DELPHOS — City Council met in the first regular meeting of July Tuesday evening and addressed a variety of topics.
Three councilmen: Dave Eickholt, Kevin Osting and Dick Feathers; were absent due to scheduled vacations.
Approval was provided on third reading by the limited members present to the proposed 2009 City of Delphos budget, pegged at $10,381,000.
For the second consecutive meeting, council again considered the merits of approving the use of licensed golf carts on city streets as long as the vehicles are properly equipped, plated, insured and meeting all applicable requirements.
Council focused upon the specific question of defining seating capacity and approved physical seating arrangements, opting to allow a proposed amendment on the subject to expire in order to pursue further research on the matter before a third reading at the next meeting.
In other action, on the first reading council considered incorporation of the existing Wildwood Circle Street Lighting Structure to the city system, citing  that all other utilities for the sub-division were now provided by the city.
An ordinance establishing rates for police protection and services during special events or functions was reviewed; a proposal to replace 1998 legislation with a current updated fee structure, charging $25 per man-hours per officer assigned and compensating the special-detail officer at the rate of $20 per hour, the $5 balance directed to the general fund.
An ordinance authorizing the Board of Control to enter into a temporary, 90-day agreement to provide city water to Bunge Corporation at a “rate less than current water usage rate adopted by ordinance but not less than the lowest rate for the highest capacity water user” was reviewed.
In effect, Bunge Corporation has been utilizing wells on its property for water requirements in soybean processing for a number of years, pursuing this effort as the city could not meet the capacity and quality requirements of the firm prior to the installation of the new reservoir.
The intent of the city is to regain Bunge as a permanent water customer and provide a superior water product without capacity concerns, all made possible by the new reservoir system. This effort would potentially eliminate the current private Bunge water system at a cost savings to the firm.
The physical implementation of the change may be accomplished “by the turning of a valve, without infrastructure changes,” stated Council President Bob Ulm.
The 90-day time frame is deemed to be sufficient to determine the potential benefits of the change.
Council also reviewed initial legislation for the annexation of approximately 150 acres to the city, three parcels of land in total, and was advised that fees to accomplish the transfer may approach $10,000. The annexation of the parcels to the city is anticipated to provide a benefit to the city for future growth and business expansion within its limits.
An ordinance providing for funding transfers was read, proposed to balance accounts and allow “payments for wastewater and water capital projects,” according to City Auditor Tom Jettinghoff. Council also noted continuity of enterprise zone agreements and associated tax abatements for Countryside Foods, Krendl #2, Ultimate Systems and Vanamatic operations in Delphos.
Considerable discussion was held to define “easement in gross” for two city businesses. An “easement in gross” is issued to a person, not a business. The first easement concerned the Hasenkamp Electric business, owned by Gerald Hasenkamp. Council approved directing the city administration to pay Hasenkamp $1 for easement to construct a 32-square-foot sign advertising his business adjacent to Fifth Street and located upon city property. This action was taken in consideration of the fact that the city has a sewer line running through the Hasenkamp property.
In a separate easement action, council directed the administration to charge Visual Image $1 for use of approximately 400 feet of the pedestrian alley, bi-secting the 200 block of Main St., on the east side of the street and back to the north/south alley. The area is utilized by the business for photography purposes. Council noted that Visual Image had made considerable decorative improvements to the alley at the expense of the firm, greatly enhancing the beauty of the area.
Both easements are on an annual basis.
The utilities committee will meet in session after the next regularly-scheduled council meeting on July 22.