Forest Village Council – July 23, 2026

Village of Forest Council met in regular session on July 23, 2026 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers.

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

Attendance:

• Derek Hastings – present
• Valerie Mullholand – present
• Mary Dickinson – present
• Loretta Perkins – present
• Joe Moore – present
• Sarah Hankins – present
• Danielle Moore – present

Village Announcements: Fliers were sent to residents from Northwest Ohio Solid Waste regarding trash pickup. This was reported to Rumpke. There is no change in our trash and recycling schedules.

Approval of Agenda for July 23, 2026: M. Dickinson moved to approve agenda for 7/23/26 meeting. D. Moore seconded. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays. Agenda approved.

Approval/Corrections of Minutes: V. Mullholand moved to approve minutes from 6/25/26 Council Meeting. J. Moore seconded. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays. V. Mullholand abstained. Minutes approved.

Bills: S. Hankins moved to approve the payment of bills. V. Mullholand seconded. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays. Payment of bills approved.

Citizens’ Comments and Guest Presentations: None

Old Business: None

New Business: Resolution #2026-05 PWC Application 1st reading

V. Mullholand moved to excuse D. Hastings and S. Hankins from 8/13/26 Council Meeting. L. Perkins seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. S. Hankins abstained. Absences excused.

Committee Reports

Mayor: Continuing to work on nuisance properties.

Finance/Audit: Committee met today and signed purchase orders and reviewed bills/finances. Audit has not been completed. Meetings are scheduled for 7/28/26 for design loan funding and with RCAP on 7/29/26. Continuing to work on funding for projects.

Safety: Next meeting is scheduled for 7/27/26 @ 6pm.

Police Chief: Chief reported statistics from festival. The department had 15 calls of service, 6 arrests, Auxiliary donated 113.25 hours. National Night Out is August 4, 2026 b@ 6pm. The Department has applied for body camera grant.

Fire Chief: None

Ambulance Board: None

Service: Update from 7/13/26 meeting was given. The committee discussed water and sewer rates. A1 Printing was contacted about handling our mailing of bills. They advised that it would not be a savings to use their services due to the smaller size of bills needing mailed. J. Rinehammer is still researching postcard as a billing option. A large pot hole was filled on Davis Street. Street improvement grant for Railroad Street has had the documents completed. J. Rinehammer is to post equipment that can be sold by 7/31/26. Committee is still reviewing policies for water deposits. Mowing for high grass properties is still being completed. The well project continues to move forward. Junk motor vehicles was discussed. Lt. Young had given some information. Council member D. Moore expressed concern that there are properties that still need addressed. Chief Kromer updated on policy and discussion was held.

Administrator: Water – New lids for water meters have arrived, waiting on antennas to put the new water meters in, once those are installed Neptune will do a training on the software.

Sewer – Generator at the Vac plant has been serviced and a new connection has been made so the Vac plant can operate when there is loss of power.

Streets – Bids for street paving will be open on July 28 and will close August 12, 2026 at 10am, at that time the bids received will be opened and read publicly. A storm drain in an alleyway near Zimmerman and Dixon and near Mary Street collapsed, currently finishing the repair. Located another possible collapse or obstruction in a storm drain near Cleveland and Davis Street. Service has been cleaning out storm drains and checking lines for any issues.

Admin – Backhoe was serviced, the gear shifter was stuck in first gear, it is now working correctly. A person has been hired for the open Service position. All service department members took training per state law updated pertaining to 811 call before you dig. Someone had dumped garbage out at the compost, PD was able to find and cite the person, they are cleaning up now.

Park Board: Update from 7/20/26 meeting was given. A thank you was given to Jim and Marie Forney, Raegan Hastings, Kit Ward, and Danielle Moore for all their help getting the park ready for the festival. Committee is getting a quote for having the all-weather pavilion deep cleaned a few times a year. Gutters on the all-weather pavilion need completed cleaned out and steps to the log cabin need rebuilt. Next meeting is scheduled for 8/10/26 @ 9:30am at Gormley Park.

Market Square: None

CIC: None

Business/Industrial Development: Will be meeting in September 2026.

Zoning and Planning: Next meeting is scheduled for 7/27/26 @ 6:45pm.

Human Resources/Ethics: Policy change for HSA was discussed. V. Mullholand moved that biweekly deposits of $40 per individual be implemented beginning the first pay of July 2026. D. Moore seconded. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays. HSA policy change approved.

Tree Commission: Mayor Hastings advised that the committee needs to schedule a meeting to create a tree plan to present to Council. Pam advised the lady they need to speak to has not been at the DNR when they have been there.

It was reported that while cutting down trees, a claw broke and damaged the roof of a home. The tree company is handling the repair. Resource Recycling was discussed to come and grind at compost.

Chief Kromer expressed concern that no one was made aware that they were closing down the street to work on trees. A reminder was given that request forms are to completed prior to any street closure.

Village Solicitor: T. Seeley advise that he has been working on some open projects. He advised that hiring a 17-year-old is an option. They can do lawn care with mowers and weed eaters, but they cannot drive motor vehicles on public roads, only if incidental. No power-driven saws can be used. He stated that Ohio law mimics the Federal statutes. Discussion was held on policy regarding rezoning requests.

Fiscal Officer: Meetings scheduled next week with Wessler Engineering and RCAP.

D. Moore moved to adjourn meeting. J. Moore seconded. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays, Meeting adjourned at 7:40pm.