By Paula Scott
All members of the Village Council were present for the July 18 regular meeting at the Ada municipal building. As might be expected on a beautiful July evening, in-person attendance beyond the mayor, who conducts the meeting and staff members was light: it consisted of reporters from the Icon and Kenton Times.
A 68-page packet for the meeting is HERE.
During reviews of claims registers for $ 138,059.23 and (payroll) $ 91,269.50, there was brief discussion regarding cable repairs at the railroad track ($700) and a Bowling Green source for police cruiser tires.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Dave Retterer asked Police Chief Alec Cooper to prove a police department account of a May event involving Ohio Northern University law professor Scott Gerber. Retterer noted some descriptions ”make it sound like more than it was.”
Cooper explained that he was contacted in advance by the university to provide officers on standby. The officers stayed in a back hallway. ONU security officers conducted the professor to the dean’s office. Cooper said that Gerber “took a wrong turn” and came upon the Ada officers; “There was no contact; no escorting.”
RESOLUTION
Council approved an employment agreement through June 30, 2026 with the patrol officer bargaining unit. The resolution was passed by emergency, making it effective immediately. The agreement is on pages 14-58 of the attached packet.
OLD BUSINESS
Councilor Sheila Coressel provided a second quarter of 2023 update for for the Ada-Liberty EMS:
- 225 calls
- 150 patient care reports
- 75 no transports
- 15 mutual aid calls
- 1 mutual aid received
Coressel also noted that the department is requesting quotes for a new ambulance bay to be constructed south of the current building, attached with a vestibule.
NEW BUSINESS
Councilor Bob Simmons reported that the Ada Lions Club will continue a service provided since 2014, by paying for the first 300 swimmers to use the municipal pool on Aug. 12, the day of the Farmers & Merchants Picnic and the last day the pool is open for 2023.
The pool will close at 7:00 p.m that evening to allow employees to attend the tractor pull.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Safety Services, chaired by Jeff Oestreich: Council approved a motion to hire Connor Frazier as a part-time officer at $19.03/hour plus benefits.
Council also approved the sale six defective tasers which have been replaced.
Oestreich requested an Executive Session at the end of the meeting to discuss employment negotiations.
Council approved reallocating unspent retention recruitment grant funds of $2,500 for new officers Clayton Eichman and Aaron Everhart. The funds are available due to employee turnover.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chief Alec Cooper reported that since the last council meeting the department received 57 calls for service and responded to 10 incidents and 3 vehicle crashes.
He also reported a July 17 felonious assault that occurred on campus and near Hays subdivision.
The chief commented that new cellphone service is working wonderfully for the officers.
ADMINISTRATOR
Jamie Hall provided an update on the Grandview street improvement project. He reported that the project was on schedule and 45% complete. An issue with the elevation of gas lines could impact the timetable. Gas lines will have to be lowered in the whole subdivision and needs to be done before the street is lowered and built back up.
Hall reported that village employee Joe Hefner has passed his water distribution test; this license is a condition of his hire.
ZONING INSPECTOR
Michael Harnishfeger was not present at the meeting. His second quarter of 2023 Zoning/Code Activity Log is attached, pages 65-68.
RESOLUTION
Council approved a contract with Mike Harnishfeger as Zoning inspector.
The meeting entered executive session at 7:01 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Ada council will be at 6:30 p.m. on August 1.
