Todd Streiler will continue as the Innsbrook Village planner, although in a much more limited role, after the board of trustees approved a new contract at their Aug. 12 meeting. 

Streiler has served as the village planner for the past two years and his original contract ended in June. Previously his work had focused on the development of the village’s new comprehensive plan. 

That plan was approved at the board’s June 17 meeting leaving the village with a decreased need for Streiler’s services. 

His previous contract was for $3,000 a month with a rate of $125 per hour for any additional work conducted outside his contracted hours. 

His new contract removes the automatic monthly charge, and decreased his hourly rate to $120 an hour. 

The village also has the authority to terminate the contract at any time with a 30-day notice. 

Under the contract, Streiler will be assigned work by either Board Chairman Cynthia Bowers or Planning and Zoning Commissioner Allen Huddleston. 

Streiler will also be required to submit a budget and an estimate for the number of hours required for any assigned work. 

The contract was not approved without opposition, as the board had previously discussed it at length at the July 8 meeting where Trustee Mike Caton had expressed his reservations. 

Caton felt that in the board’s previous discussions they were going to execute a short-term contract with plans to issue a request for proposals for planning services some time in the near future. 

“This was an agreement that was for an interim period and that we were going to do an RFP for planning services,” said Caton. “This agreement really doesn’t do that, this agreement says the term starts on the effective date and automatically renews on the anniversary of the effective date.”

Caton felt that they should amend the agreement to end in February 2026, and pursue an RFP for planning services to see if they are getting the best value for their money. 

“Mr. Streiler is welcome to submit a proposal for an RFP but I think we need to have other potential planners submit stuff so we have a good idea of the services that are provided and the cost,” said Caton. 

Bowers said she understood Caton’s concerns but felt the village had higher priorities than looking for a new village planner. Earlier in that meeting she directed the trustees to work together to develop RFPs for security services and landscaping at the new village hall. 

She continued saying there was no reason to place a time limit on the agreement when they could terminate the agreement whenever they wanted, and since they still had plenty of other work to complete. 

“If that’s what we decide to do we can come forth with an RFP at that time,” said Bowers. “But I am in no position right now, to set a timetable of when that might happen. We’ve got too many irons in the fire to have to be able to make a firm statement of when an RFP might be necessary.”

Huddleston also pointed out that with Streiler’s previous work, he was already knowledgeable on the village and with his new contract his work would be coming at a significantly lower cost to the village. 

The agreement was approved in a 4-1 vote with Caton voting against the approval of the contract.