Dear People: Thanks to so many of you who came out for my band's official debut on Friday at the Emporium. It was nice to see so many friendly faces and gratifying that we managed to "bring out the boogie" in many of you!Council Meeting is on TUESDAY (2/16) this week; heavy agenda! I strongly encourage you to look at the packet as posted online, but here are the highlights.
LEGISLATION:
- Two annual, housekeeping Resolutions regarding a) our bank account (and who is eligible to sign documents, etc.) and b) our membership in the Regional Planning & Coordinating Commission of Green County
- A Resolution Approving findings/orders from the Ohio EPA regarding the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). Our attorney, Tim Hoffman, negotiated the original fine of $79K (announced last year) down to $22.5K. We are allowed to donate $10K to the Glen Helen Ecology Institute to restore a wetland and $2.5K to the OEPA's clean diesel school bus fund. So only $10K will be actual penalty dollars paid to the OEPA.
OLD BUSINESS:
- Dog Park Discussion: Mark has laid out the pros and cons of a variety of sites, including Ellis Park (as proposed by the students); Stutzman property; Glass Farm; Gaunt Park; Old WWTP site (Corner of Allen and Corry).
- TLT Request for Green Space Funds: There are two farms just to the NW of the village, one containing the headwaters of the Jacoby, that are good candidates for our green space funds, according to the Tecumseh Land Trust (TLT). The two farm projects would amount to $211,950 in local matching funds, taken from our Green Space Funds, which currently stand at $275K. Protecting the Jacoby green space is a long-term goal of Council and the Village. I support this request. (But of course always remain open to hearing from villagers on all sides of the question).
Krista Magaw, Exec. Director of the TLT will present on this topic and answer questions. Krista also has written a letter asking us to consider putting into place a standard policy regarding the Green Space Fund, as the Miami Township has. She suggests allocating a set amount from our estate taxes (e.g., the first $50,000 or $100,000 of these funds, each year; the funds have typically been yielding from $250K-$300K/ year for the past several years).
- Economic Sustainability Task Force: Judith has revised her plan, and I am hoping that we will vote on it.
- Commission Openings! Denise Swinger has done a very thorough review of the Commissions and Boards, looking back to the Charter in some cases, to get a very clear picture of what terms have expired when--some of these were off, according to the terms of the Charter (e.g., Planning Commission). We appreciate her work!
Many of these boards/commissions don't actually require a huge commitment of time but do important work--consider putting your name in? Here's the story:
- Planning Commission: 2 Expired Terms. Bill Bebko and John Streuwing would like to be reappointed.
- Board of Zoning Appeals: 1 expired term. Ted Donnell would like to be reappointed
- Board of Tax Appeals: 3 expired terms. Richard Zopf would like to be reappointed; the other two members have not been in contact with the Clerk.
- Human Relations: 2 expired terms. Joan Chappelle would like to be reappointed, but not Don Wallis. We need another person!
- Environmental Commission: 1 opening for a village resident, 1 for a township resident. One person has indicated interest in serving. We need another!
- Library Commission: 1 term expiring soon.
- Cable Advisory Panel: We have a request that Michael Cannon be appointed.
- Goals! We have a new draft of our goals for this year--they are clearer and more streamlined, I believe, than in years past.
FYI: Citizen Communications:
Paul A commented on a proto version of the HRC website.
Three citizens thanked the street dept for their efforts to clear snow from the streets and asked if the curbs and gutters could be cleared too.
Rick D expressed concerns about the CBE design
Lloyd K expressed concerns about a dog park at Ellis Park
Lisa A wrote on behalf of Community Resources about our meeting in January and future steps. And we received a DVD of Gudge's comments to the McKee Group in January.
Another poem? Why not!
When You Are Old
by William Butler Yeats
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
Source: The Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats (1989)
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