By: James Pruitt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
Joining other communities in Ohio, Archbold has enacted a six-month moratorium on the cultivation, processing or retail sale of medical marijuana.
The ordinance came into effect Aug. 29.
The Village Council approved an ordinance establishing the moratorium to give the council and other departments time to review local and state statues to protect the general health and well-being of village residents.
Law 131 Sub. HB 523 goes into effect Sept. 8. Many communities are setting up the six-month bans to get their own legal house in order.
The new law allows communities to prohibit medical marijuana-related businesses from locating or relocating to within 500 feet of a school, church, public library, public playground or park. Communities will also be able to limit the number of establishments for cultivation, processing or sales.
Pharmacies are exempt from the moratorium.
Council approved a new logo for the village. It is a sky-blue outline of Ohio with the words “Live ARCH BOLD”.
This is the first new logo since 1997.
According to village documents, Mayor Jeffrey Fryman established a video committee that developed community marketing videos as well as an effective branding logo.
The council approved a request to advertise for bids for treatment chemicals for the water and wastewater treatment plants for 2017 and declaring an emergency.
Approved a change order for waterline improvements on County Road 22 at a decreased cost of $2,458.50 for a final contract price of $264,981.50.
Council altered the meeting schedule and will have its next meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
Police and Fire Committee
The village’s paramedics are being switched from a salary rate to an hourly rate Nov. 27 ahead of a change in overtime laws Dec. 1. Several employees did not meet the base salary requirements and it was determined to change their status and monitor their hours.
The village will hire a fourth full-time paramedic in January when the new agreement goes into effect. The village will see its funding rise from $488,000 a year to $596,000 a year. This will allow the addition of another paramedic.
The extra person will ease scheduling and vacations and cut overtime while keeping the volunteers involved in the on-call system.
The committee agreed to move forward on bringing all fire equipment under village control.
James Pruitt may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com