(PHOTO BY BREANA RELIFORD / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
SCOUTS … Troop Leader Sandy Wood (left) accompanies Scouts Amelia (middle) and Karlee (right) at the Edgerton Village Council meeting.
By: Breana Reliford
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Edgerton Village Council held their meeting on Wednesday evening, January 15th, 2025, at 5:30 p.m..
Council Members in attendance included Jason Gruver, Lance Bowsher, Sharon Blinzler, Pam Wampler, and Leslie VanAusdale, with member Chuck Wallace absent from tonight’s meeting.
Mayor Bob Day, Village Administrator Dawn Fitzcharles, Fiscal Officer Denise Knecht, and Administrative Assistant Amanda Knecht accompanied them.
After roll call, the Pledge and a prayer was led by Mayor Day. The minutes were approved from the January 2nd meeting as well. Sandy Wood accompanied the Girl Scouts BSA to observe the meeting as well.
Fitzcharles and Denise Knecht provided some updates regarding the financial and administrative reports.
Fitzcharles shared in her report that the equipment vehicles that were replaced last year will be going up for online auction in the future. The village is also in the process of securing utility management training that will happen at the end of April.
Next, a motion was brought to the floor to approve payment for the Edgerton Metals Project.
The plans for this property are to clean up the area and make the necessary accommodations so that new sports facilities and courts can be added in the empty space. A motion to approve was made by Wampler and seconded by Gruver.
The Edgerton Trash, Recycling, and Yard Waste Contract Bid was also discussed. The only proposed change is to substitute the dumpster at the back of the town hall for a larger one as well as an additional dumpster at Miller Park. They are also proposing a senior discount be approved.
Some citizens requested a second large-item trash day for the fall, in addition to the current one that takes place in April due to how early in the year April is.
However, Fitzcharles replied that due to declining numbers of items each year, it may not be necessary, although they can request an estimate to add another trash day.
Mayor Day mentioned that a current solution is for citizens to take advantage of the fourth Friday of every month, where citizens can call Republic Services and arrange a large item to be picked up at their curb.
A motion to approve the retention of John Bentine Attorney at Law was brought to the table to represent the village electric department.
Council member Bowsher supported and moved the motion, claiming that Bentine was right for the job. Gruver seconded the motion.
Fitzcharles gave council members and community members in attendance further updates regarding the Edgerton Community Center construction project.
Originally proposed back in 2017, the project is making significant progress. The village has received various blueprints of what the building is expected to look like after completion, but the village is still in the process of deciding colors, styles, etc. for the interior and exterior of the building.
The interior will include many amenities, such as a fireplace, round-table seating, 25-foot ceilings, air conditioning, a warming-style kitchen, energy-efficient lighting, a smaller meeting room, bathrooms, garage door openings, and more.
The meeting room is a great opportunity for smaller birthday parties, job training, business meetings, and more to take place for a more affordable rate without renting out the entire building. It will also have access to the bathrooms.
The warming-style kitchen will also feature a concession-stand style window, so that it may be used for events such as cross country meets.
Fitzcharles remarked that the “options are endless” for this building once completed. She also commented that she is already receiving calls from citizens asking about the availability of the building for rent and when it will be completed.
Permission to bid construction for the project was approved by all members.
The purchase of a 2025 RAM 2500 Crew Truck was also approved. This allows the village to waive the competitive bidding process to purchase the truck through Montrose Ford (located near Akron, Ohio) using Sourcewell.
The village has purchased through this same entity two other times and was approved in the 2025 Capital Budget.
As part of the Water Plant Treatment Project, a resolution was authorized for the village administrator to accept the bid of and enter into an agreement with Kleinfelder Water Technologies for the filter media replacement project.
Kleinfelder offered the lowest bid for the project, and several council members agreed that it was much needed.
Adjournment was at 6:14 p.m. The Finance Committee will hold a meeting on Tuesday, January 21st, at 5:45 p.m. The next council meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 5th, at 5:30 p.m.