Vandalia City Council Meeting - November 6, 2023

On Monday, November 6, 2023, at 7:00 PM, the Vandalia City Council convened for a regular meeting. The meeting featured several ceremonial recognitions, including the proclamation of Vandalia as a Purple Heart City, the awarding of Medals of Valor to two police officers, and a detailed presentation on National Road traffic counts. The Council approved multiple resolutions and ordinances, including the 2024 budget, and heard public testimony on nuisance abatement assessments. Two variance requests were approved, and an executive session was held to discuss personnel matters.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The Council unanimously approved the minutes from the October 2, 2023 study session and council meeting, the October 12, 2023 budget workshop, and the October 16, 2023 study session and council meeting. No discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ordinance 23-27 (Second Reading) – Court Authorized Assessments: Public Service Director Rob Cron testified on behalf of the city, attesting to the facts behind the nuisance abatement orders for 6325 Shady Knoll Drive and 841 Spartan Avenue. He stated that the city demolished both structures earlier in 2023 after court rulings, incurred costs for demolition, asbestos abatement, EPA fees, and lot restoration, and that neither property owner had paid the assessed amounts. No other citizens spoke.

Discussion Items

Purple Heart City Proclamation & Ceremony

• Commander Jerry Ferris of the Military Order of the Purple Heart addressed the Council, noting that the organization travels across Ohio designating Purple Heart Cities. Mayor Herbst read a proclamation declaring Vandalia a Purple Heart City, encouraging citizens to honor Purple Heart recipients. The commander presented a commemorative plaque to the mayor, and a group photo was taken with city staff and veterans.

Medal of Valor – Officers Nelson Clymer and Connor Matlock

• Police Chief Kurt Althouse recognized Officers Clymer and Matlock for their life-saving actions on May 13, 2023. They responded to a structure fire at 111 Imperial Court, found an unresponsive 62-year-old male in a smoke-filled apartment with a burning oxygen tank, and removed him to safety. They then re-entered the building to evacuate other residents, forcing entry into locked apartments. Body cam footage was shown. Both officers received the Medal of Valor, the highest honor in the division of police.

National Road Traffic Counts Presentation

• City Engineer Ben Borton presented the results of the latest traffic study, comparing data from December 2022, May 2023, and the most recent count. Key objectives were to quantify total vs. truck traffic and evaluate the effectiveness of signage, speed limit changes, and other initiatives aimed at diverting trucks away from downtown.
  • Airport Access Road / Southbound Ramp Intersection: Westbound truck traffic increased by 32 trucks per day (7% increase) since May, with 78% turning right onto airport access (up from 74%). Total trucks westbound reached 487 per day.
  • Northbound Ramp Intersection: Trucks heading west increased by 32 per day, with 94% turning left toward the air park (up from 74%). Only 111 trucks per day continued toward Peters Pike, a reduction of 75 trucks (40% reduction) from May. Right turns from the ramp to Peters dropped from 100 to 19 trucks (81% reduction).
  • Peters Pike Intersection: Data showed an imbalance due to trucks arriving before 7:00 AM for shift changes. Right turns (prohibited after July signage) dropped from 24 to 7 trucks per day (71% reduction). Eastbound truck traffic decreased by 26 trucks compared to May, and westbound by 18 trucks. Percentage of trucks at the intersection fell to approximately 1.5%.
  • Dixie Drive / National Road Intersection (Downtown): Average daily truck traffic decreased by 14 trucks (15% reduction). Eastbound truck percentage dropped to under 1%. The average time between trucks increased from about 3 minutes 40 seconds (May) to 4 minutes 27 seconds. Eastbound trucks were seen every 9 minutes 41 seconds; westbound every 8 minutes 9 seconds.
  • Council member Blakesley noted the positive trend, and Borton confirmed that the turning prohibitions at Capstone Way and Fieldstone Way contributed to the shift.

Ordinance 23-28 (Emergency) – 2024 Budget Appropriations

• City Manager Dan Wendt summarized the budget process, noting extensive workshops and council input. Councilmember Farst expressed that the process felt "orchestrated" and that not all members could attend certain meetings; she believed presentations were tailored to achieve specific outcomes. She hoped the process would improve next year. Mayor Herbst responded that dates were set in advance to accommodate his schedule. Councilmember Blakesley found Farst's comments offensive to staff and argued it was the most involved budget process he had experienced. Vice Mayor Lewis noted the budget was conservative and supported the spend-down to reach proper fund percentages, adding that revenue projections could be revisited. The ordinance passed 5-2, with Councilmember Farst and Mayor Herbst voting no.

Reports from Boards and Commissions – Variances

• BZA 23-11 (1340 South Dixie Drive): Applicant William Jackson requested a variance to build a 1,200 sq ft detached garage, which would cause all accessory structures to exceed 40% of the principal building footprint (maximum 326 sq ft allowed). The BZA voted 3-0 to recommend approval. Council approved the variance 7-0.
• BZA 23-12 (570 O'Hara Court): Applicant Cole Ward requested a variance to build a 676 sq ft detached garage, exceeding the 600 sq ft limit for accessory structures (existing shed is 192 sq ft). The BZA voted 3-0 to recommend approval with one condition: the two properties must be consolidated into one lot before any building permits are issued. Council approved the variance with the condition 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Resolutions Approved (all 7-0):
  • 23-R-70: Webster Street Plat – combined seven city-owned parcels into two (72.628 acres), planning commission recommended 5-0.
  • 23-R-71: LBD Enterprises Plat – subdivision approval for property between Langford Drive and Mulberry Road, planning commission recommended 3-0.
  • 23-R-72: Authorized city manager to grant a utility easement to Dayton Power & Light (AES Ohio) for pole replacement and electric line work on Tri-Cities North Regional Wastewater Authority property; all three owner cities must pass similar legislation.
  • 23-R-73: Waived formal bidding and entered into an agreement with Rangeline Tapping Services to install two 16-inch water valves at $33,000 each ($66,000 total) for trunk watermain work.
• Ordinances – First Reading:
  • 23-29: Tabled until December 4, 2023 meeting (motion 7-0).
  • 23-30: Approved first reading 7-0 (housekeeping codification of passed ordinances).
• Ordinances – Second Reading:
  • 23-26: Rezoning 126.334 acres of publicly owned land to public facilities and office industrial park districts, approved 7-0.
  • 23-27: Authorized court-ordered assessments against properties at 6325 Shady Knoll Drive and 841 Spartan Avenue for demolition costs; approved 7-0 after public hearing.
• Emergency Ordinance: 23-28: 2024 appropriations budget, passed 5-2.
• Executive Session: Motion to enter executive session to discuss personnel matters, including performance of a public employee, approved 7-0.
• Council Comments: Councilmembers thanked staff for the Purple Heart ceremony and Medal of Valor presentation, congratulated City Manager Dan Wendt for being named Business Professional of the Year at the Chamber Awards, and recognized the retirement of Captain Mike Penson (32 years of service).