Remodeling of Amelia village offices nearing completion

Amelia Village Administrator Mark Menz reported on the remodeling project for the village offices during the Amelia Village Council meeting Monday, Jan. 19.

“The new clerk’s office has been completed and painted and most of the remodel of the front office has been completed,” said Menz. “The annex remodel is all complete with the exception of removal of the old heaters and patching over those holes.”

When the weather warms, that project will be completed.

"Our goal with both of these remodels was to maximize the square footage in this building and find ways to make our processes more efficient," said Menz. "I want to thank council for having the foresight to understand the needs and the patience of our staff to accept these challenges and put up with short term inconveniences for a long term solution."

Improvements were also made in the police department by utilizing a cabinet from the front office and modifying it, the office now has more room to store supplies and offers a countertop work area.

The council voted unanimously in its meeting Jan. 19 to appoint David Woessner to fill the council seat left vacant when Robert Tasch resigned. The commission made up of council members made the recommendation to appoint Woessner after interviewing candidates for the vacancy.

Woessner was sworn in by Mayor Leroy Ellington and immediately took his seat on council. He will fill the seat until Dec. 31, 2011, when it will be open for election.

In other business:

• Council members directed administrator Menz to prepare an ordinance regarding the rules of council for the February meeting. The rules had been reviewed and revised by council members and a final draft was presented for approval at the meeting.

• Police Chief Jeff Sucher gave council a detailed statistical report for 2008. The police department received 3,980 calls, took 91 crash reports, took a total of 322 reports and closed 323 cases, they issued 521 citations, issued 24 DUIs and DUS, had 10 juvenile citations, made 32 felony arrests, 226 adult miscellaneous arrests, 17 juvenile felony arrests and 30 juvenile miscellaneous arrests. The department assisted other area police departments 55 times, answered 1,122 courtesy calls, assisted with 368 squad runs and answered 169 alarm drops.

• Mayor Ellington reported that he and Menz met with Rick Rack, from the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club about the possibility of the club maintaining the older section of Amelia Elementary as a home for the club. A meeting was held with Rick Rack, Jean Schmidt and others to discuss the idea. They will present their proposal to the West Clermont School Board for their consideration.

• Derrick Campbell, council liaison for the recreation commission, reported that the outdoor fitness zone at Spencer Shank Park will be installed next to the parking lot for easy access for walkers and parkers.

• Campbell also reported that Menz had been advised to proceed with the grant application for the ball field project at the park. It was decided to divide the project into three phases with the first phase to include grading, dirt/clay/sand, seeding and water line installation for a future drinking fountain.

• Campbell reported that the second phase of the SK8 Park will be installed the week of Jan. 26, weather permitting. It was expected to take two to three hours to install the equipment.

• Council members discussed the possibility of televising the meetings or putting an audio of the meetings on the web site.

• Menz reported to council that a reimbursement check for $10,775 had been received from FEMA. The check represents 75 percent of the expenses incurred during the wind storm on Sept. 14, 2008. The money will be appropriated into the FEMA grant fund and transferred to the street maintenance and repair fund and police funds as appropriate.

• Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Jackson reported that the department is finalizing its annual reports and will have them soon. He also reported that the department has been working with the architects for the new school to get warning signs posted on the school.

• Council approved contracts with United Health Care and Dental Care Plus for fulltime employees.