DORA may be coming to downtown Loudonville?

Loudonville Village Council met for a regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 16 in Village Council Chambers.

Several items of note took place during the meeting.

Council vacancy

Mayor Jason Van Sickle announced former councilman Matt Young moved to Ashland, leaving a vacant council seat. He invited any residents interested to submit their names to the village office, village administrator or mayor, and they will be interviewed at the next council meeting by village council members.

ODOT projects

Steve Shepherd, ODOT District 3 LPA manager, introduced himself as the District 3 contact for grant projects, noting recent projects funded by ODOT including the pedestrian bridge over the river in Riverside Park and an improved sidewalk to the pool/park complex. He said his grant opportunities do not include those in the ODOT safety program including traffic signals.

He said a recent crash study by the traffic engineer did not meet the minimal criteria for three crashes per year for three consecutive years, noting Union and Main streets had only seven accidents and Market and Main streets had just six. He said the village could complete a village-wide traffic study, and if results are favorable, safety funds can be used to install new signals and correct turn lanes.

Shepherd said the current grant cycle would be awarded in 2028, and the grants are very competitive. He invited council members to reach out to him with questions.

Property/casualty
insurance renewal and health insurance renewal

Village administrator Garret DeWitt and fiscal officer Elaine Van Horn reported the 2023-24 village property/casualty insurance renewal with The Ohio Plan was received with an increase of about $2,000 over last year due to the addition of several new vehicles and increased property values. It was noted the employee health insurance preliminary policy renewal increase was 7.5%, with village employees currently in the process of completing a health survey to attempt to lower the rate increase.

North Adams/Haskell project bid update

DeWitt said Engineering Associates completed a review of the six bids received for the project and recommended R.A. Bores Excavating Inc. as the lowest and best bid in the amount of $455,557.56. He said the bid was approximately $136,000 less than the engineering estimate.

American Legion Post
257 donations

Van Sickle said American Legion Post 257 announced its decision to commit to five years of donations to the Village of Loudonville for a new or renovated police station/Village Hall. Van Sickle expressed appreciation to the American Legion for its pledge and continuous support of village operations.

Legislation

Council approved Ordinance 32-2023, which grants consent to the director of the Ohio Department of Transportation authority to apply, maintain and repair standard longitudinal pavement markings; erect regulatory and warning signs on state highways inside village corporate limits; gives consent to the village for the Ohio Department of Transportation to remove snow and ice and use snow and ice control material on state highways inside the village corporate limits; and gives consent to the village for the Ohio Department of Transportation to perform maintenance and/or repair on state highways inside the village corporation.

Council approved Resolution 33-2023, which establishes the Village Hall/police station project fund within the Village of Loudonville for the receipt of funds to be set aside, accumulated and distributed by the council of the Village of Loudonville for the purchase, construction and/or renovation of a Village Hall/police station in the village of Loudonville. Upon question by councilwoman Cathy Lance, village solicitor Thom Gilman said the funds would be returned if they can’t be used for the intended purpose.

Council approved Ordinance 32-2023, which authorizes the village administrator and fiscal officer to enter a contract for the provision of paving materials and services for the North Adams and Haskell streets improvements project in the village of Loudonville.

Music in the Park series

Lance said the Loudonville-Mohican Chamber of Commerce has shown some interest in spearheading entertainment in Central Park in 2024, noting the chamber will discuss it again at its next meeting.

Downtown restroom maintenance during fair

Councilman Tom Young said the village needs to better maintain the restrooms during the fair, noting he cleaned them as they were filthy. He suggested hiring someone to clean them if the maintenance department cannot keep up with them during the fair.

Gilman, referencing the contract between the fair board and the village, said the terms of the agreement stipulate the fair board is responsible for cleaning the restrooms, and the village will provide the paper products and cleaning supplies.

Street improvement project issues

Young expressed concern with the cracking of the new pavement that was recently completed by Kingsway Services on Adams and Bustle streets. DeWitt said he was meeting with representatives from Kingsway to discuss the issues. Young suggested the village include a maintenance bond in future contracts that guarantees a resolution for problems such as this.

Utility rate increase

Councilwoman Hollie McCauley said the council utilities committee met to discuss water rates, praising DeWitt for explaining and providing further insight into capital project costs as well as increased operating expenses. She said the committee is recommending a 30% water rate increase and a $10-per-month fee for capital improvements. It was noted the increase would be effective Jan. 1, 2024, and the annual 3% increase would be suspended for 2024.

Lance said she felt the proposed increase was warranted and commended DeWitt for his justification. McCauley then moved to request the village solicitor draft an ordinance for presentation on three readings to increase the rates per DeWitt’s recommendation. The motion was approved by all council members.

Comprehensive plan

Councilman Bill Huffman said there are six sections to the old comprehensive plan that were developed by Poggemeyer Design Group in 1993 and suggested each council member take a section in an effort to update the plan.

Van Sickle said he is going to appoint a committee of three council members to initiate the updating of the plan. Gilman said council rules provide for the creation of an ad hoc committee that will report back to council.

Van Sickle asked for any three members of council who are interested in serving on the committee to let him know. Young said he was interested in serving on the new committee.

Downtown streetscape

Huffman said he was in Westerville recently, noting the city had completed a downtown streetscape about 15 years ago. He said they have replanted many trees and some of the existing trees obscure the buildings.

He expressed concern that tree roots can enter the sewer system. DeWitt said trees are most likely chosen that have minimal issues with that concern.

Huffman suggested the village choose a plan that is simple to maintain. Van Sickle said one of his roles as mayor is to encourage and support the betterment of the village. He said he is not going to disrespect the work of the Mohican Area Growth Foundation Downtown Revitalization Committee, noting those committee members have volunteered their time to develop a flexible plan.

He reminded council they have the power to revise or reject the committee’s proposals once a plan is presented. He encouraged residents to communicate with him directly on any matters of concern, reminding when he was first elected, he was in his office twice a week to provide an opportunity for community input by residents with no interest shown.

Van Sickle said he wasn’t going to debate concepts at a village council meeting until there was a plan before them to discuss and review.

Van Sickle addressed Huffman’s prior comments regarding the village’s stagnant population, stating he has had many young people he knew or coached in their youth reach out to say they would love to come back to Loudonville to raise their families but were hesitant, stating the village’s downtown and schools are both in need of improvements.

Van Sickle said despite any negativity, he plans to continue to work toward improving the village.

Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area

Van Sickle said he has been researching DORAs. He said he spoke with Ashland City Mayor Matt Miller regarding their recently adopted DORA for their downtown.

He said a DORA is a specifically designated area that allows patrons over the age of 21 to purchase alcoholic beverages from an establishment and carry them in an open container within a defined area. He said Wooster also has a DORA established downtown.

Van Sickle said he spoke with some of the downtown business owners who were in favor and also with the Loudonville Police Department. He said he would provide more information after he reviews and discusses Ashland and Wooster’s DORAs with Gilman.

Dedication plaque

A plaque purchased by former councilman Matt Young was presented to the Ohio Theatre by Van Sickle, dedicating the sound booth in Kenneth L. Young Jr.’s honor, recognizing his years of service as the former manager of the Ohio Theatre.