Welcome everyone. 2020 is finally over and hopefully things will begin to get back to normal. My first year of Mayor for the village of West Unity has, to say it mildly, been filled with many adventures due to the loss of our fiscal officer and our deputy clerk, and the onset of the COVID-19.
We were fortunate, as we were able to attract an excellent fiscal officer and a deputy clerk, to our village. They both have taken the job seriously and have excelled in their positions.
With COVID-19 we had to look for budget cuts to cover shortfalls that everyone knew were coming. I had the administrator, fiscal officer, and police chief work together to find areas to slow spending in order to meet the shortfalls. To date, it’s not looking like we’ll be down horribly. By next meeting we should have the closing numbers.
Last year I said I wanted West Unity to be the community that cares, and from what I’ve seen and heard from the public we’re on the right path. I did initiate Council Member Terri LeBowsky’s idea, of a welcome to West Unity flyer, however due to losing our two office employees within the first couple months, and having COVID-19 appear, the project had been put on the back burner.
Sorry Terri, that it had to wait, but I’m glad to say I’ve got the Welcome to West Unity flyer back on track. Hopefully in a couple meetings I can reveal what the flyer will look like.
I’m hoping with this new year I can find the information needed to proceed with contacting the turnpike commission for the possibility of introducing an interchange at US 127.
Last year I mentioned I wanted some new playground equipment, possible splash pads, and park benches in Memorial Park. We are continuing to search for grants for the park equipment, and have already placed five park benches in the park with more arriving in the spring.
The memorial park bench program has been a great success and is continuing. Also, Mike Beal’s idea of the lights in the park for Christmas 2020 was a great success with a multitude of people driving thru enjoying the lights. With the interest I’ve heard about this program, next year should be much larger.
The water tower is finally done and the water line project is completed, not bad with the stoppage due to Covid-19. All that’s left is a little landscaping.
The safety grant is progressing and hopefully soon we’ll discover whether or not we’ll receive our grant proposal. Also waiting is whether or not we’ll receive our small park grant for a swing set. A water line project is continuing for Jackson, Jefferson and Church Street this year. Also, we are looking into grants for North Main and Lincoln streets.
Then, with our new land purchase, Mr. Josh Fritsch, our Village Administrator, is looking into grants as well as having firms looking into grant opportunities for the roads, storms, and water, sewer for the sub division.
I’m looking forward to this year. Hopefully the government has the desire to energize the country back to work. I want to have West Unity ready with a variety of projects on which to use the money if it is offered.
It gives me the feeling of gratification when the citizens of West Unity are talking to others, and me, about a variety of nice changes or accomplishments they’ve seen in the village. So, in closure I’d like to thank all the village employees and citizens for helping to keep this a Community that Cares.