WASTEWATER PLANT … A tour at the Wastewater Plant was held prior to the Archbold Council meeting to educate about the process and see all the new improvements that just went into the plant including a UV light system for wastewater disinfection. Pictured is council member Brad Short, Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor Scott Schultz, Council President Karla Ball and Mayor Brad Grime.(PHOTO BY LINDSAY PHILLIPS, STAFF)
By: Lindsay Phillips
Archbold Village Council began their meeting differently than most on September 19, 2022, with an early start at the Wastewater Treatment Plant located off Short-Buehrer Road for a tour of the updated facility.
The tour began at 4:30 led by employees from the wastewater treatment plant took place with three groups.
As council and all in attendance arrived back to the chambers to continue for the business portion of the meeting, minutes from the previous meeting on September 6 were approved along with bills & payroll and August financials.
Resolution 2022-55, Awarding Sanitary Sewer Lining Northwest Improvements Contract 2-2022 to Visu-Sewer of Ohio LLC was approved and Declared an Emergency.
Money for this will come from the COVID funds. This project will cost 1,113,20.00 and will take one year complete.
A first reading of Ordinance 2022-56, an ordinance to repeal Ordinance 2020-12 prohibiting a right turn on red traffic control for vehicles on Stryker Street turning south onto Defiance Street, remove restrictions, was had. After monitoring traffic and hearing from the public, the right turn on red sign will finally be coming down.
Mayor Brad Grime opened discussion on Ordinance 2022-57, an ordinance to amend Chapter 72 Section 72.020 golf carts of the codified ordinances of the Village of Archbold, Ohio.
Two main concerns for council are outside the town limits, past Short-Buehrer Road or Lutz Road where the speed limit picks up, and the bridge over Brush Creek being too small.
Council member Vaughn Bentz shared regarding the bridge, “Looking at it, I can see someone going off the curb, it’s not wide enough. I think if we’re ever going to access south of Short-Buehrer, we look to the west side of the road and put in a proper path.”
Council member, Kevin Eicher, “I talked to Chief Davis a couple weeks ago, because when we left this meeting here the next day, I drove out there and just go over the bridge slowly and imagine a golf cart on the east side of the bridge, and there’s not a lot of room there.
“I asked Chief Davis since you weren’t at the meeting, give me your opinion and the first thing Chief Davis said was ‘no’.” Eicher also addresses concern over the dips in the sidewalk in front of Sunoco.
Council will continue seeking a solution to benefit not only village members, but residents of Fairlawn as well. More discussion regarding the topic will be had at the next meeting.
Prior to the meeting, the agenda was revised and included Resolution 2022-58, authorizing the village administrator to execute a contract with Todd, Michael and Donna Burkholder for the purchase of real estate, appropriating funds for said purchase and declaring it an emergency.
Housing Officer Aaron Alt shared, “I know that housing has been the focus, and an absolute need, especially when we think of our economic development efforts and trying to attract people to live and work in Archbold, so going through possible options, I’m extremely thankful for the Burkholder family, and for giving me the opportunity to present to you this resolution.”
Alt went on to state, “This will bring eight to ten buildable lots, to kind of jumpstart things we know that there are other people who still have interest in doing development privately, but with the price they’ve agreed to is very reasonable and realistic to make something happen.”
There are three parcels along Burke Street that total five point three acres, with a purchase price of $12,500 per acre. Administrator Donna Dettling shared, “We’re hoping to close on that in the next few weeks.” Council approved the resolution, and thanked Alt for his work on the process and a job well done.
Archbold Village Trick-or-Treat is set to take place on Halloween, October 31 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Eicher thanked everyone from the Street Committee meeting on September 6 for a meeting with good dialogue and full of individual ideas.
Mayor Grime shared the artist for the downtown mural, Dave Rickerd, will be in Archbold to fix the paint on October 1, Grime stated, “It would’ve been nice to have it off the day of or after, but I don’t want to ruin the material.”
During council comments, member Bentz shared, “Just another gripe about our groundwork at our road project.” Bentz went on to state, “Just not happy, nobody’s happy with it.”
With growing season almost over, Dettling plans on following up with the company in charge regarding the groundwork from the reconstruction of the streets in Woodland Oaks.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 6:19 p.m.
Lindsay can be reached at lindsay@thevillagereporter.com