By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Village of Ada Council held a Regular Meeting and a Streets Committee meeting on Tuesday, July 1. At the regular meeting, Mayor Dave Retterer presided with all council members present: Sean Beck, Jason Campbell, Sheila Corressel, Linda Mason, Jeff Oestriech and Bob Simmons. Five members of the public and three reporters were present.

An ordinance establishing the salary of council members was presented based on prior legislation establishing a flat 3% increase each year. The first reading of the ordinance failed: Beck - abstained; Campbell - no; Coressel - abstained; Mason - yes; Oestriech - no; Simmons - no.

NEW BUSINESS
Ada Area Chamber of Commerce Director Lindsay Hollar is applying for a temporary liquor permit for the August 23 Made in Ada Football Festival, council and Police Chief Cooper okayed the request. Hollar announced that Keith’s Hardware will provide space for a larger Kids’ Zone at the event.

ADMINISTRATION REPORTS
Fiscal Officer Patty Navin reported that although the pool was closed for the first week of the season due to weather receipts as of June 30 were a little bit ahead of 2024. She also announced that pool occupancy would now be capped at 300.

Police Chief Alec Cooper reported that since the last council meeting officers had responded to 113 calls for service and made 15 incident reports. He noted that a male was arrested on an outstanding warrant for criminal trespass. 

Village Administrator Amanda Sears reported that an unmarked residential gas line was hit during S. Gilbert storm sewer work. Sears noted that additional CDBG revitalization projects were commencing including a quadrant A sidewalk project.

COMMITTEE MEETING
The Streets Committee chaired by Linda Mason held a public meeting to hear from residents concerned about potential changes to on-street parking near the Ada-Liberty EMS station at 530 N. Gilbert St.

Mason heard from residents who were concerned about losing on-street parking for themselves, guests and service providers. Two residents said they were told this would never be an issue at prior council meetings. Additional concerns were that no-parking zones would hurt the value of N. Gilbert properties.

The discussion revealed that EMS crews can pull out of the garage without difficulty but that backing in ambulances risks damaging cars parked directly across from the facility. The Ada-Liberty EMS were represented by board member Jeff Acheson and EMS Chief Tom Miller.

Acheson explained that the current request to Village council is to have 25 feet directly across from the garage designated as no parking. This is approximately a space and half adjacent to a lot that is currently empty but construction is expected.

An earlier request for 75 feet of no parking zone has been rescinded. Police Chief Alec Cooper was consulted on Ohio Revied Code requirements after construction of the garage had begun. A no parking zone across from the Fire Station on Main St. has been established since that discussion.

The conversation touched on responsibilities and permissions. Village legal counsel Jane Napier noted that the construction of the EMS garage was a permitted use. Therefore, the Village Council did not have oversight on what was built. The Village zoning inspector is primarily responsible for overseeing setbacks.

Residents expressed concerns about not having anything in writing, not having documentation of the designs being proposed and not being able to find meeting minutes for the EMS board.

Sheila Corressel, who represents the council on the EMS board, explained that Council could not vote in a committee meeting and that a committee recommendation and motion can be made at the next council meeting. The meeting adjourned at  8:09 p.m.