Village talks pool, cost of living increase
NEW BREMEN — During a brief meeting on Monday night, New Bremen councilors heard about the status of the village pool and discussed cost of living increases among other things.
Village Administrator Brent Richter told councilors that the pool opened on June 7.
The issue the village was facing at the last council meeting was getting a liner installed for the pool. The company that was originally going to install it delayed a couple of weeks but the village was able to get Cotterman and Company to install the liner.
Richter said a pump on the slide was broken but has since been repaired, adding that the robotic cleaner that cleans the pool has since been broken.
He said that the village will replace it rather than repair it as it’s a model from 2003 and the village will get a newer one.
Mayor Bob Parker said that the pool could be facing reduced hours of operation because they are short-staffed.
Council also discussed the village’s cost of living adjustment.
Council implemented a 1% increase at its Jan. 11 meeting and said they would revisit it when they had a better understanding of what the finances would look like.
Parker said he wanted to open discussion and get the cost of living adjustment back on the agenda on Monday. He say that the village is waiting to hear back on income tax monies and they’re also waiting to see if House Bill 127 passes.
The bill would keep cities from imposing income taxes on remote workers for this year.
The bill was passed in the House in May, but Gov. Mike DeWine has yet to sign it and councilors were hopeful that it will get vetoed because it would hurt them financially.
“We’ve been told by the city of St. Marys, if anybody’s going to get hit hard by this bill, it’s going to be New Bremen because of Crown having their corporate headquarters here,” said Parker.
“A lot of people living outside will be applying for refunds if this goes through.
Councilman Jacob Larger said the village would have a better understanding come July 1 because that’s when state law mandates that the budget gets passed.
“Technically the governor still has a few days to line-item veto some things. We can keep our fingers crossed that that’s something he can strike,” he said.
“I know he’s been on the side of municipalities in this regard. It may be more of a wait and see approach. I think it would be great to give our employees something.”
Also Monday, Richter informed council that American Municipal power notified the village that Illinois legislature is pursuing an energy bill that would prematurely
close Prairie State Energy, located
near Marissa, Illinois. The facility is a coal-fired plant and the village gets 63% of its electric from the plant. The plant opened in 2012.
In other business:
• Council completed a first reading of Ordinance 2021-06-07 which deemed certain utility accounts uncollectible. Fiscal Officer Amy Speelman said there’s some accounts that date back to 2003 and the total amount that would forego collection is $5,740.60. “The administration cost alone in trying is not worth it for the money we may get back,” said
Councilman Jacob Larger.
• Suspended the rules and passed
Resolution 2021-06-07 by emergency. The resolution authorizes the village to pay for the cost of installing one of the art sculptures at the school. The village paid for the concrete and that total was around $1,900.
• Council heard Richter say that
the driveway at the fire station is going to be redone in September.
Firetrucks and other equipment will be moved to the electric department storage building during that time. Richter said the project could take “several weeks.”
• The grant application was submitted to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for improvements to be made at Bremenfest Park’s ball diamonds.
• Council completed a second
reading on Resolution 2021-05-06 which is the annual property, vehicle and equipment insurance renewal. Speelman said the renewal comes at an increase of 2.4% for a total of $68,580.
• The next meeting is set for 6:30
p.m. on June 28.