Greenfield Council honors Lesters

The Greenfield City Council honored a Greenfield couple March 16 with the "May the Work I've Done Speak for Me" Award.

Tim and Brenda Lester were introduced by council member Brenda Losey. The award is to recognized the unsung heroes in the community who spend their days assisting others, and is in honor of Losey's daughter, Hannah, who was killed in a car crash in 2007.

The Lesters are foster parents, who over the years have taken 24 children into their home, and they have also adopted children.

"Their work with foster care has enriched the lives of numerous children in our community," Losey said during the council meeting. "Brenda was at one time a foster child herself and has triumphed over untold adversities. Rather than become a victim she has chosen to use her life experience to help other children."

Brenda Lester addressed council, saying that foster children in Highland County face many adversities, and the funding situation facing Highland County Children Services is an additional burden on foster families.

"Kids take their anger out on whatever they can find," Lester said, which includes the child's toys, and the homes they are placed in. "God works through us to help them."

Lester said that people often donate funds to children in other countries, but "we have children here in need."

In other business, council heard a report from council member William Redenbaugh on the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District. Redenbaugh said health insurance for district employees were finalized and that benefits will be further discussed at the next board meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. March 23.

"(Firefighters') response, as always, is phenomenal. Unfortunately we had a fatal fire here in Greenfield recently," Redenbaugh said, referring to a March 7 fire on Lafayette Street that claimed the lives to two young children. 

During the parks and property committee report, council member Bob Bergstrom said that during a meeting held prior to the council meeting it was recommended that attorneys for both the fire district and the city should go over a lease agreement and approve it. It was recommended that the city take out property and liability insurance and that "the district will do the same," and insurance agents will taken pictures of the building to document the current condition of the facility.

During the March 2 council meeting there was discussion between the city and a representative of the fire district on who would be responsible for repairs and upkeep of the city-owned building that is being utilized by the fire district. 

"When we did the contract creating the district we signed off on it, giving them the equipment, fire trucks, as the city's part of the agreement, and lease the building to the district for $1 a year, but they would maintain it and keep up on the insurance," council member Harvey Everhart said during the May 2 meeting.

During the March 16 meeting, Everhart said that going with the stated contract is "in the best interest of the city and the fire district."

Interim city manager Betty Bishop reported there had been vandalism at the Greenfield Cemetery and that approximately 10 large headstones had been overturned. Repairs are scheduled to begin March 22. The city asks that all Christmas decorations be removed from the cemetery by April 1. Council discussed the cemetery and agreed to revisit the cemetery ordinance, regarding fees and hours of operation, during a committee meeting scheduled for April 6 at 5:30 p.m.

Bishop said that over the weekend there were "two wastewater blockages reported with water backed up in basements. We advised each home owner to get their personal plumber to make sure the problems are corrected, bring a statement from the plumber of the problem, with the bill for the work, and the name of their insurance company and let the two companies work it out. Due to no one answering phones on the weekend and no messages being left, it is unfortunate it took so long to get the problem solved. (For) all police and fire emergencies (residents) should call 911. But if any other department need arises and a resident cannot get a response from that department, please call me so we can get the concerns addressed as quickly as possible."

In other business:

• A city-wide cleanup day is scheduled for May 1.

• The lightbulbs for Light Up Greenfield have arrived, and the event is scheduled to begin April 3 between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. "This is an opportunity for all of us to spread good will throughout the community. We encourage all council members to walk the streets with us, using this opportunity to show every citizen we appreciate their involvement and that we care about the community and their safety," Bishop said. 

• Bishop reported that the city has an application ready to apply for a loan for phase two of the wastewater treatment plant project. Everhart asked how the city could apply for a loan when it was still uncertain how much the project will cost. Bishop said the city had the engineer's estimate on how much it will cost, and that the city is also applying for grants. Just because the city is awarded a loan does not mean it has to be accepted, Bishop said. When the final costs are in, the city may need more funding or less funding, but it is good to apply, in the event those funds are needed for the project.

• The city received notice from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control that all permits to sell alcohol will expire June 1 and that each permit holder is required to file a renewal. The city has the right to object to the renewal of a permit, and must be submitted by May 3. Council requested that Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester report if there have been any issues regarding a particular establishment applying for renewal.

• Council heard the first reading of an ordinance amending the 2010 permanent appropriations ordinance to increase and distribute certain funds, in the amount of $10,700. Funds were increased by $300 in the law enforcement DUI account, by $400 in the law enforcement OP account, by $2,500 in the law enforcement trust account, by $210,000 in the railroad capital outlay account, by $13,100 in the fire pension account; a transfer from the miscellaneous employment account to fire pension in the amount of $10,000; from the miscellaneous unemployment account to DRETAC in the amount of $10,000. Everhard said the railroad funds were to account for a grant that was not utilized last year. Council waived the rules and regulations and passed the ordinance 5-0.

• Council heard the first reading of a resolution authorizing the interim city manager to approve and accept the technical assistance work plan from the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP), which will assist the city in preparing applications for funding in order to implement the North Street/North 8th Street waterline replacement project. The plan is of no cost to the city. Council voted to waive the rules and regulations and passed the resolution 5-0.