. Mr. Boll also used his snow blower on the sidewalk and in front of the municipal building.

Mr. Gillespie had a meeting with Bob Cheatham the supervisor of the work done on the new overpass. Everything is complete on the overpass and ready for Duke Energy to hook up the electricity.

The hallway and bathroom were painted and trimmed.

Last Friday was Matt Rohrkasse’s last day with the Village. He secured a full time position with Miami Township. Mr. Gillespie stated that Matt was a very good Village employee. We will miss him. The Department had a pizza lunch and cake for Matt on his last day here to thank him for all his hard work in the Village.

Mr. Gillespie welcomed Mr. Terry King as a new employee and reported Mr. King is doing a great job already.

GUESTS

Superintendent Rhonda Bohannon and Mr. David Shuey from the Three Rives School Board addressed Council to educate them on the need to build a new school building in the Three Rivers School District. Mr. Shuey stated that the newest building in the district was built in 1951 and is the Three Rivers Middle School. New buildings are needed to address ADA accessibility, more energy efficient mechanics and to upgrade the departments like the science lab that presently has no running water.

The buildings, because of their age, do not meet the new laws on safety. Mr. Shuey said the district has 2000 students spread out in 4 old buildings and currently there is no money to even renovate any of the facilities. He said the past levy lost by a 2 to 1 margin and the reasons researched were that there are too many seniors in the district who can not pay the increased costs for new schools. Others felt the levy was too expensive at one time. Many said they wanted another way to fund the schools rather than raising property taxes. The Boards is studying 3 options, which are:

1. To place a 1% earned income tax to fund building a new elementary school. 
2. To place a bond issue at 4.95 M to build the elementary school.
3. To do nothing and let the old buildings deteriorate more

The new elementary school would be built on existing land. If either of the 1 or 2 options is successful the State of Ohio will still make their contribution as they committed to the district earlier.

POLICE REPORT:

Officer Hyrnak stated December 2006 was a slow month for crime. There were 51 details resulting in 2 incident reports both from 154 Miami Avenue. There was a decrease in auto thefts and the attempted abduction turned out to be a false report.

The Mayor asked that the Department provide a police escort for the William Henry Harrison Memorial on February 10, 2007 at 10.30 A.M. Officer Hyrnak said the Sheriff’s Department would have someone available.

FIRE REPORT:

Deputy Chief Steve Ober reported that there will be an Open House from noon until 4.00 P.M. on February 11, 2007 to show the citizens the newly renovated firehouse on Mt. Nebo Road. The department will receive a new fire engine to replace the old one from 1982. The old one will be used as a back-up for the Department if ever needed. 

Chief Ober stated the department received a federal grant for $129,000 and will buy new protective equipment for the firefighters.

COUNCIL OLD BUSINESS:

None

SOLICITOR OLD BUSINESS:

None

MAYOR’S OLD BUSINESS:

None

COMMITTEES:

Finance

Mr. Welch reported that the Clerk/Treasurer rolled over a $75,000 CD that had come due. New interest rate for the 9 month CD will be 5.24%. He also reported he would set up a finance committee meeting to review appropriations before the next meeting.

Light, Water and Sewer

None

Maintenance

Mr. Boll reported that work on the new administration building roof would begin once the weather is better. Also, there was a request to limit parking on 1 side of the street off US50 and Miami Avenue. The maintenance committee will review the area and make a recommendation to council.

Police & Fire

Mr. Simpson reported that Deputy Chief Steve Ober received the Greater Cincinnati Alliance for Chemical Safety’s prestigious “Second Mile” Award. Mr. Boll was also present for Chief Ober’s award. This award goes to the individual who has gone the extra mile to improve chemical safety. Chief Ober was always there participating and training others concerning “Shelter in Place” sessions. He was in the forefront for Emergency Response in Addyston.

Mr. Simpson also reported that the VFW wants to expand the Cleves Memorial Day Parade and include Addyston and North Bend. The parade would start in Addyston and featured would be 100 antique cars and 100 veterans. He will advise later as to the specifics of the parade expansion.

Mr. Simpson also reported that North Bend has a sex offender living in the village. There are 20 listed sex offenders living within a 3 mile radius of the Administration Building.

Mr. Simpson asked that citizens be vigilant concerning the children in the village.

Planning and Zoning

Mayor Rolfes reported that Planning and Zoning had on issue regarding the Bed and Breakfast in Aston Oaks owned by Sandy and Don Blum. It has been mutually decided that the Blums would withdraw their request to change the zoning to B-2 so they could add 12 additional parking spaces. The zoning will remain at R-2 and be given conditional use to build 4 new spaces. The parking spaces can be completed in gravel.

Law & Ordinance

Mrs. Romweber reported that the parking on Turnberry is still under discussion. Currently, guests of residents park on both sides of the street. There is concern that because of the hill and bend in the road that the parking may cause a problem for both fire equipment and other traffic in the area. Mrs. Romweber reported that Mr. Carl Rosskopf, President of the AOHOA has not responded to her letter as yet.

SOLICITOR NEW BUSINESS:

Solicitor Reichert said that we had overlooked a 2007 Ordinance to Appoint Hamilton County as our Village Building Inspector and accept the fee schedule for their work as specified in the contract.

Mr. Welch moved we pass this Ordinance as an emergency. Mrs. Romweber seconded the motion. Motion to declare this Ordinance an emergency carried 100%.

Mr. Welch moved that Council pass Ordinance #2007-02 hiring Hamilton County to do our Village Building Inspections work. Mrs. Romweber seconded the motion. Motion carried 100%.

Solicitor Reichert said he revised the agreement presented to him from Addyston concerning the water issue. He said he has not heard from them and said he was open to meeting with them. The residents will be assessed when repairs are needed. Three or four residents have agreed. Others are investigating asking Cleves to supply their water instead of Addyston.

COUNCIL NEW BUSINESS:

Wm. Henry Harrison Memorial birthday ceremony is on Saturday February 10, 2007. The request for funds to provide coffee and doughnuts prior to the ceremony was approved and will be taken from the Mayor’s fund.

Mr. Simpson informed Council about the historical “Sitting Rock” at Brower Road and US50 currently owned by the Cady family. Earlier, the rock was the Village gathering place in fact, the end of World War II celebration took place there.

The Cady family has offered it to the Village. Mr. Simpson said he would like to accept the donation of the rock and would like to place it on a spot near the rear of the Administration Building.

Mr. Welch moved that the Village accept the donation of the “Sitting Rock” and that no more than $250 be spent to move it. Mr. Nunnery seconded the motion. Motion carried 100%.

MAYOR’S NEW BUSINESS:

Mayor Rolfes reported that Council needs to appoint a Vice Mayor as Mr. Montague resigned.

Mr. Welch moved that Mr. Simpson be selected as Vice Mayor. Mrs. Romweber seconded the motion. Motion carried 100%.

The parking of RV’s and other vehicles on public streets was discussed. Mr. Reichert could not find any ordinances addressing this issue.

The Law and Ordinance Committee will draft a reasonable ordinance to address the parking of this type of vehicle on the Village public streets.

Mr. Nunnery moved that the May and December 2007 Council meetings be changed because of the 2007 holidays. He recommended that the May 28 meeting be changed to May 21, 2007 and the December 24, 2007 meeting be changed to December 17, 2007.

Mr. Boll seconded the motion. Motion carried 100%.

OPEN TO THE FLOOR:

Mr. Sizemore suggested the parking lot at the Tomb be fixed while the road is repaired. Mr. Boll will inspect the parking lot.

Mr. and Mrs. Adams addressed Officer Hyrnak about a concern that it took 1½ to 2 hours for police to get to their house after 2 phone calls at 2:30 A.M. concerning a person at their door who was drunk. Officer Hyrnak reported that he couldn’t think of any call taking over 15 minutes to respond to. He said he would check into their concern.

Solicitor Reichert answered a question about the water contract with Addyston. The contract was put in place in 1961 and has technically expired.

The Mayor and about 1 dozen residents have spent many hours regarding the issue. The contract is unreasonable and would put the Village in jeopardy. 

Mayor Rolfes introduced Mr. Doug Sammons as the newly appointed Councilmember. Mr. Sammons was sworn in on January 15, 2007 to replace the vacant council seat. He will chair the Planning and Zoning Committee.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. Nunnery moved that the January meeting of the North Bend Council be adjourned. Mr. Boll seconded the motion. Motion carried 100%. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

__________________________________ __________________________________ 

Clerk Mayor