PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
NEW DELTA COUNCILMAN … Delta Mayor Allen Naiber (right) swears in new Delta Village Council member Sean Griewahn (left) during the council’s regular meeting Monday evening. Griewahn was appointed to complete the term of Lynn Frank, who resigned in August. The term ends in December 2027.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Delta Mayor Allen Naiber appointed long-time firefighter and paramedic Sean Griewahn to the vacant Delta Village Council seat during Monday’s council meeting.
Griewahn will complete the term of Lynn Frank, who resigned from the council in August.
He is currently employed at the Swanton Fire and Rescue Division and has also worked for the Delta Community Fire Department in a career spanning 31 years.
He holds four bachelor’s degrees, including one in nursing, is a registered nurse, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree. He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Swanton American Legion.
“I want to be a voice in the community,” Griewahn said. “I have a learning curve yet, have to figure things out, but I want to help, and this seemed like a way to give back to the community even more than I already do.”
Council members Robert Shirer and Daphne Demaline have also announced they will not run for reelection this year.
Assistant Finance Director Marlena Allwood said there are only two names on the November ballot – Kyle Comers and Kyle Riley – set to take Shirer’s and Demaline’s seats by default.
Between those two seats, Griewahn, and the appointment of Councilwoman Rachel Adams to complete the term of resigned councilwoman Ashley Todd in July of 2024, the village will have seen more than half the council turn over, along with the hiring of a new village administrator, police chief, and finance director in the span of 16 months.
Police Chief Samuel Chappell was hired after the nine-month tenure of former Chief Robert Austin, who resigned amid an investigation into alleged fraud related to professional health care benefits. Austin was later indicted on charges of theft in office and insurance fraud.
The village is also on its third mayor in four years, with Naiber elected in November 2023, succeeding Frank Wilton, who began serving in January 2021, and Bob Gilbert, who began serving in January 2020.
POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES
Police Chief Samuel Chappell provided a wide range of updates to the council. Officers Kyle Nofziger and Joe Bandeen were given meritorious conduct awards following a June 19 incident. On that day, the officers were dispatched to a reckless driver in Delta.
Upon locating the individual, the officers determined the vehicle was stolen and initiated a traffic stop. The driver would not stop, however, and fled and eventually crashed the vehicle.
Once officers searched the vehicle, they discovered a spent shell casing, which was determined to be a match with shell casings found at other crime scenes, resulting in additional felony charges. Chappell reported that the individual just pleaded guilty to his charges.
Chappell said he met with representatives from the Mannik and Smith Group to do a study on adding a second pedestrian crossing on US 20A, which will cost $900.
He also inquired about the possibility of a speed study on the same road in furtherance of the village’s attempts to add an interim speed zone where it currently changes from 50 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour on the west side of town.
He said he believed there should be a buffer zone at 35 miles per hour, but pointed out that having a speed study done would not guarantee that outcome, as the final determination is up to the Ohio Department of Transportation, which is focused largely on numbers, influenced by the number of residential driveways linked to the road.
As there are none on the north side due to Bad Creek, and many on the south side don’t actually link to the highway but to West Main Street, that is a hurdle that he, Village Administrator Chris Frazer, and Law Director Kevin Heban said would be hard to clear.
The other challenge is the cost of the speed study, at roughly $7,300. Despite those challenges, Councilwoman Rachel Adams said she thought the speed study was worth doing and the speed limit changes were worth pursuing, even if the chance for success is small.
Chappell said he spoke with representatives from North Star BlueScope Steel and BlueScope Recycling regarding their street sweeping trucks to try to standardize their sweeping schedules in a way that better keeps the roads in that area clear of debris.
The department recently participated in a commercial vehicle enforcement day alongside the Ohio State Police, during which two tickets were issued – one for an overweight vehicle and one for a vehicle that was dropping debris.
The department has received a $16,500 grant, which, along with a $5,400 expenditure by the department, will fund the purchase of four new radios.
Chappell said the department has also begun the application process for a school safety grant to pay for new radios for the schools, but that it is paused after the first stage due to the federal government shutdown.
The department has applied for a grant to cover the cost of a fingerprint machine, which, in addition to officer use, would be available for use at a cost to schools and local sports leagues.
The department received a $350 healthy food grant to provide healthy snack options for officers on duty.
The department participated in two successful deployments with the Fulton County Special Response Team, including one on Sunday for the execution of a search warrant.
Chappell reported the department’s Tasers are at least 10 years old and “held together with duct tape and bubble gum,” and he asked the council for permission to pursue the purchase of new units.
He said four late-model units would cost $5,780 but would cease to be supported with maintenance by the manufacturer soon, while four of the newest available models would be approximately $15,000.
Chappell reported Sgt. Chris Blosser is set to retire on December 3, and he plans to hire a replacement officer and promote internally to fill Blosser’s position.
BULK TRASH PICKUP LEVY
Frazer recommended that a public forum with council members present be held in order to better explain the refuse levy voters will be considering on the November ballot.
Part of that voter confusion is due to the wording of the item on the ballot, which is somewhat ambiguous thanks to state requirements on the wording. The levy would not go toward any regular trash service in the village, only toward the bulk pickup events.
Council members agreed to hold a public forum on the subject during the next council meeting on October 20, and information on the levy will also be released through social media posts and on the village website.
Councilman Robert Shirer also pointed out that there is a grant opportunity covering waste collection with an application deadline of December 5. He did not go into detail as to the possible amount of the grant or its requirements.
OTHER BUSINESS
After a brief executive session, council members voted to approve the hiring of Joanne Clapp as finance director, with Frazer now set to negotiate her compensation package.
Council members approved on an emergency basis the finalization of the annexation of a 1.53-acre property belonging to Ryan Woodring from York Township into the village.
Council members approved on an emergency basis the sale of surplus property from the police department, consisting of old, unused equipment sorted out of department storage by Chief Chappell.
Council members approved the purchase and installation of several new security cameras to cover the village’s water treatment facility, as well as part of the reservoir, at a cost of roughly $11,000.
Chief Chappell was involved in the review of the facility’s existing camera system and supported the measure, calling the facility a “critical system.”
Naiber reported that York Township is ready to sign the contract for the purchase of the Delta Community Fire Hall property as soon as the leaks in the roof are repaired. Frazer reported that work is ongoing and should be complete in several days.
Council members approved the repair and re installation of a reservoir supply pump for $23,727.
Frazer announced village offices will be closed from October 22-24, and that any utility bills due during that time can be dropped in the night box without users being charged any late fees due to delays in processing because of the closure.
He said residents can alternatively pay their utility bills on the village website.
Councilman Chad Johnson reported that the new trash cans, along with their posts and mounting hooks, to be installed in the park, as well as fencing between the new pickleball courts will require the council to approve the encumbrance of the funds to purchase them.
Council members already approved the expenditures at a previous meeting.
The next regular meeting of the Delta Village Council will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, at 401 Main Street in Delta.