Council approves change in chicken coops, moves forward on water and sewage upgrades
- The Markle Town Council will meet in a special budget and salary session Aug. 1 at 1:30 p.m. at the Markle Town Hall
By MARK MILLER
The second reading of an amendment to the town ordinance regarding chicken coops was perhaps the most anticipated item on the Markle Town Council’s agenda. However, council members took more momentous steps regarding the town’s water and sewer systems and had a discussion on personnel structure at their regular monthly meeting Wednesday evening.
Council members Matt Doss, Nick Lund and Blake Caley unanimously supported the amendment to the town code that will allow Jamie Albanese to have her small chicken coop in her side yard since she has no back yard, as long as certain conditions are met. No public comment was allowed during the council’s discussion since the open hearing had been held at the June meeting.
The majority of the council’s time was occupied by the upcoming water and wastewater upgrades. Holly Miller of DLZ presented two agreements — an Asset Management Plan and a Preliminary Engineering Report — that are necessary to move the bonding process forward. Those agreements were unanimously approved as was a motion to proceed with the $2.175 million dollar project to replace the town’s water mains. A proposal is also in consideration to replace sanitary sewer lines, primarily in the Hoover Lane area, but that project approval was tabled.
Lund, who has been leading the council’s efforts in the projects, explained that the projects will have a significant impact on water and sewage rates for Markle residents. He noted that current water rates of $22.80 per month will increase to “slightly less than $40,” he said. The average rate for communities under 1,000 is $36.00. “So we have been under the market rate for quite a while and this will put us slightly above average.”
What bothered all three council members is the impact the sewage project will have on rate payers. The current monthly rate of $41.00 is projected to change to $93.00.
“I know that would be very difficult for many of our residents to handle,” Doss said. Town Clerk Stephenie Hensley shared that the last rate increases for water and sewage were phased in over a two-year period in 2017 and 2018.
“We have no choice in the water main project,” Assistant Town Superintendent Mike Grant told the council. The existing lines date to 1918, he said, and explained that a scheduled upgrade of natural gas lines that are close to the water mains will cause the water mains to fail. However, Grant added that he does not feel that all avenues and possibilities for grants have been exhausted to help pay for the sewage project.
Therefore the council allowed the water project to proceed. Lund feels it will be completed by the end of 2024.
Doss brought a proposal to create a new position for the town — actually resurrecting a position that has not been filled for a number of years: An operations manager.
“This used to be called the ‘town manager’ but I think ‘operations manager’ better defines the role,” he said. He had an old job description from when the town had had a person in that specific position.
Caley said that he is “not comfortable with the process of creating a new position,” preferring to add the duties listed in Doss’ job description to a current employee “who has gone above and beyond what he’s asked to do.” Caley suggested that the current employee’s job description be updated and his compensation re-evaluated in light of these new duties.
Lund shared that he is sitting on the fence at this point. “I can see the necessity of a town manager, but we need to talk about this,” he said. He suggested updating Doss’ dated job description and then see if it is possible to redefine a current employee’s duties and consider adjusting the compensation.
Doss suggested the group include this issue as they work on 2024 salaries. The three agreed to meet in an executive session to evaluate employee performance prior to a special meeting to discuss salaries and budgets for 2024. That public meeting was set for Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 1:30 p.m. The executive session will begin at 1 p.m.
In other business:
• Wells County Economic Development Director Chad Kline brought two compliance form updates for tax abatements at Wayne Metals and K-K Tools. Both businesses were in line in meeting the abatements’ requirements, Kline reported.
• Town Superintendent Rick Asher brought quotes for the replacement of two pumps at the wastewater treatment plant. The quote totaling $41,719.22 from Henry Thompson Co. of Milford, Ohio, does not include electrical updates needed nor installation. Asher said he has received quotes for that work but is not happy with them. He requested the council approve the pumps so the order can be placed. Delivery time is 16 to 20 weeks out.
“That’ll give me time to get you some better quotes on the installation,” he told the council.
Miller, the engineer from DLZ told the council she believes she can get a better price elsewhere on those pumps, so the council approved spending the amount hoping that the final cost might be lower.
• Town Marshal John Markley told the council that a “speed study” needs to be performed on Novae Parkway in order for the town to establish a speed limit there. He is unsure of the cost, but will report back to the council. He also noted that he and his three officers have completed a Critical Incident Team training on how to handle people experiencing a mental health crisis.
miller@news-banner.com
