Council newcomers Mick Lile, Kyle Springs and Zeb Wagner and City Law Director Josh Stolly started their first terms with a one-item agenda at Tuesday’s Bellefontaine City Council meeting.
The new councilmen joined returning council members Deb Baker, Peter DeSomma, Allen Hadley and Diane Hager to pass a first reading to purchase two new pickup trucks for the Water Department.
If adopted after three readings, the city administration can use Ohio state bid contracts to purchase the vehicles. The administration is limited to spend no more than $30,000 per pickup.
Money for the purchases will come from the Water Fund, which generates money through utility bills to cover the costs of treating and supplying water to customers.
Service-Safety Director James Holycross reported Bellefontaine will see a $100,000 savings on health insurance costs in 2016.
He also said the city recently awarded a three-year agricultural ground lease for land around the Bellefontaine Regional Airport.
The city will get $275 per acre in the first year, $279 per acre in the second and $280 in the third.
Total rental payments will be just under $68,000 in the first year.
With the recent snow, Mr. Holycross noted city property owners are required to make good faith efforts to keep sidewalks clear.
He reported a resident asked if the city had a volunteer force to help elderly and disable homeowners.
“We don’t have that available,” Mr. Holycross said, adding it may be a project a council member could organize.
Fire Chief Andy Fissel reported work to repair hydraulic leaks on the city’s ladder truck has been scheduled for February.
The truck will be delivered to the Nebraska firm which originally built the truck for the month-long project.
It will cost $33,000 for the repairs but the city will have to cover expenses delivering the vehicle and picking it up.
The council’s next meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26.
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