CENTERBURG — Centerburg Village Council members held a special meeting on Monday so they could move forward on several projects.
Four pieces of legislation were up for a second reading. Council waived the third readings and adopted all four as emergencies.
The first ordinance increases the village administrator’s spending limit from $5,000 to $50,000, the maximum allowed by the Ohio Revised Code.
VA Teri Wise said she has to complete a purchase order that the fiscal officer has to sign. Additionally, the fiscal officer will report the purchase and amount to council members at their next meeting.
That process serves as the checks and balance to the higher spending limit.
The second ordinance authorizes Wise to enter into an agreement with K.E. McCartney & Associates for wastewater treatment plant generators and sludge cover project. The contract is not to exceed $11,800. The village will use American Rescue Plan Act money to cover the cost.
The third ordinance authorizes Wise to contract with Carpenter Marty Transportation for a traffic study of U.S. 36. Carpenter Marty will evaluate the number of curb cuts, speed limit, and traffic congestion between Preston Street and Lytle Road. The cost is not to exceed $17,000.
The fourth ordinance honors the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System credits previously earned by Jacob Stockmaster of the village utility department.
Council gave a second reading to an ordinance adopting a new zoning code. (Click here to read the full draft.)
The zoning audit stems from the Knox County Area Development Foundation’s 2020 countywide strategic plan. The village adopted the strategic plan, which included as a priority strategy the updating of the zoning code.
The Knox County Foundation provided grants to Centerburg as well as Danville, Fredericktown, and Gambier. Centerburg village contracted with Wendy Moeller of Compass Point Planning for the zoning audit.
On Monday, Moeller told council members that Centerburg’s update was one of the more complete updates among the villages.
“It started with a code audit,” she said. “As we went through the audit, it encompassed other changes.”
Other updates included the subdivision standards, which primarily focused on transportation. Those standards were updated to include utilities, trails, and connectivity.
“For the most part, we kept the same zoning … and we cleaned up the PNDs [Planned Neighborhood Development],” Moeller said.
Signage, landscaping, and short-term rental regulations were updated and demolition standards added.
Responding to Councilman Greg Myers’ question as to how far into the future the changes will take the village, Moeller said “it depends on you and the future council.”
“I would anticipate this would hold steady for 10 to 15 years,” she said. “Usually about a year out you are going to have tweaks.”
No one from the public attended the general hearing held in conjunction with the special meeting on Monday. Council will hold a public hearing at its June 5 council meeting; the ordinance will be up for a third reading during council’s legislative session.
