CITY OF READING, OHIO
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES – REGULAR SESSION
January 6, 2015 - 7:30PM
CALL TO ORDER
President of Council Pro-Tem Randy Fischesser called the meeting to order at 7:30PM.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE
Mr. Fischesser led those in attendance in the Our Father and the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present:
Mr. Heckle, Mr. Gertz, Mr. Lynd, Mr. Albrinck, Mr. Ashbrock & Mr. Fischesser.

Other City Officials Present:
Mayor Bo Bemmes, Safety Service Director Patrick Ross, Treasurer Mel Gertz & Law Director Dave Stevenson.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Virgil Cromer & Ed Mueller both expressed that they are against City wide Recycling.

REPORTS OF OFFICIALS
MAYOR: Robert “Bo” Bemmes
- Condolences to the families of Angela Laub, Richard Heithaus & Margie Ketter 
- The City of Reading spent $123,913.00 LESS in 2014 than in 2013 in the General Fund 
  This doesn't come easily ...   
    - In the past 15 years the Service Department has decreased from 21 full-time employees to 13
      and haven't really cut any City services
    - Receiving $350,000.00 less money from reliable State funds
    - 3 full-time City jobs now changed to part-time jobs
    - It's been a challenging year (2014) and extended thanks to the administration, Council & everyone for 
      working & living within our means
    - Generous sponsors & donations:  Mural at Benson & Reading Road (2014) & new scoreboard at 
       Veterans Memorial  Field (2015)
- Looking to the future ...
    - 5 major road projects Leonard, Brown, 5th & Flora & Benson Street MSD Sewer project
    - Dr. Joe Anderson (new Superintendent of Reading Community Schools)
- If anyone has any questions, concerns/suggestions on how we spend money/operate please call us.
- Reminder to support Reading businesses as they support our churches, schools & organizations. 
- Keep an eye out for any suspicious/illegal activity & call 513-733-4122 immediately to make a report.
- Call 513-733-3725 to report dangerous sidewalk block, pothole, street light that’s out, etc. 
- Saturday, February 7 St. Peter & Paul Academy Valentine's Day dance at the American Legion 
   ($15 per person presale, $20 per person at the door)
- Father Howard will be leaving July 1st
- 16th Annul FOE Ladies Auxiliary Spring Fling Dance March 21 - Tickets $15 each (Benefits Fire Dept)
   Memorial Day Raffle of May 25 (Benefits various charities in our community)
- Police Department: 
  - Activity for the month of December - 747 calls for Service, 19 auto accidents, 205 traffic citations
  - Activity for 2014: 10,766 calls for service, 299 auto accidents, 2,888 traffic citations
  - Participated in the "Shop With A Cop" Program & raised $1,000
  - Man-power issues still exist but they're managing with what they have
- Fire Department: 2,100 runs in 2014 (9.1% increase over 2013) - record year
- Service Depaertment: Thanks for recent snow removal.
   We used 58 tons of salt last night.  At $76 a ton for salt, we reminde everyone that we only have less than 
   half of the salt guarantee than what we had last year so we will be using it sparingly.  

SAFETY SERVICE DIRECTOR: Patrick Ross
- Thanked Father Howard for his years of service
- Working on end of the year reports & will begin working on permanent appropriations (due in April)
- MSD/Sewer rates going up again & will be in effect on your next bill

LAW DIRECTOR: Dave Stevenson
- No Report

TREASURER: Mel Gertz
- Year end Finance Update (Attached)
- We didn't hit 5% goal of tax collections but we did increase by 2. %

COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS
FINANCE: Anthony Gertz
- We passed the temporary appropriations.  We cannot pass the permanent approppriations until we have 
   the budget commission certify our budget that we submitted last July.  No problems anticipated.  Once we 
   receive the certification from the bidget commission that they accept the budget we proposed for the year
   2015 the  we can proceed with filing, preparing and voting upon the permanent appropriations.
- Not yet seen that the Economy is turning around (opposed to recent reports that it is).
- Some companies are hiring & that is helping recoop the loss of our largest business.
- Wishes Father Howard well in his goal of becomming a Cannon Lawyer.

UTILITIES, LANDS & BUILDINGS: Don Lindeman
- Continues to promote Recycling.  The next step is to hear from the residents.  In the next round of monthly 
   water bills there will be a survey in regard to city-wide recycling that we encourage you to return     
   completed with your water bill.  We want to hear from everyone so we can get a better idea of what the 
   citizens want. 

ZONING, PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT: Bob Ashbrock
- Have been in contact with Dan Brooks ang they're working the details out in regard to the fees schedule.

LAWS AND CONTRACTS: Scott Heckle
- Committee meeting to be scheduled for next month (will have a date ready by next meeting)

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY: Randy Fischesser
- POLICE:  After having met with Chief Snow to discuss 2015 Capital needs it is hoped that we'll be able to 
  find enough Capital money to fund some of the projets.
- Gave further explanations as to the two ordinances being presented to Council.
- FIRE DEPARTMENT: Storage Construction Project is going well - about 80% complete (work is being 
  done in house between the Fire & Service Departments).  Concerns with the Medic Unit & rapidly 
  persuing evaluation of other vehicles.  Our cost for dispatching next year will  increase $169.00 for fire 
  runs, $1,329 for squad runs and almost $2,000 for police - total increase is about $3,400/$3,500.  This is 
  paid for out of the Fire Capital fund and will not effect the general fund at all.

SERVICE: Dennis Albrinck
- Reminder: Please move your cars during snow fall in an effort to assist the snow removal
- Asks residents to check the catch basins (sewers) for leaves and remove them if you can
- Have received the two quotes for the roof & door repairsat the Service building.

RECREATION: Tom Lynd
- Recreation department remains busy:
  - Submitted a grant to the Reds Community Fund hoping to improve the grounds at Koening park & 
    restroom updates.
- Park rentals begin February 2 at City Hall at 7:00 am.  People who come to City Hall will be the first 
   resevations taken.  The line is long and reservations fill up quickly so please plan accordingly.
- Pool applications being accepted now

OTHER BUSINESS 
Tony Gertz: Complimented Bonnie Rack on her efforts in obtaining "new" desks (2 years old) from the City of Wyoming for the St. Peter and Paul Academy.

READING OF RESOLUTIONS

READING OF ORDINANCES
(1) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE AUDITOR TO TRANSFER $200,000.00 FROM THE CITY 
     EARNINGS TAX FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Motion made by Mr. Albrinck, seconded by Mr. Gertz to suspend the rules requiring a second and third reading. Motion passed by a 7-0 roll call vote. Motion made by Mr. Ashbrock, seconded by Mr. Heckle to adopt the ordinance. Motion passed by a 7-0 roll call vote.

ORDINANCE ADOPTED                                                 ORDINANCE NO. 2015-01
(2) AN ORDINACE AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY/SERVICE DIRECTOR TO PURCHASE/INSTALL 
     AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEW ALS/MEDIC UNIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND 
     DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Motion made by Mr. Lynd, seconded by Mr. Lindeman to suspend the rules requiring a second and third reading. Motion passed by a 7-0 roll call vote. Motion made by Mr. Lynd, seconded by Mr. Heckle to adopt the ordinance. Motion passed by a 7-0 roll call vote.

ORDINANCE ADOPTED                                                  ORDINANCE NO. 2015-02

(3) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY/SERVICE DIRECTOR TO PURCHASE A NEW 
     ALS/MEDIC UNIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Motion made by Mr. Lindeman, seconded by Mr. Heckle to suspend the rules requiring a second and third reading. Motion passed by a 7-0 roll call vote. Motion made by Mr. Albrinck, seconded by Mr. Lynd to adopt the ordinance. Motion passed by a 7-0 roll call vote.

ORDINANCE ADOPTED                                                  ORDINANCE NO. 2015-03

ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was declared adjourned at 9:13 pm.

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CARLA KACHER                                           RANDY FISCHESSER
Clerk of Council                                              President of Council Pro Tem