Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Vandalia City Council Meeting - December 16, 2024

City Council — Monday, December 16, 2024

BodyVandalia, Ohio

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, December 16, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 24:21

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:01

The December 16th City of Vandalia Council meeting is now called to order.

0:05

We'll start with a moment of reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

0:14

Please stand for the pledge.

0:18

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:23

And to the Republic for which it stands under Godissible Liberty and Justice for All.

0:36

Your Honor, I'd like to make a motion to amend the agenda to include ordinance 24-26 as an emergency ordinance.

0:44

Any ordinance authorizing the mayor to the city of Van Dade to enter into an employment contract with Kurt Althouse for the position of the city manager, setting the salary and manager and declaring the emergency.

0:57

Can I have a motion?

0:58

So move.

0:59

Second.

1:02

So firstly made the motion.

1:05

Okay.

1:06

I'm just going to go with that.

1:07

I have a motion by uh Vice Mayor Blixley and a second by Councilman Lewis to approve amending agenda.

1:13

Can you uh call the roll?

1:15

Councilmember Fallock?

1:17

Yes.

1:17

Councilmember Farst?

1:19

Yes.

1:19

Councilmember Evelodis Weaver.

1:22

Yes.

1:23

Councilmember Dugan?

1:24

Yes.

1:25

Councilmember Lewis?

1:26

Yes.

1:27

Vice Mayor Blakesley?

1:29

Yes.

1:30

Mayor Herps.

1:31

Yes.

1:31

And the motion carries 7-0.

1:33

All right.

1:34

Next we have the approval of minutes.

1:36

Where council you've had an opportunity to review the council study session minutes and the council meeting minutes of November 18th, along with the special council meeting minutes of November 25th and 26th.

1:48

And the council study session meeting minutes of December 2nd, along with the council meeting minutes of December 2nd.

1:59

And the special council meeting minutes of December 3rd, the special council meeting minutes of December 4th.

2:05

And the special council meeting minutes of December 7th.

2:10

Any comments or corrections?

2:13

All right.

2:14

That brings us to communications, petitions, and awards.

2:16

Once we have none, and uh we have no public hearing.

2:20

That brings us to comments from interested citizens.

2:23

So if someone would like to make a comment, please come to the podium, state your name and address for the record.

2:28

In accordance with ordinance 84-01, time limitation on speaking.

2:33

No person shall be allowed to speak longer than five minutes on the same particular subject before everyone else has had a time to do so.

2:42

Anyone wishing to make a comment shall wait for recognition from me before beginning the speak, and all comments need to be addressed to me.

2:50

This is an opportunity for you to make statements.

2:58

Comments that amount to personal attacks of any kind will not be permitted.

3:03

And only the speaker recognized to speak shall have the floor.

3:06

So please be respectful and refrain from talking amongst yourself while others are speaking.

3:13

Would anybody like to make a comment?

3:18

All right, and we'll move on to the city manager's report.

3:20

Mr.

3:21

Sweeterman.

3:22

Thank you, Your Honor.

3:23

I just want item for you this evening.

3:25

Uh just to remind everyone that uh the city offices will be closed on Tuesday, December 24th, and Wednesday, uh December 25th in observance of the Christmas holiday.

3:36

The offices will be all also being closed, be closed on Wednesday, January 1st for New Year's holiday.

3:42

Our rec center will be open on uh Christmas Eve from 7 a.m.

3:46

until noon.

3:47

Umly the fitness area track and gymnasium.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Personnel Matters███████████████████████████████████████39%

Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████27%

Procedural█████████████████████21%

Public Safety█████████████13%

Summary of Proceedings

Vandalia City Council Meeting - December 16, 2024

The Vandalia City Council met on December 16, 2024, at 7:00 PM for a regular meeting. The council unanimously approved several resolutions, emergency ordinances, and routine items. Notable actions included the appointment of Kurt Althouse as city manager, a contract for Robinette Park design, and pay plan amendments. Council members also shared holiday greetings and highlighted a new program for drivers on the autism spectrum.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes: Unanimously approved minutes from multiple meetings held in November and December 2024.
November 2024 Bill Listing and Purchasing Card Detail: Accepted the bill listing of $4,227,112.65, monthly expenses over $25,000, and purchasing card detail of $29,741.58.
Reports from Boards and Commissions: Received and filed minutes from the Civil Service Commission (November 1, 2024), Planning Commission (November 12, 2024), and Board of Zoning Appeals (November 13, 2024). Councilmember Follick noted a potential discrepancy in the Civil Service minutes regarding position lists and requested revision.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were made during the meeting.

Discussion Items

City Manager's Report: City Manager Sweeterman reminded the council that city offices will be closed December 24–25, 2024, for Christmas and January 1, 2025, for New Year’s Day, with limited Recreation Center hours on those days.
Resolution 24-R-67 (Robinette Park Design): Authorized waiving formal bidding and contracting with OHM Advisors for architectural design of a splash pad, shelter, parking, and other amenities at Robinette Park for an amount not to exceed $68,500. Unanimously approved.
Resolution 24-R-68 (General Services Pay Plan 2025): Adjusted the full-time pay plan, including title changes (police lieutenants to police captains), addition of police recruit and construction inspector positions, and reclassification of support services manager. Unanimously approved.
Resolution 24-R-69 (Part-Time Pay Plan 2025): Amended part-time pay classifications for camp programming areas at the recreation center. Unanimously approved.
Resolution 24-R-70 (Storage Lease Renewal): Authorized extending a lease with Aircommas for approximately 5,900 square feet at 2800 Old Springfield Road at a 3% rate increase. Unanimously approved.
Emergency Ordinance 24-25 (Appropriation Revision): Approved a supplemental cleanup ordinance revising 2024 appropriations. A public hearing was opened and closed with no comments. Unanimously approved (7-0).
Emergency Ordinance 24-26 (City Manager Employment Contract): Approved an employment contract for Kurt Althouse as city manager, setting his salary. A public hearing was opened and closed with no comments. Unanimously approved (7-0).

Key Outcomes

All votes on resolutions and ordinances passed unanimously (7-0).
Council directed Human Resources to review and correct the Civil Service meeting minutes regarding position lists.
Council members expressed appreciation to staff, outgoing manager Sweeterman, and incoming city manager Althouse.

Council Comments Highlights

Councilmember Evelotis Weaver thanked staff, noted her first year on council, and congratulated Althouse. She introduced a new program initiated by resident Kelly Black: a blue envelope program for drivers on the autism spectrum to alert police officers during traffic stops, aimed at reducing tense interactions. The program has received positive feedback and media coverage.
Several council members thanked staff for holiday appreciation gifts delivered to city employees that day.
Councilmember Follick pointed out a discrepancy in the Civil Service minutes regarding technician lists and requested a correction.
Councilmembers wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned after council comments.

Meeting Transcript

The December 16th City of Vandalia Council meeting is now called to order. We'll start with a moment of reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands under Godissible Liberty and Justice for All. Your Honor, I'd like to make a motion to amend the agenda to include ordinance 24-26 as an emergency ordinance. Any ordinance authorizing the mayor to the city of Van Dade to enter into an employment contract with Kurt Althouse for the position of the city manager, setting the salary and manager and declaring the emergency. Can I have a motion? So move. Second. So firstly made the motion. Okay. I'm just going to go with that. I have a motion by uh Vice Mayor Blixley and a second by Councilman Lewis to approve amending agenda. Can you uh call the roll? Councilmember Fallock? Yes. Councilmember Farst? Yes. Councilmember Evelodis Weaver. Yes. Councilmember Dugan? Yes. Councilmember Lewis? Yes. Vice Mayor Blakesley? Yes. Mayor Herps. Yes. And the motion carries 7-0. All right. Next we have the approval of minutes. Where council you've had an opportunity to review the council study session minutes and the council meeting minutes of November 18th, along with the special council meeting minutes of November 25th and 26th. And the council study session meeting minutes of December 2nd, along with the council meeting minutes of December 2nd. And the special council meeting minutes of December 3rd, the special council meeting minutes of December 4th. And the special council meeting minutes of December 7th. Any comments or corrections? All right. That brings us to communications, petitions, and awards. Once we have none, and uh we have no public hearing. That brings us to comments from interested citizens. So if someone would like to make a comment, please come to the podium, state your name and address for the record. In accordance with ordinance 84-01, time limitation on speaking. No person shall be allowed to speak longer than five minutes on the same particular subject before everyone else has had a time to do so. Anyone wishing to make a comment shall wait for recognition from me before beginning the speak, and all comments need to be addressed to me. This is an opportunity for you to make statements. Comments that amount to personal attacks of any kind will not be permitted. And only the speaker recognized to speak shall have the floor. So please be respectful and refrain from talking amongst yourself while others are speaking. Would anybody like to make a comment?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com