By Paula Pyzik Scott
The March 4 regular meeting of Ada Council included public forum comments on water bill late fees, updates on electricity and gas aggregation programs and a review of 2025 street paving plans. The meeting packet is HERE.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Denise D’Arca described her frustrations with a late water bill in the U.S. Mail and a delay in payment processing that resulted in late fees. She had submitted a formal request asking the village to waive the fees; later in the meeting this request was denied.
Council members and Village Administrator Jamie Hall discussed late fee policies, noting that customers have an obligation to pay Village utility bills by the 10th of the month regardless of whether the bill is received in the mail. Hall noted that the Village sends out some 135 delinquent payment notices each month and makes some 65 followup calls.
An overview of payment options including auto debit and online payments can be found at https://www.adaoh.org/customer-service/
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor David Retterer noted that it was “Pretty cool to have two distinguished citizens in the room.” On February 27 Council member Linda Mason was given the 2024 Chris Burns-DiBiasio Make a Difference award for volunteer work and Jamie Hall was honored as the 2024 Ada Citizen of the Year.
NEW BUSINESS
Councilor Bob Simmons announced a new committee that will create a voluntary landlord directory. Simmons, Jason Campbell, Police Chief Alec Cooper, Code Enforcement Officer Clayton Eichman, and Zoning Inspector Michele Chambers.
The committee will meet with landlords on March 18 to discuss the opportunity to have better communication in situations such as water line breaks. Simmons said connection with the Village could help landlords act on property deficiencies before being served a violation notice.
Simmons said the same committee members would be talking about transient food trucks.
COMMITTEE AND STAFF REPORTS
Streets, 2025 Paving Project
Jamie Hall provided council with an overview of the anticipated costs–last year’s invoice plus 7%--and six street locations to be paved. He noted that the paving includes alley approaches.
STREET PAVING
- East Highland - Liberty to Simon
- North Johnson - Montford to RR Tracks
- South Johnson - RR Track to Lincoln
- South Johnson - mid block High to Lima
- East High - Main to Simon
- South Simon - High to Lima
ALLEY PAVING
- East-West Alley, from Main to mid block alley southside of 410 S Main
- North-South Alley, from E Lehr to E University south of Main Street
Utilities, Aggregation Program development
A meeting with Aspen Energy will be scheduled for March 18. Aspen will present options to council for the length of the proposal, which will impact the cost. The possibility of April 1 legislation by emergency will be discussed.
Village Administrator’s Report
Jamie Hall updated council on the 2025 Spring tree and stump removal project. The Tree Commission has selected eight trees, with seven in the Village right of way. They are marked with yellow dots and ribbons. One tree is on private property; the owner wants the tree removed and the cost put on her taxes.
Hall noted that brush pickup had started Monday and is available on the first Monday of the month. Residents should call for service, for which there is a $25 fee. Hall added that residents can schedule a time to drop off yard waste to the Village green waste compost site at 514 E. Lincoln. The Utility Office phone is 419-634-4045.
