By Paula Pyzik Scott
The Village Of Ada Council met on November 19 at 115 W. Buckeye with one member of the public attending and three news outlets. Mayor Dave Retterer conducted the meeting with all councilors present.
Claims registers totalling $118,106 and minutes from the prior meeting were approved unanimously. (Packet attached)
OPEN FLOOR
N. Gilbert St. resident Pam Tenwalde addressed council regarding the construction of an addition to the Ada-Liberty EMS building with a 3-bay garage facing Gilbert St.
Tenwald said she expected living quarters to be built, not a 3-bay garage, and complained about a lack of communication with taxpayers. She said her primary concern was the use of Gilbert St as the EMS vehicles’ primary exit and the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in an area congested with parked cars.
She asked village officials to follow up and requested that some kind of flashing lights be installed to alert residents when EMS vehicles will be entering traffic.
Among responses, Legal Counsel Jane Napier explained that Ada Council does not oversee EMS; that is the responsibility of the Liberty Township board. Tenwalde had not yet addressed that board.
ORDINANCES
Council passed the third reading of an ordinance amending portions of Chapter 741 (Peddlers and Solicitors) of Ada’s ordinance code to increase fees for door-to-door business soliciting permits to $25 and to require a background check. Exceptions have been made for Hardin County fundraisers and non-profits.
Chamber member Jason Campell asked whether this legislation should also address the issue of transient merchants including food trucks and pop-up shops. He commented that an increase in these activities is a “huge direct competition to our local businesses” and that a fee should go to Ada’s general fund. Napier replied that she would provide some samples for separate legislation.
Council passed the first reading of an ordinance establishing annual appropriations for 2025.
Effective immediately, council passed an extension of the village moratorium on adult use cannabis operators and medical marijuana cultivators, processors and retail dispensaries for another six months. Napier noted that the state is awarding licenses but is still tweaking how things are done. She said now is the time to discuss local regulations.
REPORTS
Fiscal Officer
Patty Navin reported that Income Tax receipts were up 8% over the prior year and that the village had been awarded a grant for a .gov website .
Village Administrator
Jamie Hall reported on the 2024 Fall tree and stump removal project award to Dog’s Tree Care LLC. Fifteen trees in Village right of ways will be removed.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
