City Council hears Peony Fest requests

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council honored outgoing president Pete Weir, heard a presentation from the Van Wert Peony Festival Committee, and received a pre-annexation submission from attorney Chuck Koch for a new city residential subdivision during its meeting Monday in Council Chambers.

Council President Jon Tomlinson presented Weir with a plaque honoring his service as Council president and his years on City Council. Later in the meeting, Tomlinson also praised the late Jon Rhoades, a retired Central Insurance vice president who was very much involved in local economic development activities over the past 30 years or more.

“In my opinion, there aren’t too many individuals that have done more for the city of Van Wert over the last several decades than Mr. Rhoades,” Tomlinson said, noting Rhoades’ extensive involvement in the Community Investment Corporation, the Business Development Corporation, and other development entities. “(He’s) going to be a tough individual to replace.”

Peony Festival Committee President Vicki Schulte and other committee members were on hand to submit paperwork for a temporary liquor license for a beer tent at this spring’s festival, as well as to request additional space for the festival car show, and approval to have all-terrain vehicle daredevil Henry “The Pitbull” Rife participate in this year’s Peony Festival Grand Parade on Main Street.

A planned report from the Woodland Cemetery Board was postponed.

Tomlinson also presented documentation submitted by Koch on a new subdivision, and the information was given to Judiciary and Annexation Committee Chair Joi Mergy for a meeting to be held on the issue. The pre-annexation submission was made to speed up the annexation process for the property.

During his report, Mayor Jerry Mazur spoke of some of the land acquisitions made by the Van Wert County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank), and asked Council members take some time to think of some uses the city could have for some of the property.

He also gave an update on a recent Sister City Committee meeting and announced that a youth delegation from Van Wert’s sister city of Sumoto City, Japan, will be visiting the city in July. He also noted that fundraisers will also be held to raise money to send a 10-member youth delegation from Van Wert to Japan next year.

Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming provided some details on sewer rates for several houses along Ohio 118 and U.S. 127 that were connected to the city sewer system through an agreement with the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners. A resident of that area had questioned what she felt were excessive sewer rates in that area.

Council also approved the reappointment of Brian Greve to the Health Department Board and the appointment of Mark Schumm to the Community Reinvestment Area Board.

During committee reports, Economic Development Committee Chair Warren Straley gave a brief overview of 2017 activities of the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation, while Parks and Recreation Committee Chair Joel Penton noted he had spoken with new Parks Director Kevin Longstreth, and that it appeared that Longstreth was a bit concerned about upkeep of city parks, particularly mowing, now that the department has been reduced from three employees to two.

Penton said Longstreth is contacting local lawn service companies to see if some of them would be interested in volunteering some time to help mow city parks.

Legislatively, Council approved an ordinance removing taxicabs from the City Code of Ordinances, and a measure related to parking schedules in the city, while introducing an ordinance to authorize Capital Recovery to collect delinquent income taxes.

Council also heard from city resident Matt Bretz, who works in Indiana and is upset about having to pay city income taxes both in Indiana and Van Wert. Because discussion time is limited during Council meetings, Tomlinson invited Bretz to call any City Council member or administration official to discuss the issue, noting that contact information for city officials is available on the city website.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Van Wert City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, February 12, in Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 515 E. Main St.