NEW BUILDING … Participating in the ribbon cutting at Edon’s new maintenance building are left to right, Lee Lawrence, Brook Morris, Village Administrator Chad Ordway, Austin Thiel, Mayor Duane Thiel, Police Chief Tom Szymczak, Clerk-Treasurer Heidi Bidwell, Law Director Tom Thompson, David Loughborough, Dan Ankney, and Brandon Thiel. (PHOTO BY DANIEL COOLEY, STAFF)
By: Daniel Cooley
The Village of Edon council meeting began with a ribbon cutting ceremony held inside the village’s new maintenance building.
Construction on the building, at 520 Woodville Street, began in early May and was completed in early October. The size of the maintenance building is 10,000 square feet.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the meeting was called to order followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
All six council members, Austin Thiel, Brandon Thiel, David Loughborough, Brook Morris, Lee Lawrence and Dan Ankney, were in attendance.
First council approved of the September meeting minutes.
In important upcoming meeting dates, Trick or Treat will take place in Edon on October 29, from 5-7 p.m.
Also, village offices will be closed November 24 and 25, to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.
In the police report, Police Chief Tom Szymczak reported that they will soon be receiving an upgrade of two cell phones, for $89.96 per month.
Szymczak stated that the police department did not receive any applications for part-time help.
Thus, he wants a sign to put up at the village offices regarding help until they get a response.
Szymczak also asked that the part-time positions be raised from $21 per hour, to $22 per hour. Council approved the hourly wage request.
Next, Szymczak reported that the two vehicles for police use are from 2013 and 2018. With the elder vehicle approaching 10 years, Szymczak requested permission from council to send out a letter of intent to pursue a vehicle that he is interested in for the department.
Council approved his request to send out a letter of intent to the business that would sell the village a vehicle (at $60,000).
In upcoming committee meetings, the park committee was slated to meet on Wednesday evening and the finance committee will meet on the fourth Tuesday of October, the 25th, at 5 p.m.
Also, the cemetery committee reported that cleanup at the cemetery is currently in progress.
In the village administrator report, Chad Ordway reported that he will be having a meeting regarding the design phase of the downtown’s sidewalk and streetlights.
He also said that the playground in Walz Park is finished. All the repairs have been made and the missing piece has come in and put in its proper place. Also, the salt barn materials have come in.
In new business, a $1,500 change order was approved by council. The change order is the cost of additional concrete that is needed to totally complete the maintenance building project.
Council then voted to adjourn the meeting.
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com