Zoar Council votes to increase police pay

On Jan. 9 Zoar Village Council held a brief organizational meeting prior to its regularly scheduled meeting. Mark Gaynor was elected president pro tempore for 2024. Mayor Tom Klingaman reviewed dates when council terms will end as follows: Tom Klingaman, 2027; Kim Klingaman, David Irwin, Jill Harshey and Jeff Eadie, 2025; and Mark Gaynor and David Gannon, 2027.

Council voted to continue holding meetings on the second Tuesday of each month beginning at 6 p.m. at the Zoar Village Hall and Event Center.

Council next approved a proposed slate of positions for committee members as follows:

—Finance: Tom Klingaman, fiscal officer and all council members.

—County health board: Tom Klingaman and Gannon, safety chair.

—Village fire protection officer: Shawn Lynch, Bolivar fire chief.

—Regional planning board and chair of planning commission: Tom Klingaman.

—Planning commission: Gail Garbrandt, Melissa Dials, Mark Welty, Kim Klingaman and Tom Klingaman.

—Safety committee: Gannon, chair, and Tom Klingaman and Irwin.

—Street committee: Irwin and Tom Klingaman.

—Street commissioner: Irwin.

—Historic preservation committee: Gaynor, chair, and Scott Gordon, Patrick Eddy, Eadie and Diane Geis.

—Rules committee: Eadie and Harshey.

—Shade tree commission: Welty, chair, and Kim Klingaman.

—Cemetery board: Tom Klingaman, Kaye Cline and Irwin, council representative, with one open seat.

—Event center building committee: Gaynor, chair, and Harshey, Eddy and Gordon.

— Zoning inspector: David Hayes.

—Village government representatives to Zoar Community Association: Harshey and Tom Klingaman.

—Village compliance officer: Eadie

Business meeting

In reports to council, fiscal officer Martina Mann said a copy of the 2023 audit report was sent to council members via email. She also said Irwin had requested approval of $500 for gasoline and $500 for asphalt for the streets committee for 2024.

Council approved the request and also approved Mann’s paying of bills as they come due, rather than having to wait for the monthly meeting.

Tom Klingaman reported the planning commission had met but did not have a quorum, so no action could be taken.

Gaynor reported for the Historic Preservation Committee, saying the committee will meet every other month. Tom Klingaman said Gordon sent him a building permit request he received for a new home on Second Street Northeast.

Gaynor also reported the new kitchen in the event center is nearly finished, with only trim work and other detailing remaining to be done. He also said a freezer was delivered and installed.

Ordinance and resolutions

Council voted to raise the hourly fee in the police contract with Bolivar from $28-$34. Tom Klingaman said this does not cover all the expenses Bolivar incurs by providing police protection for the village.

An ordinance to adopt the International Property Maintenance Code was removed from consideration by council vote. It was said certain sections were in conflict with the guidelines set for the Zoar Historic District, and the code seemed primarily focused on identifying guidelines for demolition of dilapidated buildings as opposed to conserving historic buildings.

An ordinance to update a previous ordinance establishing a village street weight limit was placed on hold. Gannon wondered if vibrations from truck traffic on state Route 212 pose a danger to historic buildings but was informed ODOT sets the rules for the highway. Doug Frautschy, village solicitor, said the speed limit is 25 mph, which is the lowest speed that can be set on a state route.

Council heard the first reading of an ordinance approving permanent appropriations for 2024.

An emergency resolution was passed to move the village credit card account from Bank of America to Huntington Bank.

Zoar Village Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Zoar Village Hall and Event Center. Meetings are open to the public.