PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
GOING OUT WITH A BANG … Delta Police Chief and Interim Village Administrator Samuel Chappell sits in a broken chair with pieces strewn across the floor after part of the frame exploded off it with a bang so loud one attendee joked “he shot the chair!” during the recent Delta Village Council meeting. The arms of the chair had already been broken off for some time.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
An unsafe woodchipper requiring safety protocols to be bypassed in order to function will now be replaced in the short term by a rental unit.
The unit has many dangerous safety issues according to information presented at the most recent meeting of the Delta Village Council, including that it doesn’t feed properly, with village employees having to push brush into it by reaching past safety guards in order to grind the material.
“They’re getting it to work, but it’s not safe to use,” Public Utilities Superintendent Jammie Flores said, speaking on behalf of the Street Department.
Flores said the unit is also designed differently than the vast majority of chippers, with material needing to be fed upward rather than down into the grinder.
With all the issues taken into consideration, she said its operation likely violates U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.
The rental unit comes at a cost of either $175 per day, $350 per month, or $1,225 per year, but is smaller and will require bigger trees to be hauled out rather than chipped. A new chipper from Michigan-based Morbark was quoted at just under $39,000.
Finance Director Joanne Clapp reported there is no money budgeted for such equipment in 2026.
At the request of council members, staff will be looking into the cost of a used chipper and reach out to other municipalities about the possibility of sharing a unit.
Councilman Chad Johnson recommended the department rent a unit for the remainder of the year and that the village include funding for a replacement chipper in the 2027 budget.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members approved on final reading an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement for the Regional Income Tax Agency — which is a governmental agency and not a private business — to administer the village’s income tax program. Comers cast the sole dissenting vote.
Council members approved on final reading an ordinance reorganizing and increasing sewer fees. Included among the rate changes are inside minimum fees peaking at $31.88 for residential users, $71.73 for commercial users, and $191.27 for industrial users, and outside fees peaking at $35.86 for residential users, $131.71 for commercial users, and $351.24 for industrial users. Comers cast the sole dissenting vote.
Council members approved on final reading an ordinance authorizing the sale as surplus of unneeded village property.
Council members approved on first reading a resolution authorizing the village administrator to provide written approval to the Fulton County Regional Planning Commission for land split requests.
Following council discussion, additional information will be brought to the next meeting to consider when voting on its second reading replacing the village administrator with the chair of the village’s Board of Zoning Appeals or Planning Commission as the designated signer.
Council members approved payment of a bill from 2024 maintenance of an outdoor warning siren.
Council members approved road closures for the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run to be held on May 27 and a Memorial Day parade to be held on May 25.
Law Director Kevin Heban reported the Planning Commission will consider a request for the 13 lots to be platted at its next meeting.
Police Chief and Interim Village Administrator Samuel Chappell reported the police department has been educating children regarding the difference between e-bikes and all-purpose vehicles.
He noted e-bikes with pedals could be driven anywhere, those with no pedals could only be driven on the street, while dirt bikes couldn’t be driven on roads at all unless they satisfied all the proper requirements like having turn signals and a license plate as well as a BMV inspection.
Chappell reported the department received a grant for training on security assessments for houses of worship.
Chappell reported a countywide commercial motor vehicle enforcement effort took place in the prior week which resulted in several individuals being cited for having overweight vehicles.
Chappell reported an individual had been arrested on a burglary charge after being implicated with DNA evidence.
Chappell reported four individuals have been hired to mow the cemetery over the summer.
Chappell reported the new Love’s Travel Stop opened on May 1, that a temporary traffic signal was up in that location with a permanent signal to be installed soon, and that there would be a turn lane closure the coming Friday and Saturday.
Chappell reported samples had been taken at the park for lead testing related to Bunting Bearings, but that the results were not in yet.
Chappell reported the village received a $221,400 crosswalk grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation for a crosswalk with a pedestrian hybrid beacon like the one in front of the library.
It will be located on Main Street at or to the west of Monroe Street. He said the design process will happen this year with construction to take place in 2028.
The next regular meeting of the Delta Village Council will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18 at 401 Main St. in Delta, to be preceded by a meeting of the finance committee at 4:30 p.m.