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Council adopts MOU to extend village water service to Jones Estates mobile home park
Summary
Buckeye Lake Council approved Ordinance 2024-25 to authorize a mayoral MOU with Jones Estates Leisure Village LLC to extend water service to 33 taps, accept $72,000 toward tap fees and take ownership of a 40-foot right-of-way; council discussed enforceability and next steps before a planned closing.
Buckeye Lake Village Council voted unanimously June 24 to adopt an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign a memorandum of understanding with Jones Estates Leisure Village LLC to provide village water service and related community-development provisions.
The measure covers connection of 33 water taps and records a $72,000 payment from the property owner toward tap fees (described in council discussion as $10,000 short of the total tap-fee amount), with the owner reportedly offering an additional $20,000 in cash. The MOU also gives the village a 40-foot right-of-way on First Street; the ordinance language and MOU were prepared by the village solicitor and described by staff as legally binding.
Councilor Douglas Keener and Public Works Superintendent Toby Miller explained the water-tap arrangement and customer-billing approach used for similar mobile-home parks, noting the village sometimes delays water charges until service is activated. Councilor Deb Julian pressed staff on enforceability and accountability for private property owners who have not maintained wastewater or plant operations; Miller said the MOU was solicitor-drafted and legally binding but said enforcement mechanisms depend partly on external regulators such as Ohio EPA.
The council first voted 5-2 to suspend rules to expedite consideration and then voted 7-0 to adopt Ordinance 2024-25. Council discussion referenced potential state and grant funding (including CDBG) for related infrastructure and a lack of a specified timeline in the agreement for road work on the First Street right-of-way.
What happens next: staff and the solicitor will finalize the revised contract dates and language for the ordinance’s paperwork to support the transaction and any subsequent bids or construction. If additional funding is needed, staff noted CDBG and other programs would be potential sources.
Quote: "It is a legally binding document," Miller said of the MOU; Councilor Julian said she wanted to ensure the village could hold the owners accountable before finalizing the deal.
Ending: The ordinance was adopted and moves forward with solicitor-reviewed contract language; council indicated it will return with any additional implementing legislation or timelines needed for road or utility work.
