T-L Photo/LENNY WITTENBROOK Flushing Mayor Preston Eberhart, right, swears in Dan Lipperman, who was recently selected to fill the council seat vacated by Tom Bober at the end of 2024.

FLUSHING — Village Council is in the process of replacing outdated computer and camera equipment for the police department.

Police Chief Paul Leek addressed council in February while delivering his monthly report, saying that the department would be needing two new in-cruiser laptops/tablets in order to utilize a new license plate reading and ticketing system that is being supplied by Belmont County. He added that in order to fulfill public records request requirements, it would also need to purchase new body cameras as well as cruiser cameras.

Leek said that typically departments use a “provider” that helps manage and fulfill those requests when they are submitted, adding that he would be meeting with representatives from Lexis Nexis to get information and pricing on cameras.

He pointed out that with all the other new hardware and the reporting systems used by the state, replacement of his office computer would be required as well, since that was purchased shortly after he began his tenure in Flushing 10 years ago.

Mayor Preston Eberhart did some checking and found out the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department is using Panasonic Tough Books in its vehicles. He said those cost between $800 and $1,000 each, but that he would do some additional research on the matter before the March council meeting.

After some further discussion, council President Chuck Nucci made a motion that the village spend up to $1,000 to replace the office computer, asking that officials simply make sure that whatever computer they get is capable of running the systems they need. Council unanimously approved the expenditure.

Leek said he would need technical assistance getting the various systems set up once the hardware is purchased.

Meanwhile, council discussed altering the plans that were approved in December to place a two-car garage behind the village offices for police cruisers and records storage.

Eberhart said the contractor had suggested building on to the current village offices rather than constructing a separate structure, since doing so would allow them to extend the electric service, heating and other utilities to the addition.

The project was discussed at some length before members decided they would get quotes on what it would cost to use block versus wood and how much square footage they could add with the money they were saving by not having to put in all new utilities.

Nucci asked that they just make sure there is adequate overhead storage for the records and other items they are looking to move out of the old municipal building.

During his monthly report, Village Administrator Kris Chini informed council that a recent service line leak had been repaired on Kirk Street and a new curb installed. He said new signs for Schuler Park would soon be completed and put up, and that he and village crews were continuing to work to patch and repair alleys and streets.

He also informed council that the village sewer permit had been submitted and their operation permit filed.

Nucci asked Chini about coming up with a system to track progress and target dates for all of the ongoing projects in the village.

Eberhart gave an update on plans to auction off a village-owned property on Spring Street as well as one other property, saying he had a contract from an auctioneer that needed to be checked over by Village Solicitor Gary Smith during an executive session later in the meeting. He said if that was OK’d, it would be up to the auctioneer as to when the auctions could be held.

Resident Cody Ellis addressed council asking about the legality of having chickens in the village. Chini responded that there is no ordinance against having chickens. Nucci added that was the case “as of now” for clarity.

Chini said chickens could not be allowed to run at large and that roosters are not allowed.

Resident Stephanie Schneider asked whether there were plans to put the scoreboards back up at the Schuler Park ballfields and was told that the old wooden scoreboards were rotten and that the numbers that went with them were gone as well.

Eberhart pointed out that scores are mostly kept using smartphone applications nowadays.

Schneider said that a town she had previously lived in used Civics Plus as a domain host for an informational village website and suggested Flushing look into doing the same so that those who do not use social media would have a place to get information about what is going on in the community.

Mayor Eberhart responded that he would look into it.

She also inquired about the recent water rate increase, and Eberhart explained that with the county raising rates yearly it was necessary so the village would not get behind on rates like some other municipalities.

He added that while they had raised water and sewer by $1 each the past couple of years, there had been years where they only raised one. He said village leaders evaluate the need for the increases each January before implementing them.

Council discussed the implications of a new Ohio Environmental Protection Agency requirement that all water meters be located outside of residences by 2027 and the possibility of putting a policy in place that any disruption in service, including disconnects for non-payment, could be used as an opportunity to move the meter and install backflow prevention at the owner’s expense.

Nucci said they would discuss that with Smith during the executive session as well.

Council also discussed when they would be placing port-a-johns in Schuler Park after Schneider mentioned that teams would start practicing in March. Fiscal Officer Jeryl McGaffick said they usually have them in place by May, while council discussed possibly getting them earlier.

Councilwoman Erin Nucci asked about a previously discussed idea to put in a proper bathroom with running water, with Chuck Nucci saying they could revisit that at the next meeting.

Flushing council meets again at 6 p.m. next Thursday in the village offices on High Street.