Middletown council adopts 2015 budget, annexation ordinance and green-lights plan to seek water-plant financing

The Middletown Town Council on Oct. 21 adopted the town's advertised 2015 budget and tax rate and took a series of other local actions, including adopting an annexation ordinance and approving a contract to pursue financing for a water plant replacement project.

Council President Betty Riley moved to adopt Resolution 2014-10-31-01 (the 2015 Middletown Budget as advertised); Shelly Kimmerling seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The resolution sets the town's appropriations and tax rate as advertised (the advertised budget amount was not specified in the minutes).

The council also adopted Ordinance No. 2-2014, annexing certain contiguous territory to the Town of Middletown. Betty Riley led procedural motions to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by name; Shelly Kimmerling seconded the readings and the final motion to approve the third reading passed unanimously. The minutes state the ordinance will become effective after advertising and a 90-day remonstrance period.

On traffic controls, the Clerk-Treasurer read Ordinance No. 9-2014, which would add stop signs on Locust Street at its intersection with 2nd Street. Bill Harrison moved to approve the ordinance's first reading, and Gary Kendall seconded. The first reading passed on a 3–2 vote: Bill Harrison, Gary Kendall and Shelly Kimmerling voted yes; Norm Purdue and Betty Riley voted no.

The council voted unanimously to approve an agreement with Umbaugh & Associates to provide financial services for the Water Plant Replacement Project, with the objective of obtaining an OCRA grant and a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan to finance the work.

Earlier in the meeting Matt Spidel of Butler-Fairman-Seufert presented change orders 8, 9 and 10 for the 5th Street Stormsewer Project (contractor: 3-D Inc.). Utilities Superintendent Tracy Harrison recommended more time to review the documents because they were delivered the same morning; the council postponed action on those change orders.

The council also advanced Ordinance 7-2014 (establishing a Sidewalk Fund) on its second reading after a motion by Betty Riley and a second by Shelly Kimmerling; that motion passed unanimously. Earlier in the meeting the council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing execution of interlocal agreements for mutual firefighting aid with Jefferson, Adams and Salem townships.

The council announced its next meeting will be rescheduled to Wednesday, Nov. 5, because the usual meeting night falls on election day, and then adjourned.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2014-10-31-02 (Interlocal mutual aid firefighting agreement): Moved Betty Riley; second Norm Purdue; outcome: approved unanimously. - Resolution 2014-10-31-01 (2015 appropriations and tax rate): Moved Betty Riley; second Shelly Kimmerling; outcome: approved unanimously; advertised budget amount not specified in minutes. - Ordinance No. 2-2014 (annexation): Final approval (third reading) moved Betty Riley; second Shelly Kimmerling; outcome: adopted unanimously; effective after advertising and 90-day remonstrance period. - Ordinance No. 9-2014 (stop signs on Locust Street at 2nd Street): First reading moved Bill Harrison; second Gary Kendall; yes: Bill Harrison, Gary Kendall, Shelly Kimmerling; no: Norm Purdue, Betty Riley; outcome: first reading approved. - Umbaugh & Associates agreement (Water Plant Replacement Project financing services): Moved Betty Riley; second Shelly Kimmerling; outcome: approved unanimously; objective: pursue OCRA grant and SRF loan. - Ordinance 7-2014 (Sidewalk Fund): Moved Betty Riley; second Shelly Kimmerling; outcome: second reading approved unanimously. - 5th Street Stormsewer Project change orders 89,10 (3-D Inc.): Presented by Matt Spidel; recommendation by Utilities Superintendent Tracy Harrison to delay review; council postponed action (documents delivered same morning).

The council adjourned after announcing the Nov. 5 rescheduled meeting date.