WELLSVILLE- During the first public speaking portion at the Tuesday’s Wellsville Village Council meeting, Fire Chief Jarrod Grimm, Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department asked the council members why the volunteer firefighters who get paid per call for calls responded to within the village were excluded when village employees recently got a raise and if council members would be willing to consider a raise for them and the volunteers who work dispatch.  

Following some discussion on how many firefighters are on the volunteer department and how the pay is based on only when responded to a call within the village, Council Member Aaron Smith and Mayor Bob Boley agreed that it would not unreasonable to look into a pay increase for the volunteer firefighters who get paid once a year.  

Fire Chief Barry Podwel, Wellsville Fire Department, provided to council an estimate from Capt. Ryan Pike of the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office for what it would cost for the fire department to transfer their dispatch to Lisbon to the County 911 Center.  

The price quoted included the $400 per month fee for a period of five years and $8,436.70 for the radios that would be needed if the department moves to county dispatch.  

Powel reiterated to council that the cost would be split between in half between the WFD and WVFD and that Wellsville is the only department to self-dispatch; all others go through a 911 center.  

Powel said again that having to provide dispatch hampers their ability to respond to calls.  

Council President Keith Thorn and Village Solicitor Christopher Weeda, have been trying to get a quote from Pike on what it would cost to transition the Wellsville Police Department to county dispatch since the fire department dispatches for the police, but both of them have been unsuccessful.  

Thorn said it was suggested to him by Pike, that the person who handles the village’s current radio system meets with the person who handles the county radio system and sees what could be worked out.  

Thorn said the issue of dispatch has to come to a solution or a compromise. 

Thorn’s request to follow suit with other local municipalities in forming a safety community was approved by council. The committee would consist of the chairs from the personnel, finance and claims/rules/ordinances committees. With the committee, department liaisons would be 

eliminated, and all large ticket purchases, or issues would go through the committee and then to council. Thorn wants to get both together for a meeting with him.  

Fiscal Officer Hoi Wah presented Boley with a certificate from America250 announcing Wellsville as an America250 City.  

Wah also said that it looks good that the village will get the $750,000 grant applied for on behalf of Buckeye Water District (BWD) for water tank replacement. She will be meeting with the Port Authority to see what grant or assistance is possibly available to help with the $1.7 million needed to dredge the marina.  

Boley said that the BWD is requesting a work session meeting regarding the dredging of the marina 

Council voted on one piece of legislation which was an ordinance establishing the salary and other benefits for the village zoning administrator.  

According to the ordinance which passed with an all-in-favor vote, the annual salary for the zoning administrator will be $5,400 with authorization for fuel and vehicle maintenance expenses in the amount of $50 per month which will not aggregate. There will be no other benefits provided and the salary will be retroactive to Jan. 1 

Council members also approve the VEOLIA Water Environmental Services Contract even though there was a rate increase. After discussion, council members came to the conclusion that it would cost the village more money to maintain and operate the wastewater treatment plant themselves then it would cost to continue with VEOLIA.  

The contract indicates an increase of 3.245% in the annual operating fee and a 3.245% increase to the annual base rate which as of Jan. 1 is $379,802.56 for which the village will be invoiced monthly in the amount of $31, 650.21.  

The village previously had a money market account with Huntington National Bank in which the village deposited $100,000 for the purpose of earning interest. Wanting to keep it local, council members voted to close the account when Huntington closed its Wellsville Branch.  

Council members voted on Tuesday to go with a money market account with Consumers National Bank with a public fund rate of 3.59% with a yield of 3.65%. The minimum deposit amount to get this rate is $100,000. Council members opted to invest $200,000.  

Wah noted that the village’s finances would comfortably handle that amount and if the money were to be needed by the village, it could be withdrawn; as needed to maintain at least $100,000 to draw the interest at that rate.  

Bills totaling $4,893.33 were approved for payment. 

There was no report from the police or zoning departments and no old, new or unfinished business to discuss. Nobody spoke during the closing public speaking portion of the meeting.  

The Wellsville Village Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., in council chambers at Wellsville Village Hall, 1200 Main St., Wellsville, Ohio. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 17.