South Bloomfield administrator: new water plant filling; mayor's court software under review

Village Administrator Joe Allen updated the council Aug. 19 that the new water plant is in the process of being filled, tested and flushed. He said the existing (old) plant is currently running at about 125% capacity to meet demand, so staff are reluctant to lower tower levels while filling the new system; if tests proceed as planned, Allen said the new plant was expected to be online the following Monday.

Under fiscal and administrative business, Fiscal Officer Alisha Burke said Magistrate McFarland is reviewing a full version of the village's Mayor's Court software (the village currently uses a program called Mayor's Court Light). Burke said the upfront installation cost would be around $10,000, with an annual support fee only a few hundred dollars higher than the village's current contract. The magistrate is evaluating whether the full version will meet the court's needs.

Joe Allen also reported receiving information from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) on speed limits related to a question raised at a prior meeting; Chief Ken McCoy reiterated that ODOT controls speed limits on State Route 23 and the village cannot change those limits. Allen said he also obtained a zoning permit for a fence backing up to Clearwater Lane and plans to draft an ordinance addressing fence setbacks similar to prior work on State Route 316; he scheduled a Planning & Zoning meeting for Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. to review the overlay district and setback language.

Mayor Aaron Thomas announced an Arbor Homes grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 from noon to 2:00 p.m.; Chief McCoy will record video for the village website and social media. The meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.