Council approves soft billing for fire department responses

Carrollton Village Council approved a plan April 14 to begin soft billing insurance companies for certain fire department responses in an effort to recover costs associated with emergency calls.

Village Administrator Chris Kiehl said the village, Mayor Bill Stoneman, Fire Chief Shane Thomas and firefighter Aaron Stoller met with Ohio Billing to begin the process.

Kiehl said the program would allow officials to bill insurance companies for some fire department responses without directly billing village residents or residents in townships that contract with Carrollton for fire service.

“We’re never going to bill residents,” Stoneman said. “If you’re in the village or in a township that contracts with us, you’re not going to get a bill.”

Kiehl said the company charges $40 per claim and works each claim for up to 90 days.

“If we get 500, we get 1,000, that money’s all coming to us,” Kiehl said.

Officials said the village may seek reimbursement in situations such as repeated false alarms at commercial properties or calls involving nonresidents or companies outside the village’s normal service area.

Council approved moving forward with Ohio Billing as the village’s fire department billing provider.

In an unrelated matter, council approved an approximate $6,200 payment to former Village Administrator Mark Wells under what members described as a moral claim.

Solicitor Clark Battista said Wells’ contract allowed him to accumulate sick leave but did not include a provision for converting that leave into a payout upon retirement.

“Under his contract, he would not be entitled,” Battista said.

Wells, who served more than 10 years in the role and is believed by council members to be the longest-serving village administrator in Carrollton’s history, said he believed he would receive the benefit.

“I was operating under the assumption that I was like every other employee,” Wells said. “I’ve been blessed to not be sick a lot and didn’t take the time when I wasn’t sick.”

Officials said the amount approved represents one-fourth of the total value of his unused sick leave, consistent with the village’s policy for eligible employees.

Council members cited Wells’ length of service and commitment to the job as factors in their decision. Council members Chris Barto, Brittany Tangler, Kevin Butterfield and Travis Parker voted in favor, while Dan Locke and Wilma Lambert voted against.

Council also approved an ordinance to combine multiple parcels tied to a NAPA Auto Parts project into a single lot at the former Rite Aid building at 340 W. Main Street.

The ordinance allows the replat of lots 1-3 in Fred H. McCoy’s Addition and tracts 1-3 into a consolidated parcel of about 0.985 acres for the NAPA Auto Parts store.

Officials said the change is intended to clean up existing parcel divisions and streamline the property into one lot. The Carrollton Planning Commission previously recommended approval of the replat.

In other business, council:

—HEARD Kiehl report he met with an insurance adjuster March 24 to review storm damage at village properties and forwarded the results for review. He said he is pursuing quotes for repairs.

—HEARD Kiehl report the bill for the relocation of the utility pole near the police station and fire department, discussed at the previous meeting, has been paid and came in as expected.

—APPROVED an ordinance for an electricity purchase contract after a spike in utility costs. Kiehl said the sewer plant’s bill increased by nearly $9,000 after the village’s previous contract expired and accounts were left subject to market fluctuations.

—APPROVED an agreement with Trebel LLC to continue serving as the village’s energy consultant for electric and natural gas aggregation.

—APPROVED $500 donations for each of the village’s two garden clubs for 2027.

—HEARD discussion of a zoning issue involving a car lot. Stoneman said the owner may reapply after confusion during the initial process.

“I think maybe some of the wires got crossed,” Stoneman said.

—HEARD a request from Councilwoman Brittany Tangler to explore treating village parks and ball fields for ticks. Kiehl said officials are looking into it.

—HEARD further discussion about downtown parking meters and potential loss of revenue if they are removed. Clerk/Treasurer Darla Tipton said meters, permits and related tickets generated about $17,000 in 2025. Officials said the meters are obsolete and replacing them would be costly, with estimates showing it could take decades to recover the expense.

—PAID the bills of $48,623.33 in vendors and $130,542.47 in payroll for two days. Payment of bills without prior certification totaled $72,659.37.

—ENTERED executive session to discuss the purchase of land by the village.