LEADING DARE PROGRAM … Dana Phipps, hired part-time by the Edgerton Police Department, will head up the DARE Program in Edgerton Local Schools beginning in January. (PHOTO BY DANIEL COOLEY, STAFF)
By: Daniel Cooley
The Edgerton Village Council meeting of November 1 began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by roll call. All six council members, Pam Wampler, Leslie VanAusdale, Jason Gruver, Chuck Wallace, Tom Karnes and Sharon Blinzler, were in attendance.
First council approved of the previous meeting minutes from the October 18 meeting.
With money needed for benches and seating at both Gearhart and Miller parks, Amy Miller from the Bryan Area Foundation gave the village a good start by presenting administrator Dawn Fitzcharles with a $2,500 grant. Miller also presented the Edgerton Fire Department with a $2,500 grant.
Next, Fire Chief Scott Blue announced that with the assistant fire chief is stepping down and asked council to promote Bob Adkins to assistant fire chief. Council approved the request.
In the mayor’s report, Mayor Bob Day thanked everyone who was involved with Trunk or Treat and helping it be a big success. Day reported that there will be a park board meeting on November 9 at 4:30.
Also, a tree commission meeting is tentatively scheduled for November 16, at 4:30 p.m.
In the police report, chief Gary Plotts announced that Edgerton Schools will be working with the police department to restart the DARE Program in January 2023. The drug-based program will take place in grades 5-12 and will be the only one in Williams County.
Dana Phipps will run the DARE Program. In order to do that, he had to be hired part-time by the Edgerton Police Department. Thus, council approved of the police department hiring Phipps. Phipps then took the police department oath of office.
In addition, Plotts reported that K-9 Jax is now certified in the state of Ohio. Jax has an additional 16 hours of training to go through.
In the administrator report, Fitzcharles stated that the 69kv relay project has a tentative completion date of February 29, 2023.
In other areas, Fitzcharles reported that the water department is not in debt, but there is still the water tower project to be worked on. Also, the village has started on the water treatment upgrade.
She also informed council the sewer fund started in the red but is now in the positive at $687,970.
The general fund was budgeted at a deficit this year, but in the long run, Fitzcharles said that the general fund is in a good position.
The village has been able to fund a lot of capital projects and has submitted $9.5 million in grants.
In the fiscal report, Denise Knecht said that next week, training with United Systems will be conducted, in order to upgrade the system.
Next council approved of the paying of the bills from the month of October.
Council then approved of the resignation of Ashlynn Morey, who has taken a position in Ottawa Hills.
That was followed by council approving to advertise for applications for the police department. Also, council approved to advertise for applications for the fire department.
Next council approved Ordinance 1111. This was a supplement to annual appropriations so that benches can be ordered.
Also this allows for the electrical substation relay, for materials that need to be covered.
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com