Vandalia City Council Meeting – March 20, 2023

The Vandalia City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, March 20, 2023, at 7:00 PM. The council addressed a full agenda including approvals of routine items, five resolutions, two emergency ordinances, and a conditional use request for a truck repair facility. All actions passed with the exception of the conditional use, which passed 4–3 after the addition of two extra conditions.

Consent Calendar

• Council Study Session Minutes (February 20, 2023) and Council Meeting Minutes (February 20, 2023) were approved unanimously without discussion.
• February 2023 Bill Listing in the amount of $3,845,933.03, along with expenses over $50,000 and the February purchasing card detail of $30,870.65, were accepted as presented.

Communications, Petitions & Awards

• Veterans Banner Program – Councilmember Corey Follick presented the program, a partnership with Butler Township and the Chamber of Commerce. Banners ($100 each) will be displayed on Dixie Drive/Veterans Parkway from Memorial Day through Veterans Day. As of the prior week, 32 of 130 available banners had been sold. Applications for the first installation close April 24, 2023, at noon. A gold star designation will honor those killed in action; the 16 Butler alumni memorialized at Butler High School’s Memorial Hall will be the first gold star recipients.
• Oath of Office for Fire Lieutenants – City Manager Wendt administered the oath to Lt. Carter Schumann, Lt. Derek Copp, and Lt. Mya Mitchell, who were promoted within the Fire Division.

Public Comments

• Amber Avalon (1031 Bailey Avenue) – Addressed a recurring safety issue on Little York Road at 4410 Little York (near the tunnel). Debris from accidents had not been cleaned up by the contracted towing company despite multiple requests to the police chief. She noted this was the third occurrence since February 2, 2023, and requested council action. The city manager stated he would investigate.

City Manager’s Report

• City Manager Wendt announced Youth Day in Government (March 21) and a joint federal earmark request with Tri‑Cities Wastewater Authority for $15 million through Senator Brown’s office. He also reported that the Vandalia Police Division’s efforts with local hotels have led to a decrease in negative interactions at Creative Images.

Resolutions (All Approved 7–0)

• 23‑R‑21 – Approved the 2023 Parks and Recreation Master Plan (253‑page document) as a policy guide for future budget and staff decisions. The plan was developed with PROS Consulting and OHM over a year, including a statistically valid survey and community input.
• 23‑R‑22 – Authorized a $15,000 donation to the Historical Society of Vandalia Butler for maintenance projects and an annual membership, funded from council’s budget.
• 23‑R‑23 – Authorized the purchase of access control hardware, software, and doors for the Municipal Building Access Control Upgrade project at a total cost of $72,051.54. Formal bidding was waived to ensure interoperability with existing systems at the Justice Center.
• 23‑R‑25 – Authorized acceptance of the fact‑finder’s recommendations for police officers, public safety specialists, and clerk typists. The recommendations include 3% wage increases in each of three years. The union had rejected the fact‑finder’s report, but the council voted to accept it.
• 23‑R‑26 – Authorized a revenue‑sharing agreement with the City of Dayton related to the Kendall Electric development, a condition of edge funds distributed to the company.

Ordinances

• Second Reading – 23‑05 (Swimming Pool Fee Schedule) – Adopted unanimously (7–0) after a public hearing. The new fee schedule limits access on certain days to Vandalia residents and Cassel Hills Pool members, addressing behavioral complaints.
• Emergency – 23‑06 (Individual Assessment Amounts) – Approved 7–0 to certify delinquent stormwater fees, trash collection, sewer/water charges, and weed cutting costs to the county auditor for collection.
• Emergency – 23‑07 (Supplemental Appropriations) – Approved 7–0 as the first supplemental budget revision of 2023, amending Ordinance 22‑42.

Discussion Item: Conditional Use – Truck Repair Facility (ISF Trucking)

• Request: A conditional use to allow light maintenance, dispatching, and parking of semi‑trucks at 1010 Industrial Park Drive.
• Planning Commission Recommendation: Approval with seven conditions (passed 4–1 on February 28, 2023).
• Council Debate: Councilmember Follick proposed an eighth condition prohibiting overnight stays and sleeping in trucks. Councilmember Blakesley proposed a ninth condition requiring right‑turn‑only egress with a concrete island to direct traffic toward a traffic signal, after discussion about potential traffic volumes (estimated 20–25 trucks per day in/out).
• Vote: The motion carried 4–3 (Aylers, Farst, and Mayor Herbst voted no; Woods, Blakesley, Follick, and Vice Mayor Lewis voted yes).

Other Business

• Bicycle Advisory Committee Minutes (December 12, 2022) – Received and filed.
• Council Comments – Members congratulated the new fire lieutenants and recognized the city manager and staff for securing two land donations totaling about 85 acres with an estimated value of $2.5 million, at minimal cost to the city.

Key Outcomes

• All five resolutions and two emergency ordinances passed 7–0.
• The conditional use for the truck repair facility passed 4–3 with two added conditions.
• The Veterans Banner Program applications are open through April 24, 2023; 32 of 130 banners have been sold.
• The city manager will follow up on the debris cleanup issue raised by a resident.
• Council accepted a fact‑finder’s wage recommendation for unionized public safety personnel despite the union’s rejection.