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Hebron council directs mosquito-control contract, orders camping-ban legislation and approves promotion
Summary
At its March 26 meeting the Village of Hebron council directed staff to draft an emergency mosquito-control contract with Licking County, authorized interim engineering services, voted to draft an ordinance banning camping on public property tied to HOME program enrollment, and approved a promotional pay action following executive session.
Mayor Valerie Mockus presided over the Village of Hebron council meeting on March 26, where councilmembers approved several administrative measures and directed staff to draft new local ordinances.
The council directed the Village Solicitor to draft emergency legislation to contract mosquito-control services with the Licking County Health Department, a move Village Administrator Jung-Han Chen said will save the village “more than $5,000 per year.” Chen described the draft framework as using a rate of $35 per mile for county-provided coverage. The motion to direct the solicitor was moved by Councilmember Kenney Nauer and approved by a unanimous roll-call vote of councilmembers present.
The council also approved a 2025 interim services agreement with engineering firm V3 Companies to provide special-project support through the end of the year while the village evaluates longer-term engineering options. That motion passed unanimously.
Economic & Community Development Director Brittany Misner told council the village plans to pursue participation in the HOME program alongside local legislation that would prohibit camping on public property, similar to ordinances in nearby municipalities. Misner said the aim is to pair enforcement tools with programmatic support so people can be connected to services rather than incarcerated. Police Chief Larry Brooks described the HOME program and a related court process as a pathway to “help get them reintroduced into society instead of putting them in jail.” Council voted unanimously to direct the Village Solicitor to draft the camping-ban legislation.
Council also handled routine business: adopting Resolution 25-02, which expresses support for preserving the federal tax exemption on municipal bonds, and adopting Ordinance 03-25, an amendment to pretreatment program fees in Title 9. Both measures were approved by roll-call vote with all members present voting in favor.
After an executive session at 6:31 p.m. to consider compensation under Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G)(1), council reconvened and voted to authorize the Village Administrator to offer a salary within range and to omit adherence to two specific Employee Handbook provisions in connection with promoting a current Public Works Laborer to Equipment Operator 1. The promotion and associated authorization passed on a unanimous vote.
Village Administrator Jung-Han Chen reported upcoming procurement steps for capital projects, including a culvert-replacement bid opening on April 10 and a paving and waterline bid opening the following week; he said the culvert work is expected to be completed by Oct. 31. Councilmembers also discussed possible changes to public records practices: Councilmember Stacy Stoner raised the idea of publishing minutes via video (YouTube) supplemented by AI-generated written summaries. Attorney Jarod Rose said his review indicates video or audio-only records are legally permissible, and Village Solicitor Wesley K. Untied said the Records Commission should weigh in on whether a physical copy must be retained locally.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 25-02 (support federal tax exemption for municipal bonds) — adopted, roll-call vote 6-0. Ordinance 03-25 (pretreatment program fees amendment) — adopted, roll-call vote 6-0. Direction to draft mosquito-control contract legislation with Licking County Health Department — approved, roll-call vote 6-0. V3 Companies 2025 service agreement — approved, roll-call vote 6-0. Direction to draft ordinance prohibiting camping on public property — approved, roll-call vote 6-0. Promotion to Equipment Operator 1 and associated salary authorization — approved following executive session, roll-call vote 6-0.
The council reviewed expenses, confirmed upcoming meeting dates and events (including Chipper Day and a Clean Up Day), and adjourned at 6:57 p.m. The solicitor will prepare draft legislation for council consideration at a future meeting; no final ordinance adopting the camping prohibition or the mosquito-control contract had been enacted at the March 26 meeting.
