By Alec Keller

The November 10 meeting of the Village of Ada Council was chaired by Mayor Dave Retterer with all council members present. There were three legislative items on the agenda for the evening. The meeting packet is here.

LITTLE LIBRARY PROPOSAL
Andy Stockert, representing Scouting America Troop 124, brought an Eagle Scout proposal before council members designed to boost literacy and neighborhood connection across the village. The plan calls for erecting two Little Free Libraries, which are weatherproof wooden boxes offering self-serve book exchanges open 24 hours a day.

One location is set for the village park playground, a site the park board has already approved. Stockert proposed placement for the second library at Railroad Park, near the existing community board. When Mayor Dave Retterer inquired how the shelves would stay stocked, Stockert explained the honor-system approach, where a patron would simply “take a book, leavea book.” The libraries are for readers of all ages.

The proposal outlined that Troop 124 scouts and family volunteers will handle construction and installation, alongside complete post-work cleanup. Mayor Retterer advised coordinating with the public works team on post setting, while council members Lucas Rowe and Linda Mason suggested mounting the Railroad Park unit directly onto the bulletin board structure rather than digging a new hole.

Council ultimately voted to hand off final operational details and approvals to Village Administrator Casey Smith.

RESOLUTIONS

Council approved a resolution authorizing the fiscal officer to issue routine payments for 2027 expenses.

ORDINANCES
Council approved the first reading of an ordinance updating Chapter 139 of the village codified ordinances governing police operations. 

Council also approved the first reading of an ordinance establishing annual appropriations of the village for Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2027.

FISCAL REPORT
Fiscal Officer Lydia Fontaine reported that the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) mailed Administrative Subpoena letters to taxpayers who did not respond to the prior Non-Filing Income Tax Notice. 

Fontaine reported that 1,010 residents did not respond to the notices about their income tax returns. Fontaine added that there will be information posted on the village’s website and Facebook page with instructions on how to e-file. 

Two council memos were approved. One authorized the amount for Benefits in the Policy and Procedure Manual; the other was for employee appreciation gift cards.

POLICE DEPARTMENT
Police Chief Alec Cooper said that since the last council meeting, the department has initiated or responded to 167 calls for service, took 27 incident offense reports and 2 vehicle accident reports. Cooper reported that the department was awarded $1,137.64 from the Ohio Attorney General’s body armor grant/Ohio Law Enforcement Bulletproof Vest Program.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council went into executive session to discuss terms of employment, with no action to follow.

NEXT MEETING
The next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30 p.m.