At the first meeting in January, Holland Mayor Lee Irons delivered his annual report on activities that took place in 2022.
Last year marked a return to normalcy in the village, he said.
There were notable changes in personnel, added improvements in technology and continued efficient delivery of services to keep everything moving forward.
“The most valuable resource the village has, continues to be the support of its residents and business, along with the experience and effort of the staff and council,” said the mayor.
Personnel Changes
Councilman Nate Gaubert joined council late in 2021 and served the village for 2022 in his first full year of service. At the other end of the spectrum, Councilman Roger Burditt, who has served Holland in a variety of positions since 1978 –council, fire service, fire officer, finance chairman, plan commission–delayed his retirement and accepted an appointment to a vacated council seat for the next two years.
Another experienced councilman, Terry Nachtrab, who was elected to three full terms, resigned after many years of service due to health issues. Justin Hoen, the manager of the local nursery and landscape center and a Kipling Drive resident, was appointed to finish Mr. Nachtrab’s term.
At the January meeting, Ryan Spangler was elected council president and renewed appointments were made for Councilmen Scott Brown, Mike Bettinger and Nate Gaubert.
The police department also saw several personnel changes. Patrol officers Morgan Schumann and Marc Cerda resigned. Sergeant Troy Major, who served in Holland for many years, resigned and is now an officer in a neighboring community. Two part-time officers, Charles Kessinger and Aaron Weise, also left the department. We thank all these individuals for dedicated service. Last year, three new officers were recruited and hired full time. Colin O’Connor, Alexander Tonjes, and Richard Smoot join the department as fully certified officers and are now on duty completing their specific Holland training and probationary period. Recruiting is a continuing priority of the department.
Police Department
The daily operation of the department, led by Chief Bob Reed and Lieutenant James Piotrowski, continues with assured protection, peace keeping and traffic enforcement in the village.
Council’s safety committee and department staff have completed a full year examination and review of all department policies. This resulted in needed improvement and full compliance with national Lexipol standards and a renewed and continuing certification by the Ohio Collaborative for Law Enforcement.
Technology upgrades in operations and record keeping and report filing are ongoing.
Major equipment investment in vehicle upkeep and the purchase of a new patrol vehicle were budgeted items. The new Durango is readied for January 2023 service.
The year also saw the replacement of all the aging officer service weapons with new ones. Taser replacement and repairs to the speed control trailer also were completed.
Emergency/Fire Service Fire and emergency rescue services in the village are handled by contract with the Springfield Township Fire Department. Assistant Chief Dave Moore reported to council at the January meeting and outlined the staffing of the 71member department and the specific services they provide.
He described the training level of all personnel and the updated equipment and service they offer. The village is well served by the $153,750 investment in the safety of the community.
Chief Moore also gave a powerPoint presentation into all other services and activities the fire department provides.
The number of calls for service in the village continues to grow to more than 500 incidents annually.
“We continue to be impressed and grateful for the quality of service provided,” the mayor said.
Infrastructure And Construction
During 2022, continuing through 2023, the village works with Poggemeyer Design Group for engineering services.
Present projects include evaluating the needs and conditions of the streets and right of way in the Whisperwood neighborhood, as well as planning for resurfacing of Mc-Cord Road from Kipling to Angola.
Actual construction for both projects is expected to take place in 2024-25, as long as planning is complete in 2023.
Council hosted a community meeting for comment on Whisperwood improvements and consideration is ongoing.
Over the summer months, work was scheduled to be performed around the needs of the Springfield Schools schedule, to resurface Hall Street from Holloway to Kittle Road at the stadium. This included limited tree removal, sidewalk repair and resetting manhole tops in the immediate area. All was completed on schedule with some, but minimal, residential inconvenience.
Private commercial construction projects were approved for a Jiffy Lube on McCord Road and a “Mod-Wash” subscription car wash in front of Menards.
Village Finance/Budgeting The village remains in a strong and healthy financial position thanks to a stable and solid resource base. Revenue accounts enable council to work on long range planning such as the 25-year street upkeep, while at the same time being able to meet immediate needs, without moving from one emergency to another.
The village continues its policy in budgeting of spending less than received in revenue to allow for unforeseen needs. General fund expenditures for 2022 were $3,607,485.
Last year, employees were rewarded with a 3 percent wage increase with no change in individual contribution to benefits or health plans. All essential employees who helped keep the village operating through the COVID-19 pandemic received bonus awards through grants from the American Recovery Act, so long as they served through the crisis and were currently employed in the Village when bonuses were paid.
Refuse/Recycling Service The village continues to be served by Republic Waste Management through contracted service managed by the Lucas County Solid Waste District. The annual cost of $95,140 ensures weekly refuse and recycling at curbside for residential customers, as well as a once a year unlimited curbside pick-up for the residential stops.
There also is a supplemental service–at minimal additional charge–for scheduled large item pick-up. Republic Service has been largely well accepted with them, as provider, being responsive to communication and requests from the village offices. Village services will continue the drop off into provided dumpsters in the maintenance yard as a seasonal scheduled service for garage and yard clean-up. Actual yard waste disposal continues south of Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport on Maumee Western Road.
Maintenance Services
The maintenance staff continues to offer high quality municipal services. Snowplowing, ice treatment and road upkeep remain a priority. Leaf collection and help with storm debris are addressed as needed.
The staff also is responsible for building maintenance of all village facilities as well as upkeep of vehicles and mechanical/needs. Response to citizen complaints or requests continues as priority number one.
Parks And Recreation Strawberry Acres Park remains the center for a variety of community activities. The latest brilliant holiday lighting displays were on exhibit for the whole community in December.
Summer movies in the park, the preschool trick or treat, and the Christmas Holland Days are all planned, supported and enjoyed on a communitywide basis.
Particular interest in jogging, walking, pickleball, train watching, or team sports attract many people to all the facilities.
The reputation of rental facilities is proven by the near constant reservation requests.
An underused but great activity is the village’s partnership with the Holland-Springfield-Spencer Historical Society and its use of a Holland building for a local history museum at Clark and Front streets across from Railroad Park.
Conclusion
“All of the observations of this brief report are simply a snapshot of the Village of Holland and the things that make it a very special place,” the mayor said. “The items listed, and I am sure several unintentionally left out, represent the efforts of dedicated staff, elected officials and a supportive resident population.”
He added, “As mayor, l am proud to serve and offer sincere gratitude for everyone's contribution.” Other Business
In other business, council announced committee selections for 2023. They are:
•Building–chair Councilman Mike Bettinger; and members Councilman Roger Burditt, Brian Yunker, Mayor Irons, Councilman Nate Gaubert, Ed Thurman, Brian Harbert and Rob Wielinski
•Budget/finance/audit– Mr. Burditt, chair, and Councilman Ryan Spangler, clerk/treasurer Lyn Krasula, Mayor Irons, Councilmen Justin Hoen and Scott Brown, Sandy Almond and Ed Stuart
•Economic development– Mr. Spangler, chair, and Mr. Gaubert and Mayor Irons
•Grievance– Chair Mayor Irons, member Mr. Gaubert
•Income tax board of review– Diane Haas, Amy Kelly and Police Chief Robert Reed
•JEDZ board of directors– Mayor Irons, Harvey Schroeder and Brian Harbert
•Park board–Mr. Burditt, chair; and Mr. Hoen, Mr. Bettinger, Barb Irons and Roseanna Artz
•Planning commission– Mr. Spangler, chair; and Mayor Irons, Ms Almond, Craig Fischer and Luanne Kaiser
•Records committee– Mayor Irons, chair; and village solicitor Paul Skaff, Ms. Krasula and Sharon Geiger
•RITA board–Mayor Irons and alternate Mr. Spangler
•Tree commission–Mr. Hoen, chair; and Mr. Bettinger, Mary Beth DeMattio and Janet Thurman
•Wage and hiring–Mr. Spangler, chair; and Mr. Bettinger, Mayor Irons and Mr. Gaubert
•Public safety–Mr. Brown chair; and Mr. Spangler, Mr. Burditt and Mayor Irons
•American Disability– Mayor Irons
•CRA housing office– Leslie Ferman, zoning inspector •Northwest Ohio aggregation coalition–member Mr. Hoen
•Negotiating team– Mayor Irons, alternate, Mr. Spangler
•OSHA coordinator– Mayor Irons
•Prevailing wage–Ms. Krasula
•Street commissioner– Mr. Bettinger
•TMACOG and gypsy moth–Mayor Irons and Mr. Hoen
•District advisory council– Mr. Spangler
•Holland-Springfield-Spencer Historical Society– Mr. Hoen, Mayor Irons and Mr Gaubert.
Several council appointments also were approved and are public safety and technology, Mr. Brown; insurance events, Mr. Gaubert; parks, Mr. Burditt; planning commission, Mr. Spangler; utility regulation and deregulation/ recycling/refuse, Mr. Hoen, and maintenance, streets, lands and buildings, Mr. Bettinger.
Council’s next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, in council chambers, 1245 Clarion Avenue, and is open to the public.
~Jane Maiolo
