August 12, 2004

Village Council considering using green funds for detention pond

At their Aug. 2 meeting, Village Council members said that they were interested in pursuing a proposal to use Village green space funds to build a detention basin on the Glass Farm.

Council president Tony Arnett, who made the proposal, suggested in a memo to Council that the Village designate a “significant portion” of the eastern section of the Glass Farm, which the Village owns, as “permanent open space” and use “most of the balance” of the green space fund to pay for “stormwater detention improvement on that site.”

In a discussion on the proposal, Arnett further proposed that Council set aside the farm’s eastern section as “permanent conservation” land or for recreational use.

Earlier this year, Council said that it would support the construction of a detention basin on the Glass Farm to alleviate flooding in the northern end of town, especially the Fair Acres neighborhood. Some residents in that neighborhood have complained that the creek floods and have lobbied the Village to fix the problem.

Council hired Jones & Henry Engineers of Cincinnati to design a detention pond on the Glass Farm. The design project will cost $14,760. After the meeting, Village Manager Rob Hillard said that the design portion might be completed within a month.

A Village-financed study by Jones & Henry said that a two-acre detention basin built around the creek on the Glass Farm “would effectively reduce the peak flow” of a major storm and “reduce flooding potential downstream.” Such a basin could cost an estimated $150,000, the engineering firm reported.

The Village currently has $154,000 in the green space fund.

Council members Jocelyn Hardman and George Pitstick called Arnett’s proposal a “great idea.” “Fair Acres neighbors would be happy with the plan,” Hardman said.

Pitstick said the property would make “a great recreation area.” He also said that a detention pond should be considered part of the Village’s efforts to support development on the north and west ends of Yellow Springs.

Hardman said that setting aside some of the Glass Farm would also “set clear boundaries” on the property if Council wants to “divest ourselves of the land.”

Hillard reacted more coolly to Arnett’s proposal during last week’s meeting, playing, as he put it, “devil’s advocate.” Hillard said that building a “finished park” on the Glass Farm would incur “more costs,” such as mowing, for the Village.

After the meeting, Hillard said the Village needs “to be cautious about” developing something like a park, which, he said, “can generate certain costs depending on how it’s done.”

In an effort to protect the public water supply, Hillard also told Council that the Village could use green space funds to place conservation easements on the Village wellfield, where the Village wells are located, or the larger wellhead protection area, which includes the one- and five-year time of travel zones. He noted that the Village does not have plans to “replenish” the green space fund.

Conservation easements would prohibit development in the wellfield, which the Village owns, or the wellhead protection area, much of which is owned by others, including Antioch University. In July, Council said that it would support placing an easement on the wellfield.

In a separate interview, Hillard said that the Village could use green space funds to purchase land in the wellhead protection area.

Pitstick said that if Council “divests ourselves” of part of the Glass Farm, the Village could use proceeds from a sale for conservation efforts.

During last week’s meeting, Arnett justified using green space funds to build the detention pond by noting that a 1983 ordinance creating the “Green – Open Space Capital Project Fund” states that the fund’s assets are “intended for acquisition of real estate, either by deed or conservation easement; development of lands acquired for conservation or recreation purposes.”

Arnett also said that in 1999 Council donated almost all of the green space funds to the effort to preserve Whitehall Farm when the property was put up for auction. Council then replenished the green space fund with estate taxes. There are no “historical ties” to the current funds, Arnett said.

Council agreed to have the Village solicitor, John Chambers, review Arnett’s proposal.

In other Council business:

• Council voted 4–0 to pass the first reading of an ordinance amending the Village’s solid waste regulations to allow the Village to charge a fee for an annual cleanup event and levy charges on property taxes for overdue garbage bills. The latter charge would be levied on owner-occupied properties, Hillard reported. Council member Denise Swinger was absent. Council will hold a second reading and public hearing on the ordinance at its next meeting, Aug. 16.

This year the Village will charge all solid waste customers $9 for the cleanup, which will take place the third week in October.

• Council approved 4–0 a resolution accepting a bid from Speedway Super-America to provide the Village gasoline. Speedway’s offer included an 8-cent per gallon increase over its fuel cost. According to the company’s bid letter, this price would have saved the Village 8 cents per gallon over the retail price over the last year.

Hillard recommended that the Village select an outside vendor to provide the Village gas and to shut down the Village’s gas pump at the Village Public Works facility.

• Council approved 4–0 a resolution accepting a $61,836 bid for general insurance from Municipal Insurance Alliance by Arch Insurance. The Village premium increased 7 percent over last year’s price, Hillard reported.

• Council voted 4–0 to pass the first reading of an ordinance creating a DUI enforcement and education fund. Council will hold a second reading and public hearing on the ordinance on Aug. 16. State law requires the creation of the DUI fund. The Village would deposit $25 of every fine for driving while intoxicated it collects for “public safety enforcement and education.”

• During a report on the Village Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund, Hillard said that the Village is “working to get” a regular payment schedule established for Euphorbia Landscaping, which owes $18,641 on its $30,000 loan.

• The Village is now advertising for a new finance director to replace Marilyn Berryman, who is retiring on Oct. 1. The position requires experience in accounts payable, receivables, payroll, municipal budgeting and utility administration. The post’s annual salary is $55,000 plus benefits. Application packets are available at the Bryan Community Center.

—Robert Mihalek