Minutes-08/13/2008

Subject to Approval) City of Tiffin Regular City Council Meeting August 13, 2008 Tiffin Fire Department Meeting Room Mayor Royce Phillips called meeting to order at 6: 32pm. Roll call of City Council members present: Jim Bartels, Mike Gericke, Mark Petersen, and John Wright. Absent Chris Ball. Also present Attorney Steve Greenleaf, Engineer Mike Hart, Public Works Brett Mehmen, Planning and Zoning Melvin Reeve, and City Clerk Ruth Demuth. Approval of Agenda as printed, motion Gericke seconded by Petersen. All following actions approved by all ayes unless so noted. Council person Chris Ball entered at 6: 39pm. Community Forum: Mayor Phillips explained to council members and citizens in attendance that any members of audience wishing to speak would be required to step to podium, identify themselves, and adheres to a five minute limit to allow all persons equal time to participate in Community Forum or Public Hearings. Glenn Potter inquired on mowing of ditches on north side of Hwy 6 east. Motion Bartels seconded by Wright to approve minutes of meetings for July 9, July 16, and August 6, 2008. Motion Wright seconded by Gericke for approval of receipts and expenditures including Pay Estimate 8 for Strep Construction Co. for the amount of$ 21, 504. 15 on Roberts Ferry Rd Reconstruction Project Phase 1 presented by Engineer Hart. Motion Bartels seconded by Wright to open Public Hearing for the Ireland Avenue Extension Project. Citizens invited to voice concerns and opinions on Project. Participants: Kelly Beckler, business owner on Railroad St., inquired on a Traffic Impact Study done on Railroad St. and how that study would impact his business. Mr. Beckler stated that he was not in favor of closing Railroad St. Ralph Brown, resident on College St., voiced that he was not in favor of the project. He is concerned on increase in large truck traffic and speed on road. Don Frickson, resident on College St., concerned on increase and speed of traffic on new road. He was also concerned safety of school children needing to cross Ireland Ave. Mr. Frickson on the expressed a need for increased law enforcement to monitor and control increased traffic. He inquired if the intersection of 3rd St and Ireland Ave would have a stop light device. Judee Beckler, business owner on Railroad St., reported not in favor of closing Railroad St. She reported that she had been observing the heavy traffic flow use on Railroad St. coming from east side of Tiffin. Ms Beckler had also been watching and observing traffic on 3rd St from the current High School to Main St. She feels that 3rd St is already heavily used and the street is inadequate to handle any additional traffic without improvements to 3`d St. Tim Spivey addressed specific questions on his property and Ted Spivey's regarding this project. He had questions on when decisions would be made on additional appraisals and acquisitions of property needed for the project. He expressed desire of City Council to make decisions on project as soon as possible. ' Mr Spivey also inquired on safety features of Ireland Ave regarding children crossing the road with the anticipated increase of traffic. Glenn Potter asked Council members if the Tiffin Fire Dept and First Responders had been consulted on the plan designs of Ireland Ave. Don Frickson questioned the location of the proposed Ireland Ave and suggested using College St. as the extension to Hwy 6. Shelia Frickson, resident on College St., questioned the reasoning to extend Ireland Ave. She requested a clear answer for the necessity of the new street. Motion Wright seconded by Gericke to close Public Hearing for the Ireland Ave Extension Project. Attorney Greenleaf suggested that this project be put on September 10, 2008 agenda as regular discussion item, to allow Council to take formal action on Project. Council person Ball expressed concerns raised in Public Hearing and wants to further review project to make decisions in the best interest of the City and for safety measures for all residents and students. Mayor Phillips asked