Forest Village Council – December 11, 2025

Village of Forest Council met in regular session on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM in council chambers.

Interim Mayor Hastings called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Attendance:

• Derek Hastings – present
• Mary Dickinson – present
• Loretta Perkins – present
• Suzanne Shark – present
• Jerrie Whitling – present
• Valerie Mullholand – present

Village Announcements: Officer Andrew Stapley was recognized for his actions on November 29, 2025. He was dispatched to a residence where a male was unresponsive due to drug overdose. Officer Stapley was quick and efficient in administering Narcan. His actions impacted the survival of the patient.

Approval of Agenda for December 11, 2025:

V. Mullholand moved to approve agenda with amending to add for discussion and possible action to be taken on spare pump purchase and park board appointment. S. Shark seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Agenda approved.

Approval/Corrections of Minutes:

J. Whitling moved to approve minutes from 11/24/25 council meeting. M. Dickinson seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Minutes approved.

Bills:

L. Perkins moved to approve the payment of bills. S. Shark seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Payment of bills approved.

Citizen’s Comments: None

Old Business:

Ordinance 2025-11 Solid Waste Utility 2nd reading completed.

Ordinance 2025-09 Job Classifications and Wages 3rd reading completed. M. Dickinson moved to approve the ordinance. S. Shark seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Ordinance 2025-09 approved.

New Business:

V. Mullholand moved to suspend the rules and declare Ordinance 2025-13 Hiring of Morgan Fish has Village Solicitor as an emergency. M. Dickinson seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Approved.

M. Dickinson moved to approve Ordinance 2025-13. J. Whitling seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Approved.

V. Mullholand moved to approve Resolution 2025-14 Approval of2025 Supplemental Appropriations. S. Shark seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Approved.

V. Mullholand moved to approve Resolution 2025-16 2026 Temporary Village of Forest Appropriations. J. Whitling seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Approved.

L. Perkins moved to approve the purchase of replacement pump to have as back up. V. Mullholand seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Approved.

Mayor Hastings recommended Dave Hankins for Park Board Committee. L. Perkins moved that Dave Hankins be appointed. M. Dickinson seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Approved.

Council scheduled next meeting for 12/22/25 @ 7pm. There will be a meeting held on January 1, 2026 @ 10am.

Committee Reports

Mayor: Update on open council seat, park board, and tree commission appointments. Received two letters of interest for Council – Dean Hankins and Joe Moore. Council was given the letters. They will review and revisit this at the next meeting.

Finance: Temporary Budget for 2026 completed. Committee reviewed bills.

Safety: None

Police Chief: Chief Kromer gave statistics update. The department participated in Shop with a Cop.

Fire Chief: Fire Department Dependent Appointments was addressed. Dave Book was removed. V. Mullholand that L. Perkins continue and D. Hastings be appointed. S. Shark seconded. Vote: L. Perkins abstained. 4 yeas, 0 nays. Approved. L. Perkins and D. Hastings approved Donnie Courtad to be appointed.

Department applied for $50,000 grant for gear replacement. This is a new grant and only being offered to small counties. The department has 4 volunteers waiting on training and one completing this month.

Ambulance Board: None

Service: None

Administrator:

Thank you to Reagan Hastings for all the work on the Thanksgiving meal drive. Over 100 meals were given out.

Water service pump had overheated due to fan not working. An issue with clear well sensor was identified as well. All are back in service and functioning at this time.

Snow had impacted leaf pick up. With the weather expected to warm up, they will attempt to pick up any leaves needed. Plowing and salting of roads going well. ODOT has requested work to be done for the catch basin area at the VFW. The Village would supply the necessary materials and ODOT would complete the work.

Vac pits have been worked on. Campbell Street lift station will be done next week.

The signs in park have been changed to stay off ice. A lock has been placed over the thermostat in the all weather pavilion. Renters were turning the heat off. Winterization has been completed.

Park Board: Winterization complete and a thank you to Doug Hankins.

Bids are being completed for removal of stumps and take down 3 trees and their stumps.

Danielle Moore asked for info on pickle ball courts. There are some grants and the ideas is being researched. Possibility of converting the tennis court to pickleball. Next meeting is January 12, 2026 @ 10am at City Hall.

Market Square: None

CIC: None

Economic Development: None

Zoning/Zoning Board of Appeals: None

Human Resources: Discussion of proposed policy changes. V. Mullholand moved to approve the part time holiday pay change and cell phone reimbursement policy. L. Perkins seconded. Vote: 4 yeas, 0 nays. Approved.

Village Solicitor: Morgan Fish will become the Village Solicitor in 2026.

Fiscal Officer: 2026 Temporary Appropriations and the transition to Muni Link.

V. Mullholand moved to adjourn meeting. L. Perkins seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Meeting adjourned at 7:58pm.