[0:00] Hey, hey, hey.

[1:33] We are

[1:49] real.

[2:17] war.

[2:45] Heat. Heat. N.

[8:19] All right. Welcome to the West Milton Council meeting for May 18th. I'd like

[8:23] to call the meeting to order. And now we need roll call.

[8:28] » Mayor Sats, >> present.

[8:30] » Miss Richardson, >> here.

[8:32] » Miss Mets, >> here. Mr. Francis

[8:35] » here. >> Miss Gregory

[8:37] » here. >> Mr. Todd

[8:38] » here. >> Mr. Fogle

[8:39] » here. >> All right. First, we have CM-26-38.

[8:46] » It's a resolution declaring the intention to proceed under the

[8:49] alternative tax document format provided under section 5705.281

[8:53] of the Ohio Revised Code. Whereas section 5705.281 281 of the Ohio Revised

[8:59] Code authorizes and empowers a county budget commission by an affirmative vote

[9:03] of a majority of its members, including an affirmative vote by the count auditor

[9:06] of the county to weigh the requirement that a taxing authority of a subdivision

[9:10] or other taxing unit adopt a tax budget as is provided under section 5705.281

[9:15] 281 of the Ohio Revised Code and require such taxing authority to provide such

[9:20] information as may be required by the commission to perform its duties under

[9:24] chapter 5705 of the Ohio Vice Code, including dividing the rates of each of

[9:28] the subdivisions or taxing units tax levies as provided under section 5705.04

[9:35] of the Ohio Vice Code. And whereas pursuant to the terms and

[9:39] provisions of section 5705.281 281 of the Ohio Vice Code. The Miami County

[9:44] Budget Commission by an affirmative vote of a majority of its members, including

[9:48] an affirmative vote of the auditor of Miami County, Ohio, has authorized and

[9:52] permits the taxing authority of a subdivision or other taxing unit within

[9:56] Miami County, Ohio, to refrain from adopting a tax budget and has designated

[10:00] the information which the said budget commission requires of each taxing

[10:04] authority of a subdivision or other taxing unit to permit the budget

[10:08] commission to perform its duties under chapter 5705 of the Ohio Revised Code.

[10:13] And whereas it is the desired intention of the council as a taxing authority of

[10:16] the municipality of West Milton to elect to refrain from adopting a tax budget

[10:20] for the fiscal year of 2027 and in the alternative to submit to the budget

[10:24] commission the information and documents which has indicated will be necessary in

[10:28] the absence of such adoption. Now therefore, be it resolved by the

[10:33] council of the municipality of West Milton, Miami County, Ohio, that section

[10:37] one, the council of the municipality of West Milton, hereby declares its

[10:41] intention to proceed under the alternative tax document format provided

[10:45] under section 5705.281 of the Ohio Advice Code and refrain from

[10:50] the preparation of a tax budget for the fiscal year of 2027.

[10:54] Section two, the Council of the Municipality of West Milton hereby

[10:57] authorizes and directs its chief fiscal officer to prepare and submit to the

[11:01] Miami County Budget Commission such information documents as are necessary

[11:05] to said process and submission and to take such other actions as may be

[11:09] reasonably necessary incident thereto. Section three, the council of

[11:14] municipality of West Milton hereby finds and determines that all deliberations

[11:18] and actions related to the foregoing were affected in open and public session

[11:21] and in full compliance with section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code and

[11:26] otherwise as provided by law. >> Right. Jill, do you want to talk about

[11:31] that? >> Um, yes. So, this is a resolution that

[11:35] we pass every year. We have to we are required to uh submit this to the budget

[11:41] commission or the Miami county auditor's office every year. This is step one of

[11:45] the process. This is the method and then next month you guys will actually

[11:49] approve the budget itself and then it gets submitted to them.

[11:53] It's we have to do it every year. So >> any discussion or motions?

[12:00] » One motion we approve resolution CM-26-38.

[12:05] » Second. Roll call, please.

[12:08] » Mr. Fogle? >> Yes.

[12:09] » Mr. Todd? >> Yes.

[12:11] » Miss Gregory? >> Yes.

[12:12] » Mr. Francis? >> Yes.

[12:13] » Miss Mets? >> Yes.

[12:15] » Miss Richardson? >> Yes.

[12:16] » Mayor Sers? >> Yes.

[12:18] » All right. Next, we have CM-26-39.

[12:23] » It's a resolution to authorize the employment of the municipal manager and

[12:26] to authorize the adoption of the employment agreement for the municipal

[12:29] manager attached here too. Whereas the municipality of West Milton, Ohio is

[12:33] currently in need of a municipal manager. And whereas a hiring committee

[12:37] was formed for the sole purpose of collecting, reviewing, and interviewing

[12:40] potential candidates for the position of munic municipal manager for the

[12:43] municipality of West Milton, Ohio. Whereas the hiring committee has

[12:48] recommended that council retain the services of Kyle Hinkleman as a new

[12:51] municipal manager for the municipality of West Milton, Ohio. And whereas

[12:55] council believes it is in the best interest of the municipality of West

[12:58] Milton, Ohio to retain the services of Kyle Hinklman as the new municipal

[13:02] manager. Now therefore, be it resolved by the council of the municipality of

[13:06] West Milton, Ohio, that section one, the council wishes to retain the services

[13:11] provided by Kyle Hinkleman as municipal manager of West Milton, Ohio. Section

[13:16] two, that council pursuant to the charter wishes to enter into the

[13:18] employment agreement attached to this resolution, but shall be incorporated

[13:22] herewith as exhibit A. Section three, that council hereby establishes the

[13:26] compensation and benefits for the municipal manager as specifically set

[13:30] forth in the employment agreement attached here to and incorporated herein

[13:33] as if fully rewritten. Section four, the mayor for the municipality of West

[13:37] Milton is hereby authorized to execute the employment agreement for the

[13:40] municipal manager attached here too. section five that this res resolution

[13:44] shall be effective on and after the earliest date permitted by law.

[13:49] » Any discussion? >> Yes. Uh I would just like to thank all

[13:53] of council. Uh this has been a very detailed process that we started in

[13:59] January. Um we had three members uh subcommittee members myself, Levi Todd,

[14:06] and Casey Mets that uh reviewed all of the applicants that submitted uh

[14:13] applications uh and that was in the March time frame. Uh we did our due

[14:18] diligence putting together the announcement. We looked at what was done

[14:22] before. Um you know the last time this was done uh the process was done through

[14:28] a consultant and I think it was somewhere in the range of 50 to 60k that

[14:34] was uh uh that was worked to uh hire the last city manager. So, we did this all

[14:42] in house. Uh it was a lot of extra work uh on our end. I think uh um you know it

[14:50] it's going to pay off dividends uh because we were all involved uh in the

[14:55] process. We had two subcommittees uh reviewing the applicants. Uh because of

[14:59] the sunshine laws, we can't all meet together. Uh so uh there were a lot of

[15:05] separate meetings at individuals houses and uh at here in the council chambers

[15:11] and so forth. We had 36 applicants. Uh we drew that down to five and uh we

[15:17] interviewed five applicants on a Saturday morning uh which was uh five or

[15:22] six hours of all of our time uh involved in that process as well. Um, I I uh I

[15:30] know that uh Mr. Hinkleman is going to do great things. Uh, he's got a he's got

[15:37] a great background. He was a city manager at Covington. He's been in Piqua

[15:42] for several years and uh he he's a Milton guy. He wants to be here. He

[15:48] wants to be here leading our community, which I think is great because as long

[15:54] as I've been here and moved back into this area since 2010,

[15:58] we have not had anyone that has ties to this area that's been a city manager.

[16:04] It's been someone that's been from the outside, uh, out of state. Uh, so Kyle

[16:10] knows all of the Ohio laws and regulations and has the contacts in

[16:15] Miami County. Uh so I think it is a win-win across the board. So uh thank

[16:22] you to all of council and Len. Uh it's been a lot of back and forth. We even

[16:27] were working with Len the day before she went on vacation last Monday to uh get

[16:34] the employment agreement in place. So it's been a lot of hard work. Uh but I

[16:39] think the hard work is definitely going to pay off. So thanks.

[16:44] I would just love to add so you know we had 36 applicants. We did our due

[16:49] diligence as far as reviewing all the applicants qualifications and through

[16:53] the interview process um Kyle far exceeded our expectations. The wealth of

[16:59] knowledge that he brings, what he carries and what he's going to bring to

[17:02] West Milton, not only being local to West Milton, but also having the

[17:07] extensive experience he has. I know it's going to be really great and I'm excited

[17:11] for what's next for West Milton. >> Any more discussion?

[17:17] » I will say that too. Thank you to Ben and the staff because you guys have hung

[17:23] in there with us. It has been a long process. So without you guys and

[17:27] continuing to do your jobs and just plow through and take on the extra

[17:31] responsibility, >> we appreciate that.

[17:33] » Yes. Massive, massive. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[17:37] » Starts tomorrow.

[17:41] 29th June, you get a little bit of relief.

[17:45] » Yeah. So, sorry. Has to be >> light at there's light at the end of the

[17:48] tunnel. >> Yeah.

[17:49] » But thank you for all the hard work and getting us through this period while we

[17:53] work to get what I feel is a the an amazing replacement. So, thank you.

[17:59] Thank you guys for finding the right candidate because we all believe you

[18:04] absolutely hit a home run and we are as excited as you.

[18:08] » Very good. I'll make a motion to approve CM 26-39

[18:14] as written in red. >> Second.

[18:17] » Roll call. >> Mr. Fogle.

[18:19] » Yes. >> Mr. Todd,

[18:22] » I need to just say this real quick. Kyle, I am excited to have you join the

[18:26] village. I think you're going to do a wonderful job. Um, this is not related

[18:29] to your per performance or necessarily your qualifications. I think this

[18:32] process, the negotiation of this contract left a lot to be desired in

[18:37] terms of value for the residents. I don't think it was handled to the best

[18:41] of this council's ability. Um, so regardless of your performance and I'm

[18:46] very excited for you to join us and to far exceed any expectations we could

[18:50] have, I am voting no. >> Miss Gregory,

[18:53] » big huge yes. >> Mr. Francis,

[18:56] » yes. Miss Mets. Yes. >> Miss Richardson,

[18:59] » yes. >> Mayor Sers,

[19:01] » I My only problem is with how the resolution sets or says that the hiring

[19:08] committee, that wasn't a thing. It didn't It didn't happen. It was started

[19:12] and it was ended based on lies. Outside of that,

[19:16] I'm going to vote no,

[19:23] but still super excited to have you. I think you were the best. But

[19:29] all right, next is old business.

[19:37] All right, new business. >> All right, motions for adjournment.

[19:45] » We can do comments from citizens.

[19:50] » Well, I'm going to echo a lot of the things you all said. Uh, I'll start off

[19:54] with just thanking uh, really uh, Ben and all the other employees of the

[19:59] cities who just kind of wrapped their loving arms around our community and

[20:04] carried us through on this. Um, it's it's very rare that you see somebody

[20:09] take the mantle of power and in control, which Ben has done more than once, and

[20:14] then hand it back off and and retreat back into the wings and

[20:21] and operate.

[20:25] Ben's just a class act. Yeah. >> Uh to council, um come to all the

[20:30] meetings, see what all you guys do, have just seen the amount of hours you guys

[20:36] have put in on the side, and thank you for all putting in that time and uh um

[20:42] uh coming to the conclusion you did. I don't think you could have hired a

[20:45] better person. >> Thanks, Dan.

[20:47] » Thanks, Dan. >> Thanks.

[20:50] » Any more comments? >> All right.

[20:54] I'll make a motion for adjournment. >> Second.

[20:56] » All in favor?

[21:06] » There you go.

[21:19] » Because you have to show every page. >> All right.

[21:24] Oh yeah.

[21:33] » Absolutely. >> Good luck with everything.

[21:47] » You're welcome. >> I I heard

[21:58] She goes after

[22:02] this, the other

[22:43] Yeah,

[22:47] » this might be your son's He's quite the

[23:09] » turn

[23:17] it

[23:20] I'll probably just

[23:43] get a blue jacket.

[23:58] have a word.

[24:03] » Yeah. See

[24:07] my career where I just separate two public

[24:15] knowactly

[24:29] That way you're not sitt

[24:44] That's what

[25:15] I told him

[25:41] how they're

[25:44] I know.

[26:10] I didn't

[26:21] Facebook

[26:30] that's

5/18/2026 Special Council Meeting

Transcript