PRE SORTSTANDARD KELLEYS ISLAND,OH U.S. POSTAGE Permit #859 Kelleys Life PAID 25¢ NOV./DEC. 2010 PTO Poinsettia fundraiser From the Mayor's desk Mayor Rob Quinn Council has been busy working with the Village Administrator Greg Ritchie to create a new water rate structure that keeps the water department solvent and addresses all of the forecasted expenses and new compliance issues. Greg has been a busy man since he took over as the Village Administrator. His first task was to dig deep into the water department finances and propose a rate structure that is understandable, predictable, and achievable while meeting all of those mandated issues, and still address addressing spikes in semi- fixed costs like health insurance and chemi- cals. In 2010 he estimates the deficit at the water department to be nearly $65,000. Not too dif- ferent from years past but especially different since the water fund, which actually fell to nearly zero in Sept., will be at only $10,000 at The Kelleys Island Parent Teacher plants, supplies, garden gifts, shrubs and sea- the end of this year. In years past the water Organization (PTO) is once again selling sonal favorites. There is NO expiration date on fund was sufficient enough to absorb the Poinsettia plants from Corso's Flower and the gift cards. Pre-payment is again necessary deficit, though it kept depleting the fund bal- Garden Center of Milan Road, Sandusky, as a by Dec. 7 and delivery is also on Mon., Dec. ance. fund-raising effort for the organization. All 13th. This is a critical point and immediate plants are of a medium size in decorative 6" All checks should be made out to KI PTO. action is required to prevent the water depart- pots (5-7 blooms). Four different color choices To order and to send payments, contact Barb ment from running out of money. Additionally, are available: red, white, pink and variegated Schnittker at 419-746-2443. If no answer, since the water fund is so low, there are no (pink and white marbled). Each plant is $10.00. please, leave name and phone number, and funds available for emergency projects or Prepayment is necessary and needed by call-back will be made. There will also be vari- scheduled required projects such as the much Dec. 7 for ordering. The target delivery date to ous contact people on the island and info on needed water line intake replacement project. the island is Mon., Dec. 13th. They will be Post Office board and at senior lunches. Greg has spent months meeting with other available for pick up at the school. A home Give a gift or buy for yourself and support area cities and villages and studying their rates, delivery for those island homes needing it can the KI PTO. Order several and keep one for our rates, and the water rate studies we have be arranged. yourself and send others to friends. had procured over the last several years. He has In addition to the plants, Corso $20 Gift Better yet- a perfect gift idea- a beautiful provided a rate structure that for small users Cards are also for sale, with a portion of each poinsettia with a gift card attached!! will still be less than other area communities, one purchased going to the Kelleys Island PTO. Please support the KI PTO! for medium size users is similar to other area The $20 Gift Cards are good for anything at Happy Holidays! communities, and for large users is somewhat Corso's any time of year. Corso's sells flowers, higher than other area communities. Some of the dynamics that surround our rates that differ from other areas are compo- nents in the rate proposal. For example, we are Kelleys' voters buck Erie County trends still paying down debt on the old water plant Jacquie Kranyak that has been out of service since the new plant The 2010 November election showed once Krabill (R) 115; County Commissioner-Bill was installed many years ago. We have three again that islanders have a strong Republican Monaghan* (D) 113/Mike Pisarsky (R) 101; years left on that debt. We have many fewer leaning, while the rest of Erie County more often County Auditor-Rick Jeffrey* (R) 119/Thomas customers on our plant than other area com- leans toward the Democratic candidates. While Paul (D) 84. munities, causing the fixed costs to be spread Ted Strickland carried Erie County by about Islanders passed all county and island out over fewer users. We are on an island 3.6%, he lost on Kelleys Island 119-89, or by issues, with following numbers: County which traditionally adds a 20-30% increase in about 16.8%. Here are other KI results (*indi- General Health Levy (Renewal)--160-52; County Please turn to page 2 cates statewide winner): Attorney General -Mike Senior Citizens Levy (Replacement)-169-57; DeWine* (R) 118/Richard Cordray (D) 89; County Metroparks levy (Replacement)-111- Auditor of State-David Pepper (D) 81/David 108; Kelleys Island Fire Protection (Renewal)- Yost* (R) 124; Secretary of State-Jon Husted* (R) 199-31; Kelleys Island Roads and Bridges 125/Mary Ellen O'Shaugnessy (D) 74; Treasurer (Renewal)-165-64; and the EHOVE Joint of State-Kevin Boyce (D) 66/Josh Mandel* (R) Vocational School Levy (Replacement)-145-81. 133; US Senator-Rob Portman* (R) 144/Lee On Kelleys Island 67.15% (231 of 344) of our Fisher (D) 69; US Representative-Rich Iott (R) voters exercised their right to vote, while only 116/March Kaptur* (D) 102; State 53.36% of voters county-wide voted, and only Representative-Dennis Murray* (D) 90/Jeff 47.95% of voters statewide turned in a ballot. Inside this Edition... FOR CONNECTION TO THE HOTTEST NORTH ESTHER’S PLACE LEGACY ..........see page 4-5 COAST PROPERTIES .....see pages 9-11, 15-16 Kelleys Life now online at www.kelleysisland.com/kelleyslife Kelleys Life A couple of Kelleys The lovely young ladies above are both descendants of Kelleys Island's original two founders-Irad and Datus Kelley, and both stopped at The Inn in August to catch up on their Kelleys Life read- ing. On the left is Kelley Williams, age 8, who is descended from Irad. She lives in Schererville, Indiana and is the granddaughter of Roger and Madeleine Williams. On the right is Kelley Price, age 27, who is descended from Datus, and is the granddaughter of Caroline DeBoard, daughter of Stacey DeBoard. From the Mayor's desk continued from page 1 operating costs. And lastly we have water for the residents and visitors on The "fear factor" thinking that went Lastly, discussions regarding how extreme seasonal variations in Kelleys Island. We are of the opinion into the developing of the new tap fees tap-in fees are managed are underway. demand for water, yet our fixed costs that we will be able to cross-train man- cannot possibly be the best science or In the past the tap-in fee was deposit- are required year 'round. power between the maintenance best process in developing a produc- ed in the general water fund for use. The proposed new rate will department and water department to tive long term tap-in fee. Through his Moving forward, it is recommended increase the average residential rate by reduce overall labor costs, especially investigations, the administrator that a portion of the fee be set aside an estimated $31.00 per quarter and during our off-season months. found that the old residential tap-in into the capital improvement fund. represents a residential rate increase There have been great discussions fees were in line with neighboring This recommendation appeared to be of nearly 44%. For Commercial cus- regarding the tap-in fees currently communities but our Commercial tap- without objection at the recent council tomers the proposed rate increase will charged. If you recall, the tap-in fees in fees were substantially less. In the meeting work session. average 64%, again varying depending were all doubled last year by the BPA. instance of the hotel recently built on The consensus at the work session on the user's consumption. The thinking around that fee hike was the island, under neighboring commu- was that, albeit unfortunate, that the The proposed new rate will gener- a simple quick way to get some funds nities fee structures the village would rates are required to be elevated as rec- ate a positive balance in the water fast. The fees were doubled but a have taken 30-50 thousand additional ommended in such a short period of fund estimated to be $23,000 by year's waiver period was included in an dollars for the commercial tap-in than time, it was clear that not addressing end. The administrator and my office attempt to get anyone who was think- we charged. rates for so many years along with new have been working together to reduce ing about ever buying a water tap to I'm urging council to consider tap- compliance issues and skyrocketing costs wherever available. We are look- buy it then before the rate doubled. It in fees in line with neighboring com- operating costs we are left with few ing at phone costs, internet costs, was a short term solution to a long munities whereby we can promote the options. As I mentioned, Council and insurance expenses, supplies, billing term problem and at the time it addition of many new residential cus- the Administrators office will contin- expenses, etc. We will continue to dili- worked. Tens of thousands of dollars tomers that are presently being ser- ue to work diligently to keep the oper- gently work to reduce the operating in tap fees were generated until the viced by well or cistern.