By Leigh Ann Rutledge
FPS Reporter
June 9, 2009
Will Carrollton Council entertain the idea of purchasing the Vet’s Pool?
That was the question pondered during Monday night’s meeting.
Mayor Dave Flanary thinks it is a good idea and expressed his opinion telling council, “ I would like to see council do something with the property. The village gained the property for nothing and we own all the property around it.”
Dick Young, representing the Carroll County Veterans Club, explained to council the pool was transferred to the school Nov. 4, 1987. The school board wanted to wait until after the election and reorganize before any decision was made regarding the transfer. However, in the Vet’s Club minutes it states, “The pool may not be sold for a profit without the approval of the Veteran’s Club. Also if the school board cannot operate the pool facilities, the complex returns to the Veteran’s Club.”
In the Feb. 19, 1988, Carrollton Board of Education minutes, a motion was made and accepted by the board stating, “Pending the completion of a survey and all necessary legal matters which are acceptable to the Board of Education, the Vet’s Club and the Village of Carrollton, the Board accepts ownership of the Vet’s Swimming Pool and stipulated grounds.” No stipulations by the Vet’s Club regarding ownership are listed in the motion.
Young would like the school board to turn the property over to the village who, in turn, would turn it back over to the Vet’s Club.
Village Solicitor Clark Battista told Young there are provisions in statutes that do not allow the transfer.
“If the village took possession of the pool, they would not be able to just turn it over to the Vet’s Club but would have to put it up for bid,” Battista said. He recommended the Vet’s Club seek the advice of an attorney.
Young told council he is on the agenda for the June 9 school board meeting. He stated, “A lot of people put a lot of sweat and blood into it. I would hate to see it sold for a song.” Council reiterated they were unable to help due to restrictions with properties they already have.
The Vet’s Pool is slated to go on the auction block June 29, 2009, at 6 p.m.
Councilwoman Wilma Lambert agreed with Flanary stating council should consider the idea and think about it. She questioned Battista what the procedure was since the pool is scheduled for auction. Battista explained the auction would be pulled. Councilwoman Mary Ann Miller said if the village stops the sale, they would be responsible for paying the expenses.
Mayor Flanary ended the discussion stating, “It would be a great asset for $1. There is a lot of potential there even if the pool was unable to remain open.”
In an unrelated matter, Charles Beckley of 2nd St., NW, voiced his concerns about rules and regulations regarding mobile homes in the village. He said there are four trailers behind his residence and most of the underpinnng is gone from all of them. Remodeling of one of the trailers has been going on for four years and the materials are just stacked outside. Beckley said, “I have driven around town and other ones don’t look like this. It looks like a salvage yard and is getting worse.” Beckley spoke with the property owner who told him it was the fault of the renters. Flanary told Beckley he will look into the situation and see what can be done explaining there may be other ordinances regarding these issues. Beckley continued saying, “I can’t even sit on my back porch. There’s nothing to look at. It looks like a junkyard.”
Suburban Garden Club members Janet Smith and Rebecca Day questioned council about the trees on Public Square and Main St. Smith told council the group has been asked to clean the planter areas around the trees but do not have the time. The club takes care of the plantings at the McCook House, Public Square and the Safety Building.
Answering Smith’s question of who is responsible for the maintenance, Flanary admitted he didn’t know if anyone was responsible. “We were hoping the store owners would take care of the planting in front of their businesses,” he said. Smith expressed concern that the village is trying to be made tourism friendly but doesn’t look like it. Flanary said it appeared maintenance was not in the original plans.
Village Administrator Robert Fowler told members the village will be utilizing four student workers through the Department of Job and Family Services and one person will work on the plantings. The trees were pruned during the winter by Gooding’s Nursery and Landscaping of Sherrodsville.
Regarding village streets, paving will begin Monday morning. Streets to be paved include High St. from Main St. to the Safety Building; Lincoln Ave. from Main St. to 5th St.; 3rd St., NE; 4th St. NW; 5th St. from Canton Rd. to Garfield Ave.; Raley Ave.; section of Courtview from Windamere to Foxbury; the Post Office alley and the “F” shaped alleys behind Carrollton Elementary. Councilwoman Sharon Ott reported the alley behind Kiddie Land is down to bricks in areas and needs looked at. It was noted the east-west alley behind the Safety Building also needs patched. Fowler said he hopes to pave three alleys per year.
Miller noted some streets, such as 5th St. and Sterling Ave., are getting small cracks in them and water is running into them. She questioned whether the village would be able to repair them with black crack sealer. Mayor Flanary told her this would prolong the street life 3-5 years but we would have to have a tar buggy to keep the mix hot in order to use that type of application.
In other business, council:
-APPROVED a request from Newell Realty to close the north-south alley behind 308 Lincoln Ave. June 30 for an auction.
-LEARNED all changes for the 2010 budget must be turned into the village clerk by June 22 for protocol regarding advertising of and scheduling a public hearing.
-HEARD second readings of ordinances for the job description for the part-time water clerk and income tax clerk; Fire Act Grant application; lot split for property owned by Robert Stewart and contract for water tanks.
-SET a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting June 22 to hear a variance request.
-WAS told traffic signal engineers from WD Partners in Dublin will begin preliminary surveys next week.
-HEARD SR 332 street paving and construction has been put on hold by the Ohio Department of Transportation until further notice.
-SCHEDULED a finance committee meeting for June 10 at 7:30 p.m.; legislative committee meeting June 10 at 8:30 p.m. and water and sewer committee meeting for June 22 at 6 p.m..
-APPROVED payment of bills totaling $46,234.60 for vendors and $31,853.70 for payroll.
-SET the next council meeting for June 22 at 7 p.m. in council chambers. |
