Council Searches for Safety Director, Plans New Pool Management After YMCA Splits

Wapakoneta City Council has posted for a new safety service director. Mayor elect Dan Lee explained that he wanted to open the position to others qualified to find the best candidate, acknowledging the Mayor has the ability to assign that position.

Lee said he has been in conversation with Brillhart about the posting over the past two months and invited him to apply for his current position.

Lee said he appreciates Brillhart's dedication and hard work for the city.

Mayor Steve Henderson said that decision was made by Mayor elect Dan Lee, and that Brillhart will be hard to replace, adding that he has done a great job.

Brillhart declined to comment about the posting or his plans. He has served as Safety Service Director for the past two years.

Lee said he knows of people who are applying but said everyone has an equal opportunity and he has not made any decisions nor have any interviews been conducted.

During Monday's Council meetingwapakoneta Council members concerned about the purchase of 208 Harrison Street. adjacent to the city's public works building.

Wapakoneta Law Director Grant Neal explained that a discussion was had about the purchase in executive session, and then was absent from a subsequent council meeting. Due to a miscommunication, Neal Believed council had passed a related ordinance to buy the property, he then prepared documents that he and Henderson had signed to purchase the property from Cheryl Stahler. Henderson said the timing of the signing was due to the seller leaving the area soon.

In a committee meeting council member John Sheipline had informed council that an anonymous citizen had alleged a potential fiduciary relationship between Henderson and the seller.

Henderson was not present for the meeting, but explained via phone call that any fiduciary relationship with Stahler trucking involved financial planning for a simple IRA plan 25-30 years ago when

Henderson was working for Northwestern Mutual Baird Securities. Henderson left the firm in 2003.

Brandon Miller had brought up procedural concerns, which were echoed by council member Ross Kantner.

Neal said the next step for the legislation

would be for Henderson to address council on the subject. explaining that they had hit the pause button due to the allegation. Neal said council could still move forward in either direction with the legislation with a vote.

Alex Greve reviewed a health and safety committee meeting held November 27, Wapakoneta Police

Chief Calvin Schneider began discussions with city officials about the passage of Issue 2 including the city's authority and resources the city would need to enforce violations.

Neal explained more would be known by Dec. 7 as state officials discuss related legislation. Lee suggested a committee of the whole to address the topic.

Miller reviewed an Ad-hoc committee on the city's strategic plan. firms Envision and Reville are favored for the project

however estimates are still being gathered.

Lee also suggested changing the city's flag at the ad hoc committee explaining the current flag is just the city seal.

Finance chair Brandon Miller took issue with emergency appropriation ordinances and saw opportunity to shift appropriations around in the coming weeks.

In the proposed appropriation zoning and planning commission budget increased by $133,000, Brillhart did not know

why the increase was made.

Refuse and recycling projects were not included in the budget, Miller said he hoped for at least a line item to start building up funds.

He was also concerned about the income tax revenue projected by auditor to be 5.7 in 2024, Miller projects a figure closer to 5.8 million.

The bond payment for the $4 million addition to the fire department is budgeted at $550,000 however a 15 year term would put a yearly payment at $380,000.

“That's a pretty big difference, I believe that needs to be corrected and those funds be reallocated in a different direction,” Miller said.

Salaries for police had a budgeted increase of 8% while fire department had a budgeted increase of 10%. Brillhart explained while he was unsure of the specific percentages there is a contingency built in due to collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

Miller said the recreation budget transfer was reduced from $400,000 to $10,000.

“We know the YMCA is not going to be running the pool,” Miller said. “However with increased labor costs to pay the lifeguards what we need to pay them as well as potentially increasing chemical costs, we cannot run that pool on PRE-YMCA management levels of funding.”

Miller believes by making a few adjustments they can maintain contingencies while funding the pool to the needed level. Overall he said the budget was well made with a few upgrades needed.

First readings was also held for an agreement with Auglaize County Solid Waste on a yard waste disposal facility,

Changes to charges for the wastewater system amounting to a 5% increase by 2027 were approved after a third reading. a bond sale for the fire department expansion was tabled as Miller seeks to expand the term language from 15 year to up to 20 years.

An update to parking restrictions was approved after a third reading.