Property, development issues top council agenda Cathryn Stanley Editor The re-creation of a planning commission and changes to a building maintenance ordinance were two of the issues on the agenda at the Aug. 2 Barnesville Village Council meeting. Mayor Tom Michelli and four other people who include council member Ron Bischof and members at large Ed Eberhart, Mike McKelvey and Mike Lucas will serve six-year terms on a re-formed Planning Commission. The commission will meet monthly to discuss zoning and other planning issues. Village Solicitor Marlin Harper presented several changes to Ordinance 3471, regarding building and maintenance codes in the village. The major change was the addition of an emergency clause making the ordinance effective immediately for the health and safety of the village. Another change defines a time period for refuse on properties in the village, before clean up is mandated. In a related matter, a village property owner, Vince Rapuano, addressed the issue of an abandoned house at the corner of South Lincoln and Mill streets. The house is located next to a rental property that Rapuano owns, and the tenants fear for the safety of their children because of the condition of the vacant house. Village Administrator Roger Deal said the property was "on the list" of abandoned and dilapidated properties that the village is cracking down on. In July, Harper, Deal, Fire Chief Bob Smith and the mayor reviewed properties in the village in serious violation of the property maintenance code. Letters were issued to those property owners, who had 30 days to begin maintenance efforts. After that 30-day period, a fine of $100 per day will be issued through Mayor's Court. Harper said he felt the letters would bring compliance from many. The letters also included a notice of an appeals process. A board of appeals was formed and includes Terry Hager, Mike Starr and councilman Terry McCort. While letters have been sent to the worst of the offenders, Harper said serving notice by publication will be the second method, if those letters are not received. Barnesville Police officers have also delivered notices to property owners who live in the village and posted notices of violations on the door of those properties. On behalf of tenants of his Pine Lane rental properties, Rapuano asked council if on-street parking could be permitted for those residents. Mayor Michelli said the street/alley/sidewalk committee will review the request and make a recommendation to council. Council voted to contribute $1,000 to the Belmont County Geographic Information System for aerial mapping of the countywhich is done every five years. Deal recommended council support the project and commended GIS Director Dan Pickenpaugh for his work. "Belmont County is far and above other counties in terms of mapping," Deal said. According to the Belmont County GIS Web Site, the GIS is a collaborative effort of the Belmont County Engineer and the Belmont County Commissioners through their office, E-911, Sanitary Sewer and Water, and Soil and Water Conservation. Council also approved Mayor Michelli and Fiscal Officer Amy Jackson to sign a contract to provide fire protection and emergency first aid services for Flushing Township for an annual fee of $750. In a related matter, Jackson informed council that the EMS department had a significant amount of overtime for the second pay period in a row. Fire Chief Bob Smith advised council that two of his EMS personnel were on military leave. Council approved a purchase order for the park department in the amount of $140 for electrical repairs at the pool and the horseshoe pits. Council also reviewed the minutes of a July 22 Park Committee meeting. Councilman Terry McCort discussed recommendations made to council which include that park personnel make daily bank deposits, daily post office trips and turn in invoices and deposit slips to Jackson on a weekly basis. Jackson also discussed a new Drug Free Workplace Policy. Harper requested time to look over the policy before it is approved by council. Belmont County Commissioner Charles Probst Jr. attended the council meeting. Mayor Michelli said he was glad to see Probst there and later, after no one else brought up the issue of the $750,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development awarded to the Eastern Ohio Regional Industrial Park for a water line to the 200-acre site on SR 800 near Barnesville, Michelli said he "was busting at the seams to discuss the news." "This is great. I want to commend everyone who worked on the project," Michelli said. "This proves what can be accomplished when people work together." "Hats off to Larry Merry (Port Authority Director) and Roger Deal," said McCort. "These grants are extremely difficult to get," Commissioner Probst said. "Presentation means everything and building relationships such as those with the governor's office and the DOD does too." "This is a real shot in the arm for Barnesville and Belmont County," Probst said. "This was a great team effort." Councilman Brad Hudson, who worked on the visual presentation for the grant, asked Probst if the commissioners intended to contribute the $250,000 matching funds. Probst said he contacted County Auditor Andy Sutak on the car ride back from Marietta Friday. "The money is there and it is available to be transferred anytime," Probst said. Village Economic Director Bill Knox, who also serves on the Port Authority Board, said the engineering study by Poggemeyer Design Group was "a major component to the success of obtaining the grant." Council voted to approve an agreement with Poggemeyer provide the engineering study. The $49,125 cost will be paid for by the grant money. Knox said the water line project cannot begin until it is designed. "Everyone's hard work paid off," Knox said. "After this money is invested, a total of $2 million will have been invested. We are making very, very good progress." Hudson also wanted to clarify that a statement made by Belmont County Commissioner Ginny Favede in a July 28 article in The Enterprise provided incorrect information about the county's previous financial contributions to the Industrial Park. "I just want to clarify that county money has yet to be spent at the Industrial Park," Hudson said. Following the meeting, council entered an executive session to discuss the fire department. No action was taken.
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