EDON — Monday, council discussed water and sewer rates, an update from the Ohio Department of Transpiration (ODOT) and ordinances concerning electric bikes and scooters.
Police Chief Tom Szymczak said the current ordinance allows scooters and electric bikes to be ridden on sidewalks.
“So, there’s some changes in the laws there. It seems as though there’s a lot of attention being drawn to these,” he said.
Szymczak said he knows of two other jurisdictions that are dealing with similar issues and that there is plenty of literature out there on the subject.
“I think the biggest thing with the whole deal is getting the parents on board to understand how dangerous these things really are and how fast they really go,” he added.
Szymczak asked for an executive session with council to discuss safety and security issues and if he could be in attendance.
Council member David Loughborough asked if the council would be able to make an ordinances which would supersede the current ordnance. Szymczak explain that adjustments can be made to the current ordinance.
Tom Thomson, village solicitor, said, “as long as it’s not in conflict with the state law.” Thomson said sometimes there are provisions within the law that say what’s allowed, unless otherwise stated by local authority.
“Because we actually use the codified ordinance, those are changed annually,” added Szymczak. “The state doesn’t write ordinances, they write laws, but we actually belong to the group that recognizes and codifies ordinances as our local laws. Just about every jurisdiction in the country, with the exception of the sheriff’s office, we use codified ordinances,” said Szymczak.
Edon Village Administrator Chad Ordway said ODOT is continuing its Ohio 34 paving project Wednesday morning with a section of Ohio 34 in front of the school.
“They (ODOT) want to get the kids and stuff in school before they start paving there about 8:30 a.m. they’ll get that area done and continue working on what’s in town.”
Ordway said they completed the parking lot north of field four at the park with grindings from the ODOT project. The village will work on the parking lot west of the ballfields starting this week and next.
Ordway said fire hydrant flushing is scheduled for Sept. 14-18.
Council had second reading for revisions to water and sewage flat rates, which was approved. They also had to revise and pass a previously passed tax levy for Edon Union Cemetery to match the auditor’s description.
Council finished with an executive session to discuss Szymczak’s safety concerns, and a land acquisition with Thompson.
Heidi Bidwell announced the village office will be closed Sept. 7 for Labor Day.
The next council meeting will be Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m.