PHOTOS BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
FIREFIGHTER IN TRAINING … From left, recent graduate Jacob Steffes, who will begin Firefighter 1 training in September, is congratulated by Edgerton Fire Chief Scott Blue.
HONORARY MAYOR … Mayor Bob Day presents Spanish exchange student Marta Garcia with an honorary mayor certificate at the June 3 council meeting.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Edgerton Village Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, June 3. Mayor Bob Day called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
He started with the Pledge of Allegiance and then said a brief prayer over the proceedings. Fiscal Officer Denise Knecht followed with a roll call.
Present council members were Brian Bowsher, Sharon Blinzler, Jason Gruver, Pam Wampler and Leslie VanAusdale. Council member Chuck Wallace was absent.
Also in attendance were interim Village Administrator Doug Zimmerman, approved at the previous meeting, Police Chief Ken Jacob, Fire Chief Scott Blue, Assistant Chief Bob Adkins and several community members in the audience.
The meeting rolled directly into the first agenda item, approval of the previous meeting minutes. VanAusdale moved to approve with a second from Wampler. The minutes were approved with no opposition.
STUDENT RECOGNITIONS
Mayor Day jumped straight into communications where two recent Edgerton Local Schools students were recognized. Day introduced Chief Blue and Jacob Steffes.
Steffes, a recent graduate, was a member of the Junior Firefighter program and has decided to continue as a firefighter in training.
Blue informed the council Steffes is the second success story from the Junior Firefighter program. Steffes is expected to begin Firefighter 1 training in September. Several members thanked Steffes for his decision to continue serving the community, and the entire group applauded him.
For the second student recognition, Day invited Marta Garcia forward. Garcia has spent the year at Edgerton Local Schools as an exchange student and will soon return home to Spain.
Noting that her father serves as a mayor, Day said he felt it fitting to present her with an honorary mayor certificate. During her time here, Garcia participated in cheerleading, track and cross country, and was elected prom princess.
Garcia, although nervous, did have a speech prepared. She thanked the entire community for welcoming her and making her feel at home.
Garcia stated, “This town has become a special place for me. I have learned so much here not only at school but also from people around me.
“Thank you for giving me such a wonderful year and so many great memories.”
ADMINISTRATOR’S PROJECT REPORTS
After a brief pause for pictures, Day moved into the reports section of the agenda. Day himself had nothing to report.
Zimmerman was up next with the village administrator’s report. In the two weeks since coming aboard, Zimmerman had several items to report to the council. He went over three projects in progress.
The first project for discussion was the ongoing sidewalk project. They were able to get a right-of-way consultant designation; EDG Environmental Design Group was selected through a committee using ODOT criteria. Once the proposal is received, a contract will be drafted and presented to council for review.
The second project update was on the water treatment project. Zimmerman stated Ohio Public Works has some grants and loans involved with the project, and he wants to ensure everything is still in line and on track.
Zimmerman stated that some deadlines may need to be adjusted, but it does not seem to affect the funding. He will find out more the following day but believes the project is ready for bids.
The final item involved the lift station. Zimmerman said they are working to ensure the correct engineering partners are engaged.
A related project at the lift station will come before the council later in the meeting. The station’s pump has failed, and replacement parts are no longer available.
The pump replacement is projected at $100,000, with another $23,000 required to halt flow during the work. A three-phase power changeover is also included.
The full project is expected to be completed within six weeks, and Zimmerman stated the estimated cost is around $150,000.
Zimmerman requested that the council declare an emergency, which would allow the project to move forward without the bidding process.
Gruver asked if there was a specific incident that caused the failure. Both Zimmerman and Knecht stated it was more due to age and use.
Day also reminded the council that items flushed down the drains, such as wipes, can degrade the system much faster.
FISCAL REPORT AND MOTIONS
Fiscal Officer Knecht was next, reporting to the council that they had received the RITA retainer refund of $18,698.
The village paid $36,000 for services in 2025. Typical range for the last several years has been between $16,000 and $20,000.
The May financials were sent out via email. Knecht reported that the June 1 town hall loan payment of $93,000 was the second-to-last, with one identical payment remaining next June and two $1,200 interest payments in between.
The loan originally funded the renovation of the former high school into the town hall.
She then asked for a motion to pay the bills, adding an OWDA payment due July 1. Because the next meeting is June 17, Knecht included the $2,699.11 amount so it would not be delayed.
Bowsher made a motion to approve, and Gruver seconded. The motion passed.
The final report, from Chief Jacob, focused on potential auxiliary hire Roger Shimono. A local resident, Shimono is also district manager for loss prevention across several department stores.
Shimono is currently not interested in full-time or certification. The motion to approve was made by VanAusdale and seconded by Blinzler, with all members approving.
The second motion involved an employee status change for the fire department, which had been discussed earlier in the meeting. The motion was approved, with Bowsher moving.
The agenda continued with two additional employment status updates. Two summer interns who did not return this year were still listed in the system, and Knecht said they would be recorded as voluntary terminations. Each action required its own motion.
VanAusdale moved and Wampler seconded the first; Wampler moved and Gruver seconded the second. Both motions passed.
The next item was a motion to update the village’s RITA, Regional Income Tax Agency, delegate. Fiscal Officer Denise Knecht nominated herself as delegate and administrative assistant Amanda Knecht as alternate.
Knecht continued through the agenda with a motion to issue payment of $17,985.22 to August Mack for the Edgerton Brownfield remediation project. The motion passed, with Gruver moving to approve and Wampler seconding.
The last item before council discussion was Resolution 2026-007. As discussed earlier in the meeting, the John W. lift station requires immediate repairs.
VanAusdale verified they are legally able to move forward. Knecht assured the council it could proceed as long as an emergency was declared.
Zimmerman added that the resolution would be classified an emergency due to public health concerns if the station were to back up. VanAusdale made the motion to suspend the rules, and Wampler seconded.
The motion to approve was made by Bowsher with a second from Wampler. Both were approved unanimously.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Day then asked the council for any topics they wished to discuss. Bowsher inquired about the uptown crosswalks and whether they would be painted at some point. Day answered that it would be addressed in phase 2 of the project.
Lastly, VanAusdale wanted to discuss the new community building. First, she asked about when they would be able to take ownership and move in.
Day informed the council that two inspections would take place that week, for fire and electric. VanAusdale suggested a streamlining of the community building opening.
With several different groups working on different items, VanAusdale suggested one point person, chief of the launch, to head up the preparation and opening for the building.
VanAusdale is willing to assist and put in the footwork to help in any way. Knecht suggested having something decided in the next two weeks.
VanAusdale noted the nice lineup being planned in the building for Homecoming on July 18. Several activities are planned, such as a birthday party for America.
With no further discussion, VanAusdale moved to go into executive session at 6:02 p.m. Gruver seconded, and the motion passed, moving the meeting into executive session.
Upon return, three actions were taken. The council approved an hourly wage increase for Casey Everetts, administrative assistant intern I, to $14.02 per hour as of June 1, 2026; Everetts achieved her notary public certification.
The council approved the appointment of Ian Rhodes to the position of full-time patrol officer at $24.49 per hour, with a start date to be determined.
The council also approved placing Ashley Plotts, full-time patrol officer, on paid administrative leave effective June 3, 2026, through June 17, 2026.
The next council meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 17, at 5:30 p.m. As a note, village offices will be closed on Friday, June 19.
