(PHOTO BY JESSIE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
MOVING UP … Swanton Police Chief John Trejo (left) shakes the hand of Bradley Cash (right), after the village council approved his promotion from patrolman to sergeant during its meeting Tuesday.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Road construction projects all over Swanton were the focus of much of the business of the Swanton Village Council at its meeting Tuesday evening.
Village Administrator Shannon Shulters provided updates on several projects, particularly the work which has begun on Hallett Avenue.
According to Shulters, that project is focused on safety and includes the construction of sidewalks from Airport Highway to Chestnut Street on the west side of the road then continuing on to the turnpike bridge on the east side.
It is being funded by a combination of funds from the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, and the village.
“The reason why the road is shut down on the west side is because they’re working on that widening the bridge on that side to be able to put the sidewalk across and then they’ll go through and pave that side and then in the spring, in March, they’ll come back and do the other side,” Shulters said.
The project was originally supposed to begin in July with completion of both sides this year. Shulters said it turned out to be “a blessing” that things didn’t work out that way and the project had to be delayed due to funding issues and other snags.
“Had that not happened and we didn’t push it this far, then it would be happening right when Airport Highway was closed,” she said.
“So yes, it’s frustrating, I understand, but at the same time, we’re frustrated when we have potholes, we’re frustrated when the roads aren’t being fixed, and it’s just a matter of this is how the timing was.”
Shulters also assured the council that access to the American Legion post was still open and would remain open if construction were to last through election day.
In related business, the council approved on an emergency basis an ordinance which will allow for the installation of a weight limit sign on Hallett Avenue bridge number 392, which was supposed to be put up when the bridge was constructed but never happened.
Shulters reported she was scheduled to have a meeting with Hillabrand & Sons Construction on Wednesday to get an update on their work on South Main Street and whether or not there would be “substantial completion” of the project within the next two weeks.
She also reported that changes to the lane markings and signals at intersection of South Main Street and Airport Highway would be completed next spring.
Shulters said a road construction project on Munson Road was scheduled to begin on January 1, and also reported that she was seeking new quotes on improving parking on South Main Street in the area just south of the railroad tracks from DGL Consulting Engineers, with whom she had been speaking regarding another project.
The council approved on an emergency basis an ordinance authorizing Shulters to enter into an agreement with Kleinfelder for engineering services for the Crestwood Drive reconstruction project.
Finance Director Holden Benfield reported he and the village’s grant-writing intern filled out and filed an application for a $100,000 parks grant that will help fund paving in the Swanton Memorial Park.
It is a reimbursement grant requiring a 50 percent match, so if the village spends at least $150,000 on the project, a reimbursement for the full grant amount of $100,000 would be available.
Under the requirements of the grant, the work would need to be completed by spring of 2026.
POLICE/FIRE STAFFING ISSUES
Several staffing changes were approved for both the police and fire departments. During regular business, the council approved the hiring of Robert La Greca as a full-time officer as well as the promotion of Bradley Cash from patrolman to sergeant.
After an executive session, the council voted to accept the resignation of full-time officer Nathan Hall, who left his position to go to a different police department.
The council approved a pair of resignations from the Swanton Fire & Rescue Division, including John Yard and James “Chris” Lechman, who accepted a job at another, larger agency and would be receiving a significant pay increase for the switch, according to Fire Chief Cuyler Kepling.
Both Benfield and Mayor Neil Toeppe made reference to an upcoming fire levy and updates to mutual aid contracts – still more than a year away – which will need to be adjusted due to a mismatch between funds coming in and services being provided.
OTHER BUSINESS
Benfield reported a check issued in August had been acid washed, the name replicated and rewritten to a new recipient.
He said the check – which was green when issued and gray when the criminal party attempted to deposit it – was caught by the system and payment on it rejected, in an example of the village’s anti-fraud safeguards working effectively.
The council approved on an emergency basis an ordinance authorizing the village administrator to enter into an agreement with the Fulton County Commissioners to provide indigent defense services in county court.
The village will be holding a public safety open house at the fire station from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 19.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Village Council will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29 at 219 Chestnut Street.