Garrettsville - Several new resolutions and ordinances were passed by Garrettsville Village Council on January 13, 2010. In summary, the Village has adopted a NOPEC group rate for savings in electric service fees; water rates and meter requirements have been amended; and private property is being purchased to preserve Village parking.
Following through with previously-enacted legislation authorizing the Village to establish an electricity aggregation program for the residents, businesses and other electric consumers in the Village, Council jointly established an electricity aggregation program with Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council “to maximize the potential benefits of electricity deregulation through group purchasing efforts” by adopting the Plan of Operation and Governance of the NOPEC Electricity Aggregation Program. In part, the ruling states, “This Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety and welfare of the Village, and for the further benefits of electricity deregulation through the Electricity Aggregation Program of NOPEC, as provided herein, wherefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect immediately upon the adoption and approval by the Mayor” and Village Council.
By joining the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, the Village contends it will be able to act jointly with other member political subdivisions to maximize the potential benefit of natural electric deregulation though group purchasing efforts.
According to NOPEC Chairman Joseph Migliorini, NOPEC’s electricity offer should save residential and small business customers 2-8 percent on their electric generation bill. This measure is not mandatory, but customers must inform NOPEC if they want to opt out of their program.
Council also passed an ordinance to modify the meter and shut-off requirements applicable to multi-family dwellings, now requiring separate meters and shut-off valves. An accessible exterior shut-off valve and Village-supplied water meter must be installed for each property serviced by the Village water system as follows:
(1) One meter and shut-off for each dwelling or structure designed or used for occupancy by a single family.
(2) One meter and shut-off for each unit designed or used for occupancy by a single family in two-family, three-family or multi-family structures.
(3) At least one meter and shut-off for each business or commercial enterprise or as approved by the Board of Public Affairs.
(4) At least one meter and shut-off for each industrial operation, or as approved by the Board of Public Affairs.
(5) No individual is permitted to alter or change any water service or meter without permission from the Board of Public Affairs.
In existing cases where two- or more family units are served by a single meter and shut-off, all water usage for that property will be billed directly to the property owner. Aware that real estate within the Village is often transferred without a final water and sewer bill being generated and paid by the transferring party; Council adopted an amendment which requires sellers of Village real estate to furnish the purchaser, prior to such sale of such real property, a statement from the Water and Sewer Department, establishing the current status of the property’s account. When an escrow has been established, prior to possession or transfer of title, the purchaser must accept responsibility for all water and sewer bills on the property accruing after the date of possession or title transfer.
Sellers must pay the full amount due up to the date of possession or title transfer. The purchaser may recover, by civil suit, from the previous owner, seller, real estate agent or escrow agent, money due for services supplied by the Water and Sewer Department to the previous owner/seller and paid for by the purchaser. Violators may be charged with a fourth degree misdemeanor.
Council also amended the Codified Ordinances (Section 921.01c) to modify water rate structures applicable to multi-family dwellings, effective March 1, 2010. The minimum rate for single-family dwellings and individual living units served by one meter will be $32.90 per quarter for the total consumption up to 4,000 gallons.
For multiple-family dwellings served by only one meter, the minimum rate will be $32.90 x (number of living units on the meter) per quarter for total consumption up to 4,000 gallons x (number of living units on the meter).
A charge of $4.91 per 1,000 gallons will be applied for volumes exceeding 4,000 gallons x (number of living units on the meter) in any one billing period.
The Village of Garrettsville is purchasing the .255-acre parking lot situated behind the former Irwin Hardware building, which faces Main Street (owned by James Irwin). Previously, the Village leased the property for 20+ spaces of public parking. Purchasing the land secures it for Village use, said Council President Rick Patrick. Mayor Craig Moser was authorized to execute an “Offer to Purchase Real Estate” of $30,000 to Irwin on behalf of the Village of Garrettsville in an emergency measure. The Village Clerk-Treasurer was also authorized to spend up to $1,000 from the General Fund for Title Professionals, Inc. to provide escrow, title search and other services related to the Village’s land purchase. This was declared an emergency measure, in order to expedite the purchase “for the benefit of the citizens and businesses of the Village of Garrettsville, and because the purchase of this property cannot be completed without a title search, and shall become effective upon its passage by Council and approval by the Mayor, and to further insure the health, safety, and morals of the Village of Garrettsville.”
In a separate resolution, the Village Clerk-Treasurer was authorized to spend up to $700 from the General Fund for Cliff McGuire to conduct a survey of Irwin’s property. This resolution was also declared an emergency measure, “in order to expedite the purchase of the property in question for the benefit of the citizens and businesses of the Village of Garrettsville...”
• Council passed Ordinance 2009-63, which acknowledges the right of the Board of Public Affairs to promulgate it own rules and regulations, as stated in the Ohio Revised Code. Previously, the Village Of Garrettsville Codified Ordinances did not acknowledge this power.
• Realtors now must disclose to buyers a property’s zoning status (residential, duplex, commercial) in order to curb people trying to convert residential single family units into duplexes or opening a business in a residential zone, etc. Property owners must appeal to the zoning committee before adapting an existing property to a new use.
• Resolution 2010-03 was passed, commending Teri Eiermann for her eight years of service with the Village of Garrettsville Council, Park Committee, Portage County Bicentennial and Regional Planning Commission, as well as “her outstanding contribution of time and talent to the Garrettsville Income Tax levy.”
• Council voted to replace Chapter 153 of the Codified Ordinances with a newly developed employee handbook. The “Village of Garrettsville, Portage County, Ohio Employee Handbook” was adopted and made effective immediately.
