Forest Village Council – August 27, 2026

Village of Forest Council met in regular session on August 27, 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 (arrival 7:21pm)
• Mary Dickinson — present
• Loretta Perkins — present (arrival 7:45pm)
• Joe Moore — present
• Sarah Hankins — present
• Danielle Moore — present

Village Announcements: Chief Kromer honored Officer Chandler Varian with a life saving award for his off-duty efforts to a severely injured citizen on August 13, 2026.

Approval of Agenda for August 27, 2026: M. Dickinson moved to approve agenda for 8/27/26 meeting. S. Hankins seconded. Vote: 4 yeas, 0 nays. Agenda approved.

Approval/Corrections of Minutes: V. Mullholand moved to approve minutes from 8/6/26 Council Meeting. J. Moore seconded. Vote: 4 yeas, 0 nays. V. Mullholand abstained. Minutes approved.

Could not approve the minutes from 8/13/26.

Bills: S. Hankins moved to approve the payment of bills. D. Moore seconded. Vote: 4 yeas, 0 nays. Payment of bills approved.

Citizens’ Comments and Guest Presentations: None

Old Business: None

New Business: M. Dickinson moved to go into executive session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, or discipline of a public employee. Possible action following executive session. D. Moore seconded. Vote: 4 yeas, 0 nays. Council entered executive session at 7:07pm.

M. Dickinson moved to leave executive session. V. Mullholand seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Council left executive session at 7:38pm.

V. Mullholand moved to consent to the termination of J. Rinehammer as Village Administrator effective 8/27/26. J. Rinehammer is to be removed from all Village of Forest bank accounts at Community First Bank, any credit cards, and any other financial or administrative accounts for the Village of Forest effective 8/27/26. D. Moore seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Motion carried.

V. Mullholand moved to appoint Jamie Davis as Interim Village Administrator effective 8/28/26. Jamie is to be added to all financial accounts at Community First Bank, credit cards, and any other financial or administrative accounts for the Village of Forest. S. Hankins seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Jamie Davis was appointed as Interim Village Administrator.

M. Dickinson moved that Council enter into executive session to confer with Village Solicitor for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action. V. Mullholand seconded. Vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays. Council entered executive session at 7:42pm.

V. Mullholand moved to leave executive session. D. Moore seconded. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays. Council left executive session at 8:10pm.

Ordinance 2026-06: AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF FOREST FIXING SEWER RATES AND CHARGES TO PAY FOR THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND DEBT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEWER UTILITY

V. Mullholand moved to suspend the three readings for Ordinance 2026-06. M. Dickinson seconded. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays. Motion carried.

M. Dickinson moved to declare Ordinance 2026-06 an emergency. L. Perkins seconded. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays. Motion carried.

Mayor D. Hastings read Ordinance 2026-06.

V. Mullholand moved to approve Ordinance 2026-06. M. Dickinson seconded. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays. Ordinance 2026-06 approved.

Committee Reports

• Mayor: No updates
• Finance/Audit: Committee met today and signed purchase orders and reviewed bills/finances. Audit results should be available soon. Fiscal Officer has started 2027 appropriations process.
• Safety: Police Department is hosting a bicycle, scooter, and ebike registration on 9/5/26. Committee discussed vehicles, boats, etc. parking on city streets without moving within a certain period of time. Committee is working on a plan for snow emergency for plowing. Committee is also discussing junk motor vehicles regulations. There are currently 6 nonworking fire hydrants. These all should be repairable and will be worked on. Service department will continue to keep a log of flushing with dates and flows. Next meeting is scheduled for 9/14/26 @ 6pm.
• Police Chief: Chief Kromer reported that bicycle event is scheduled for 9/5/26. J. Rinehammer has resigned from the police department.
• Fire Chief: None
• Ambulance Board: None
• Service: Committee last met on 8/17/26 and scheduled to meet again on 8/31/26 @ 6pm. Committee discussed sewer rates and utilities.
• Administrator: None
• Park Board: The Park Board is scheduled to meet on 9/21/26 @ 6:30pm. Park Board is working on a list of repairs that need completed. Mayor Hastings is getting quotes for blacktop repair in the park. There was vandalism in the restrooms at the all-weather pavilion. Park Board is getting quotes to have then repainted. Splash Pad will be closed for the season on 9/8/26.
• Market Square: None
• CIC: None
• Business/Industrial Development: Will be meeting in September 2026.
• Zoning and Planning: Committee discussed variance for fence and Village Administrator would have this authority. There is undeveloped land by the park and east of the water plant. To rezone this area notices would be need sent to owner on tax record to be mailed by 1st class mail. The next meeting is scheduled for 9/14/26 @ 6:45pm.
• Human Resources/Ethics: Committee met on 8/19/26 and worked on Village Administrator job description. Possible meeting scheduled for 9/17/26 @ 6pm.
• Tree Commission: Mayor Hastings advised that the committee needs to schedule a meeting to create a tree plan to present to Council.
• Village Solicitor: Solicitor Seeley discussed the open projects he has been working on. He reviewed his concerns with the Choice One contract. Mayor Hastings will follow up regarding these issues. Solicitor Seeley discussed the number of hours he has been putting in for the work on Village of Forest projects. His salary will be discussed with the finance committee.
• Fiscal Officer: Meeting with Neptune on software on 9/9/26. Wessler and EPA meeting is scheduled for 9/11/26. Will be attending the Park Board meeting on 9/21/26 to work on 2027 appropriations.

V. Mullholand moved to adjourn meeting. D. Moore seconded. Vote: 6 yeas, 0 nays. Meeting adjourned at 8:46 pm.