No solution yet for fuel stop impasse

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GREENVILLE — Is an agreement in sight to settle the dispute between the City of Greenville, the Darke County Commissioners and Erwin Bros. Trucking? If there is, no one’s disclosing — yet — what that solution may be.

Erwin Bros. Trucking had sought to open its fuel stop, located at the intersection of U.S. Route 127 and Ohio Route 49, on December 1. The city is seeking improvements at the location before providing water and sewer services to the business, improvements which the Erwins and the county deem unnecessary. The business has thus far declined to sign a pre-annexation agreement with the city.

Prior to Tuesday night’s Greenville City Council meeting, council members and city administrators met in executive session, a gathering closed to the public, presumably to discuss the issue.

As well, the Darke County Commissioners held an executive session on Monday, also in regards to the dispute.

During the regular session, Council Members Dori Howdieshell and Doug Schmidt, members of the city’s Law Committee, asked council to remove their committee reports from consideration.

The original Law Committee report recommended that no further action be taken by the city to reopen negotiations with the county. A minority report, issued by Howdieshell, suggested the city should look into continued negotiations. Councilman John Hensley is the only member of the committee to sign the original committee report.

Council did accept a report from the Personnel & Public Relations Committee, which recommended approval of a web camera in council chambers to record sessions for posting on the Internet.

The city’s last meeting of 2016 saw council pass a large number of resolutions and ordinances.

Council passed an ordinance establishing an annual salary or $5,400 for At-Large Council Members commencing Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2021. Councilman Leon Rogers was the only “No” vote.

As well, council passed an ordinance authorizing appropriations to the general fund for PERS, Workers Compensation — Police Department in the amount of $28,500 to cover the BWC advance payment for 2017; $32,000 to cover Police Department salaries in excess of the 2016 budget; $30,000 for prisoner sustenance — Police Department to cover expenses in excess of the 2016 budget; PERS, Workers Compensation — Fire Department in the amount of $24,300 to cover the BWC advance payment for 2017; $400 for salaries — Municipal Building to cover expenses in excess of the 2016 budget; and PERS, Workers Compensation — Income Tax in the amount of $1,800 to cover the BWC advance payment for 2017.

The same ordinance also covers appropriations to the Sewage Disposal Fund for salaries — Wastewater Superintendent in the amount of $4,000 to cover expenses in excess of the 2016 budget; PERS — Police Pension for $800 to cover expenses in excess of the 2016 budget; and to the Capital Improvement Plan for State Share Roadway Enhancement — CIP in the amount of $598,669, representing Ohio Public Works payments on the Gardenwood/Rhoades and Ohio/East Main Street construction projects.

Another ordinance approved allows the transfer of $3,000 to the Waterworks System Revenue funds from Office Supplies — Water Department to Equipment Maintenance — Water Department to cover interdepartmental charges incurred at year end; and to the Health Care fund in the amount of $38,000 from Claims — Health Care to Stop Loss — Health Care to cover stop loss payments in excess of the 2016 budget.

An ordinance was approved allowing for temporary appropriations of the city for 2017 until not later than March 31, 2017 and the regular appropriations ordinance for the year 2017 is passed. In plain English, this ordinance keeps the city operating until its final budget for 2017 is approved.

Council passed a resolution authorizing the safety/service director to advertise for bids for the demolition and reconstruction of a new 2,028-square-foot band shell building in Greenville City Park as well as alternate bids for a 570-square-foot office addition to include a restroom, and a 450-square-foot restroom addition and security grill.

Other measures approved by council include an ordinance allowing the city to provide water services to a resident outside city limits; a resolution authorizing the acceptance of bids for lime sludge removal at the city’s water treatment plant; a resolution to authorize advertising for utility improvements at the intersection of Sweitzer and Fourth Streets; and an ordinance amending ordinances and rates pertaining to general fund fees.

Greenville City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building. The meetings are open to the public.

By Erik Martin

[email protected]

The writer may be reached at 937-569-4314. Join the conversation and get updates on Facebook search Darke County Sports or Advocate 360. For more features online go to dailyadvocate.com

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