Village Council Rebates $47,900 To ConAgra

Archbold Village Council voted to rebate a $49,700 donation that ConAgra made to the village wastewater treatment fund during a brief Monday, Feb. 16, meeting.

"Because of the change in state law, the enterprise zone agreement number two with ConAgra was going to net them only $16,324 worth of benefit this year," said Dennis Howell, Archbold village administrator.

"Next year, they would actu- ally be in the hole if they made all of the donations as called for in the agreement.

"In order to give the local plant a better competitive position in getting new business, they requested that we consider rebating the $49,700 donation that was made to the wastewater treatment fund."

Two flat sum donations are made every year to the wastewater treatment fund and the Fulton County Community Improvement Corporation. When negotiations were being conducted, ConAgra expected to bring more of the Chef Boyardee production to Archbold.

"I don't think that's honest to expect a company to pay more in donations than they realize in benefit from the agreement," said Howell after the meeting.

A rebate was requested so the money would be kept in the budget for the local plant and not go to the corporate structure. The rebate is for this year only. The matter was discussed with the finance committee and legal council prior to the meeting.

Howell said $800,000 has been budgeted for debt retirement toward the wastewater treatment plant this year. About $2.9 million is still owed.

Natureworks Grant

Council also authorized Jennifer Kidder, Archbold Parks and Recreation director, and Howell to file an application with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to become eligible for funding under the Natureworks grant program.

Kidder would use the grant to install shade structures over some bleachers at Memorial Park.

Reports

Council approved the monthly financial report and reports from the wastewater treatment plant, police, street, and fire departments.

In the wastewater treatment plant report, Frank D'Ambrosia, superintendent, recommended that Council consider a small rate increase sometime in the near future.

Archbold received $9,139.97 in cable franchise fees for the fourth quarter of 2008 from Time Warner Cable and RTEC Communications.

Time Warner paid $16,434.85 in cable franchise fees in 2008. RTEC Communications paid $19,233.53.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued a five-year National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit to Archbold, which is the permit to operate the wastewater treatment plant.

S. Defiance St.

In March 2008, Archbold Council requested that the Ohio Department of Transportation consider resurfacing South Defiance Street between the railroad tracks and West Barre Road.

Howell said that ODOT considered the road to be good based on their 2007 rating.

Council is once again asking ODOT to take a look at that piece of road for resurfacing.

"It's getting pretty bad," said Howell.

"Since 1995 we put several million dollars into State Route 66. I don't know of any other community this size that has upgraded a state road to that extent.

"I think it's about time- my opinion is they pony up and help us out a little bit."

Other Business

After a question from Kevin Morton, councilman, about activity at Flory Lane and N. Defi ance St., Howell said Lingvai Excavating is completely rehabilitating the interior of the pump station located there.

Ed Leininger and Jeff Fryman, councilmen, were absent. All votes were unanimous.

The next meeting is Monday, March 2, 7 p.m., in council chambers.- Mary Huber