December 8th, 2004 

Village Council December Meeting

    Warren Schlatter, Defiance County engineer-elect, was present to discuss the standing water problems in Sherwood. Village council is in the process of trying to obtain a two-year, $304,000 loan for a north side storm water drainage project, Schlatter offered options on where they can go from there. The first option, Schlatter said, would be to ask Defiance County commissioners to proceed with a hearing on a drainage project and have them make the decision on whether to go ahead with it. Other options would be to drop the process or do an assessment project.

    Schlatter recommended council obtain a fixed-price contract with a private engineer for the water drainage project. Glen Vance, acting mayor, noted that the state is coming to see if the drainage tile under U.S. 127 and Ohio 18 are large enough to carry water properly.

    Also discussed were the recent heavy rains, which seem to have passed Sherwood largely without incident except for an apparent clogged storm sewer by Cedar Street.

    Also on hand was resident Gordon Hierholzer Sr., who complained about the village ordinance limiting the use of mailboxes, permanent signs and other obstructions between the sidewalks and curbs on U.S. 127, from Ohio 18 to Fountain Street. Hierholzer, who is covered by a disability exemption, accused council of discrimination and questioned how a local government can make laws that supersede a federal one, a situation council believed was covered.

    In attendance was Ash Lemons of the Ability Center, a nonprofit disability rights advocacy group. Lemons said making an ordinance for the safety of the village was within council’s rights and noted people could qualify for exemption by disability only. The ordinance allows for temporary signs such as those for real estate and garage sales to be placed between the sidewalk and curb.

    Council also approved temporary appropriations for 2005, with the permanent appropriations ordinance to be submitted for approval next month. Temporary appropriations for 2005, with last January’s figures in parentheses, total $911,011.44 ($1,170,194.39), with the general fund set at $169,819.24 ($137,842.85).

In other business, council:

- will meet on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. beginning in January to accommodate Councilman Scott Rohrs’ schedule.

- heard from Police Chief Charles Fitzwater, who still awaits word from the VFW, which was approached recently to donate toward materials and signs for a new block watch program in town. Council supported the program last month.

- continues to look for places for eligible residents to pick up exemption forms for the Regional Income Tax Agency. Under RITA, applicants can claim a $10,000 exemption from the village income tax provided they are at least 65, live or work in Sherwood and have earned income. Application forms are available at the village hall.

- accepted Ben Gentit as a new firefighter.

- heard that a fund-raising drive has begun to replace a heart monitor which has become outdated. Letters outlining the problem have been sent to a number of village organizations. The new monitor will cost about $22,000, and matching funds are being sought.

- elected Councilmen Jim Hohenberger and Mike Walker to the board of the Volunteer Firefighters’ Dependents Fund.

- amended the appropriation ordinance for 2004.

- was notified that Industrial Fluid Management will raise its 2005 sewer assessment in Sherwood from $660 to $750 a month. The IFM contract was approved.

- will look for evidence of a water leak somewhere in town, noting that the amount of gallons of water pumped daily may have increased.

- heard from a resident unhappy with trash pickup service. Bids will be taken from all interested parties once the village’s contract with Werlor Waste Control expires in 2007