Aurora City Council and COW - 12/11/23

Aurora, Ohio, City Council and Committee of the Whole
​December 11, 2023

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:45 pm by Chairman  John Kudley with all council members present: Reva Barner, Brad Duguay, Peter French, Sarah Grdina Gilmore, Harold Hatridge, George Horvat, Dennis Kovach and Scott Wolf.  There were 11 City Officials and Employees present and 12 people in the gallery.

November 20, 2023 minutes were adopted with H. Hatridge abstaining.

Finance Director’s Report: Timothy Clymer started by honoring Harold Hatridge and then reported that the Fund Balances remain in a healthy position with $45,122,288.00 unencumbered in all funds and $21,497,172.00 unencumbered in the General Fund. “Due to the strong performance of our General Fund this year, I am requesting that Council authorize a transfer of $4.705 million out of the General Fund into various capital funds to prepare for our future needs. This should leave the General Fund with a year-end balance well above $10 million…”.

             There were 7 Ordinances proposed for Action that evening on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance for a change order for Ronyak Paving for Lloyd Avenue. W. Pioneer Trail paving was less than expected so $160,999.74 will be used to pave the remaining half of Lloyd Ave.  
• An Ordinance for a contract with Northeast Trenching Service in an amount not to exceed $250,000.00 for Backflow Prevention Program in Hawthorn subdivision.
• An Ordinance to purchase a Digital Message Board Sign for Fire Station #2 in the amount of $39,281.00 from Easy Sign to replace the damaged sign.
• An Ordinance to contract with R&T Fence Inc in the amount of $27,926.00 for the purchase and installation of 935 feet of galvanized chain link fencing for the Tails N Trails Dog Park.
• An Ordinance to appropriate and transfer $3,351,000.00 from the General Fund to the City Operations Fund to cover financing future property purchases.
• An Ordinance to appropriate and transfer $4,705,000.00 from the General Fund to various funds.
• An Ordinance adopting the final appropriations for the City for the fiscal year 2023.

There was 1 Ordinance proposed for 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance approving and adopting the annual budget and appropriations for calendar year 2024. Several items were highlighted including the 2.8 miles Aurora Hike and Bike Trail on the RR right of way, stormwater upgrades throughout the city and especially in the Geauga Lake neighborhood, $1.65 million for road paving, the purchase of 3 new dump trucks, sidewalk on Aurora Hudson Rd, the Fire Department going to all full time.

1 Ordinance was proposed for the January 8, 2024 agenda:

• An agreement with Ahola HR Solutions for HR and payroll.

 The Meeting adjourned at 6:28 pm

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City Council (CC):  Council President G. Horvat called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm with the Pledge to the Flag of the United States of America. Council members were all present as noted in COW Report.  There were 11 City Officials and Employees and 12 people in the gallery, many were the relatives and friends of Harold Hatridge.

Minutes from the November 6, 2023 meeting were adopted with H. Hatridge abstaining.

There was a 6 minute Executive Session to discuss the acquisition of real property and to discuss pending litigation.

 Mayor’s Report: Items included: A proclamation honoring retiring Councilman Harold Hatridge on his 12 years service to the City of Aurora as a Council member, his service in the Air Force and dedication to Veterans’ affairs; Calling attention to the introduction of the 2024 Budget; The upcoming Blood Drive at the Fire Station #1 on December 23; Days City Hall will be closed;  meetings and events attended included the Holiday Tree Lighting Festival, the LWV holiday dinner, the Chamber of Commerce luncheon, and meeting with landowners to discuss the design of the future Hike and Bike Trail.

Law Director’s Report: Dean DePiero honored Harold Hatridge as a Patriot, Public Servant and Family Man.

Citizens Comments: None

Council Remarks: None

Ordinances on 3rd  Reading:

• Ordinance 2023-104 for the Purchase of 40 acres of land and 53.63 acres of Geauga Lake with a Trail Lake Loop easement from ICP remains postponed. 

Ordinances on 2nd Reading:

• An Ordinance accepting an easement from Wellsville Carpet Town, Inc for the purpose of access and maintenance of stormwater management facilities located at 335 Lena Drive went to 3rd Reading
• An Ordinance accepting an easement from Wellsville Carpet Town, Inc for the purpose of access and maintenance of a water meter vault located at 335 Lena Drive went to 3rd Reading.
• An Ordinance accepting for dedication the sanitary sewers located within the easement area on Ravine Drive went to 3rd Reading.

A Resolution “recognizing Ward 6 Council Member Harold Hatridge for 12 years of leadership and dedicated public service to the residents of the City of Aurora” was adopted with rules suspended.

The 7 Ordinances proposed for Action that Evening at the COW were adopted with rules suspended.  

The Ordinance approving and adopting the annual budget for 2024 went to 2nd Reading.

Miscellaneous:  the 2024 City Council Meeting Calendar was adopted.

Citizens Comments: None

Council Members and Committee Remarks: D. Kovach, P. French, B. Duguay, R. Barner, S. Wolf, S. Grdina Gilmore all honored and thanked Harold Hatridge for his service. H. Hatridge thanked everyone and encouraged everyone to keep Aurora safe, strong and beautiful- a fantastic place to live. He thanked his family, especially his wife, Judy.

 The meeting adjourned at 7:44 pm.