Waite Hill council adopts emergency ordinance to fund village celebration and reviews finance report

Waite Hill Mayor Ryan W. Cox presided over the Village Council’s Oct. 14 regular meeting at Waite Hill Village Hall, where council members adopted an emergency ordinance to authorize funding for a public celebration and reviewed the Finance Committee’s monthly report.

Ordinance No. 2024-19, titled “An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to expend Village funds for a public celebration, and declaring an emergency,” was read aloud and brought to an immediate vote after the council suspended the rule requiring three readings. Richard Steudel moved to suspend the three‑day reading rule; Karl Scheucher seconded. The motion carried on a roll call vote of Doty, Hiltsley, Scheucher, Steudel and Winterer voting yes. Steudel then moved to adopt the ordinance; Scheucher seconded, and the ordinance was adopted by the same affirmative roll call.

The council also adopted Resolution No. 2024-14, “A Resolution authorizing and directing the payment of certain sums.” Karl Scheucher moved to approve the resolution; Richard Steudel seconded and the resolution passed on a roll call vote with Doty, Scheucher, Steudel and Winterer recorded as voting yes.

In a separate procedural vote at the start of the meeting, the council approved the minutes of its Sept. 9, 2024 regular meeting. Scheucher moved to approve the minutes with Doty seconding; the motion carried on roll call.

During the meeting Mayor Cox outlined the upcoming Charter Review Commission schedule, saying the mayor will appoint seven village electors subject to council confirmation and that the Commission should begin meetings in January and conclude by June or July 2025. Cox also noted distribution of the latest edition of The Village Voice and confirmed the village Halloween Party will be held Oct. 19 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Finance Committee Chair Karl Scheucher presented the committee’s report, which was appended to the minutes. Key figures in the report include Local Government Fund revenue for September of $15,591 and 2024 year‑to‑date Local Government Fund revenue of $126,462, which the report states is $6,659 less than 2023. September interest income was $16,553 and 2024 year‑to‑date interest income was reported as $150,868, an increase of $42,513 from 2023. Total year‑to‑date revenue through September was $1,497,772, $36,364 higher than the same period in 2023; total year‑to‑date expenses were reported at $1,269,691. The report listed total funds of $9,123,442, a decrease of $143,733 from a year earlier. The committee’s 10‑year trajectory projects a continuing decline in total funds, averaging roughly $173,056 per year over the period described in the report. (The transcript lists one expense comparison figure as “$9,395k,” which appears inconsistent with surrounding numbers; the Finance Committee report signatory is Karl Scheucher.)

Chief Carl Dondorfer, reporting for the Safety Committee, said the State of Ohio assessed the village police department and "since it met the requirements, it will be recertified." Dondorfer said the department expects to obtain a training grant and that a Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS), comparable to reverse 911, will soon be available to residents.

Ms. Hiltsley, reporting for the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Architectural Board of Review, summarized recent approvals and alterations to several private residences, including modifications at homes on Eagle Road, Hobart Road, Reserve Drive and Rollin Road; the board granted an extension for a Rollin Road property to bring prior unpermitted work into compliance.

Service Director Bob Haynik said signage options are being considered to mark the cemetery and Village Hall, maintenance and grass cutting continue, and crack sealing work was completed on Hobart Road. Mayor Cox reported that a boundary adjustment with the City of Willoughby is in process and that the Village Engineer’s review of Otis Hill has been distributed.

At 8:45 a.m. Council Member Stephanie Winterer excused herself. Ms. Hiltsley moved, with Doty seconding, to adjourn to executive session to discuss acquisition or disposition of village real estate; the motion carried and the council recessed to executive session at 8:52 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:22 a.m., and Scheucher moved to adjourn, Doty seconded; the roll call vote carried and the meeting ended at 9:22 a.m.

Votes at a glance: Minutes approval (motion carried; yes: Doty, Scheucher, Steudel, Winterer); Resolution No. 2024-14 (adopted; yes: Doty, Scheucher, Steudel, Winterer); Suspension of three‑readings for Ordinance No. 2024-19 (adopted; yes: Doty, Hiltsley, Scheucher, Steudel, Winterer); Adoption of Ordinance No. 2024-19 (adopted; yes: Doty, Hiltsley, Scheucher, Steudel, Winterer); Motion to go into executive session on real estate (adopted; yes: Doty, Hiltsley, Scheucher, Steudel); Final adjournment (adopted; yes: Doty, Hiltsley, Scheucher, Steudel).

Next steps and follow-up: Mayor will prepare the appointments for the Charter Review Commission for council confirmation; staff will implement or schedule the WENS rollout and pursue the police training grant. The executive session was held to discuss real estate and no public action was taken during that closed session.