POINT membership met at the Loyal Order of the Moose April 8, 2008 at 7:00pm. Chuck Starrett opened the meeting and welcomed all members and visitors.
Dick Haynes read the minutes of the March 11, 2008 meeting and gave treasurers report. Chuck requested a vote to approve the minutes and treasurers report. Motion made by Chet Osborne and seconded by Ed Liette. Minutes and treasurers report were approved by show of hands.
Chuck asked John Martin to leave the room for a discussion of a pending law suit.
A law suit is pending against the city because of the sign ordinance requiring a 30 foot set back. One suit is ready to go the attorney is looking for empty lots to use as examples of how the ordinance infringes on the property owners right to use their property.
ACLU has not gotten back to Chuck on the status of the review of the voters right issues generated by the handling of the referendums.
John Martin returned to room for the rest of the meeting.
OREIA workshop in Worthington is a learning event for real-estate investors. Chuck referred those present to the OREIA website for more information. Chuck asked OREIA to put POINT on their website.
Area companies are not sensing recession: Corn and wheat prices up, new housing starts have not changed, commercial building up, and problem with finding skilled labor.
Community Housing Improvement Project (CHIP) grant resolution corrected to include soft costs.
Website: request for input from members. Chuck can set up a class at Edison to teach people how to get into and use the Piqua rentals website but needs to know how many will attend.
City’s spring cleanup announced also on city’s website.
A form letter to help appeal violation notices has been developed and copies were made available. This letter will establish a uniform way to communicate with Code Enforcement Department and will request a reply in writing in 5 days or the issue will be considered resolved. When taking the letter to the city have 2 copies and have both time and date stamped, keep one copy.
City Law Director will prosecute bad checks from renters. Housing provider must provide some information the Law Director can tell you what is needed.
Discussion of minutes published on the city website. John is communicating with Fred and Becky to get more detail.
John explained city can put money into an enterprise fund but can not transfer money out to the general fund. Pool and golf course are in enterprise funds.
A request was made again for volunteers to help Jim Meyer with developing an Ethics Code for Housing Providers.
John will bring copies of the synopsis of the ordinances that commission is having put on the November ballot.
Ed Liette commended John for the work has done in such a short time on the commission. John received a round of applause.
As per Luke Bolin, Jim Cline only got 3 minutes at the podium during the commission meeting before Mayor Hudson told him he had used his 5 minute limit.
Motion to adjourn by Don DeMoss, seconded by Irv Baltes meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.
Submitted by
Dick Haynes
Acting Secretary and Treasurer
April 7, 2008
Dear Commissioners Fess, Martin and Vogt,
First, may I suggest that the on line Minutes for the City Commission meetings be more informative? Many times those minutes express that someone discussed an item but provide no supporting details. The reader is left with questions. I know, from committees I have served on, more detailed and informative Minutes have always led to less questioning and misinformation later.
Secondly, with the recent news of Piqua’s budgetary problems and the rumors of possible city lay offs I have some questions concerning the Piqua Municipal Golf Course. I have checked the City Commission Minutes and the Recreational Dept.’s web site but haven’t found that information.
What percentages of patrons use the various Piqua recreational facilities? The city has baseball, soccer, and football fields, bikeway, swimming pool and tennis courts that are used by Piqua residents. I was wondering what percentage of Piqua residents use the golf course? May I ask the budget for the golf course and if it operates with a profit or deficit?
I noted in the City of Piqua’s Golf Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of Jan. 30, 2008 that within that budget for the golf course $35,000 was budgeted for new greens mowers. Used mowers were located, according to those Minutes, for $20,000. Money was budgeted in the capital funding for golf cart batteries ($8,600) and a new ball picker for the driving range ($2,800). “The additional capital balance will be used as needed during the 2008 golf season.”
Based on maintenance, care, development and acreage is there a price break down among the local patrons’ usage and cost for Piqua’s recreational facilities? If I could obtain this information or be directed to a web page with the information I would appreciate it.
Thank you for your kind consideration.
Sincerely,
Terry D. Wright
ODOT is at it again. Despite budget cuts, ODOT is spending their way toward large future deficits. The justification for some of these projects is highly speculative at best. More at:
