New Bremen council approves YMCA pool management, street assessments and property transfers; declines fireworks opt-out

New Bremen — At its March 14, 2023 meeting, the Village of New Bremen council approved a range of routine and financial measures, including a pool management agreement with the YMCA of Greater Dayton, final assessments for the North Jefferson Street reconstruction totaling $96,707.14, the transfer of an industrial lot for future sale and the vacation of an alley; the body also reviewed a higher-than-expected quote for an electric-department digger truck and voted down an ordinance that would have opted the village out of House Bill 172 regarding fireworks.

Mayor Robert D. Parker opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and reported that fines, fees and forfeitures for February totaled $2,253. He also announced the March 27 council meeting would be rescheduled to March 23 at 6:30 p.m. Village Administrator Richter told council that the first half of a water softener bead shipment is scheduled to arrive March 28 and that Synagro removed 438 dry tons of sludge as of March 10, 2023.

Council entered an executive session at 6:35 p.m. to discuss the purchase or sale of property and returned at 6:46 p.m. with no action recorded. During general business the council reviewed the electric fund’s plan to replace a 2003 International digger truck. The fund had budgeted $240,000 but the SourceWell quote for a Terex unit came in at $367,281; council members reviewed and adjusted the electric department budget to account for the larger purchase price. A Second Reading for Resolution 2023-02-05 (purchase of a Terex digger truck using SourceWell pricing at $367,281) was recorded in the minutes; no final adoption was shown.

The village noted continued participation in OneOhio opioid settlement distributions; the minutes record $1,361.83 received to date and a Second Reading for Resolution 2023-02-04 to accept additional settlement agreements into the OneOhio Opioid Fund.

On votes recorded as final actions, the council adopted the Third Reading Resolution 2023-02-02, approving the 2023 pool management agreement with the YMCA of Greater Dayton for a management fee of $13,000 (motion by Lomakin; second by Burnell; five ayes). Council also adopted Third Reading Ordinance 2023-02-06 to vacate an old alley running east–west at the west end of Second Street between lots 1–4 of the Backus Subdivision (motion by Condon; second by Wuebker; five ayes).

The North Jefferson Street reconstruction project was finalized and assessments levied against residents totaled $96,707.14. Council passed Third Reading Ordinance 2023-02-07 to levy those assessments (motion by Lomakin; second by Wuebker; five ayes). Separately, Council approved a transfer of Bunker Hill Industrial Park Lot 26 (parcel C10-400-028-00) to the Community Improvement Corporation of New Bremen for future sale and development (Third Reading 2023-02-09; motion by Condon; second by Burnell; five ayes).

Council debated Ordinance 2023-01-04, which would have affirmed a ban on discharging fireworks in the village by opting out of elements of House Bill 172 and reaffirming the village’s existing restrictions under the Ohio Fire Code. After the item was untabled, a motion by Lomakin to oppose the ordinance (second by Larger) received five nays and Ordinance 2023-01-04 did not pass, per the minutes.

The minutes show routine business also included approval of the Feb. 28 minutes (motion by Lomakin; second by Wuebker; four ayes, Condon abstained) and a motion to adjourn at 6:55 p.m. (motion by Larger; second by Burnell; five ayes).