UPDATE: Michele Chambers has been hired as zoning inspector. The Village is still looking for a code enforcement officer.

By Paula Pyzik Scott

The August 20 meeting of the Village of Ada council had a brief agenda, but an executive session extended the meeting to over an hour and a half.

At mid-meeting, the councilors, mayor, police chief and staff closed the chamber doors for an executive session to discuss employment. The result was a $2.00/hour raise for administrative assistant Michele (Brunk) Chambers, who will now add Zoning inspection duties to her assignments. No word was given regarding the hiring of a new Zoning Inspector to replace Michael Harnishfeger, who is retiring this fall.

Another personnel action was to bring the salary of Public Works Superintendent Joe Hefner up to $52,500/year effective with the next pay period.

In other business, Fiscal Officer Patty Navin noted that Tractor Supply Co. has “been talked to” by the Ohio Dept. of Taxation after paying tax it didn’t owe to the village, then requesting it to be returned.

Mayor David Retterer shared that the Regal Beagle has passed its last Health Department inspection and that Old Route 69 Brewery construction is moving quickly following the demolition of part of the old Cole Motors dealership. Retterer also noted that he counted 12 retailers in Ada in addition to food and beverage businesses.

Streets committee chair Jason Campbell requested a September 3 meeting to discuss making the alley between the Old Route 69 Brewery and Main St. businesses a one-way route.

In his report to council, Police Chief Alec Cooper said that Officer Toby Watson had been sworn in as a full-time employee, having previously served part-time.

Village Administrator Jamie Hall brought council up to speed on water meter and solid waste bid progress. He also noted that sidewalk replacements in quadrant A would be proceeding this fall as part of CDBG block grant work and that the Buckeye Ave. safety improvements are on schedule to happen this fall.

Hall and council had an extended discussion about water rate increases including the possible creation of a “stabilizing service charge” for accounts that are temporarily off. Past analysis showed that some 172 of 1,710 Ada accounts were not using water services. Hall noted that “other villages are in drastic mode,” making big rate increases to cover required system repairs or upgrades. The fiscal officer will create a document that illustrates what a range of increases would mean in actual dollar amounts for three sample customers. The next scheduled water rate increase is in February.