ST. PARIS – Village council agreed to enter into a municipal aggregation consulting services agreement and placed two issues on the ballot this week during their regular meeting.
Council previously listened to a presentation from Jordan Haarmann, Procurement Manager for Affordable Gas and Electric, on opt-out electricity and natural gas aggregation programs for village residents.
Haarmann attended Monday’s meeting and reiterated that if council approved, a question would be put on the Nov. 8 ballot which would enact a bulk electricity and natural gas rate if voters approve the ballot questions.
“Should the vote pass in November, then we have to come back and we have a draft rules of operation and governance for the program, council would have to adopt that and then we would go into negotiations for rates,” Haarmann said. “Once the rate is secured, the suppliers will provide those lists from DP&L and from Vectren. The suppliers will send out an opt-out notice, that notice goes to everybody that’s eligible in town it spells out exactly what the rate is, the terms and conditions, the term length and how to opt-out.”
During the presentation, council opened the floor for residents to voice their opinions on the topic.
Council unanimously agreed to show interest in the program before voting to enter into agreement with Affordable Gas and Electric for a municipal aggregation consulting services agreement. The motion to enter into the agreement passed 4-1 with council member Tyler Adkins voting against the measure.
Council then unanimously suspended the three-reading rule and approved two ordinances to place an opt-out electric service aggregation program and an opt-out gas service aggregation program on the ballot.
As part of the ordinances, at least two public hearings are required prior to the election.
Council forms committee to fill chief position
With the recent retirement of Police Chief Jim Pence, council approved forming a committee to interview candidates.
The committee will be comprised of Mayor Joe Reneer, council members Adkins and Niven Jester and resident Tim Bierbaugh.
Reneer said he would like to bring the name of a replacement before council at the first meeting in September.
Upcoming mosquito spray dates
According to the village’s website, mosquito spraying will take place at dusk on Aug. 3, Aug. 17, Aug. 31, Sept. 14 and Sept. 28. These dates are weather permitting and postpone dates will be the following evenings.
Residents or their pets who have respiratory problems are advised to bring their pets inside and close windows during the spraying.
During Monday’s meeting, council rejected a motion 2-3 seeking to change the spraying schedule for A1 Able Pest Control to an as needed basis decided by the village with council members Jester, Jana Crawford and Lynn Miller voting against the motion.
Council would then approve a motion 4-1 authorizing the company to make the decision on whether they need to skip a spraying based on their professional opinion. Adkins voted against the motion.
Fire association thanks public
Reneer informed council of a letter he got from JSP Lt. Brad Yost on behalf of the Johnson-St. Paris Firefighters Association thanking all of their sponsors and donors for this year’s July 4th celebration.
“This was one of our best celebrations to date,” the letter states. “Without the help of our community business owners and member’s donations, we would not be able to provide such an excellent event. This public service is very important to our association, to our community and for what it represents to the men and women that have served our country.”
