PARKS REPORT … Sandy Gordon, Montpelier Parks and Recreation Director, was present at the February 28, 2022 Montpelier Village Council along with Nick Ramos to give their annual report. (PHOTOS BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
Not for the first time has Montpelier won the title of World’s best Municipal Water, but it was exciting nonetheless.
With nearly 100 entrants from five continents this year, the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting awarded Montpelier, Ohio with the Gold Medal for Best Municipal Water, for the fifth time since 2003.
For those interested in reading all about it, a Press Release with all the details including other categories and winners is also here for perusal.
Mayor Steve Yagelski along with council members and village staff spoke of their pride at the February 28, 2022 Council meeting.
Village Manager Jason Rockey gave kudos to the two men in charge of the municipal water, Thane Apt and Dan Ankney, and to all of the crew who keep the water lines intact and clean as they go to the community residents’ faucets.
Business taken care of at the meeting included:
-Approval of the Agenda as amended (adding acquisition of property to the Executive Session)
-Approval of the Minutes from February 14, 2022
-Resolution 1338 Amended Appropriations (suspended and passed)
-Resolution 1339 Purchase MARCS (Multi Agency Radio Communication System) radios for the Fire Department (suspended and passed) (Chief Fritsch said that once Montpelier, Brady Township and Springfield Township get these, the whole county will be on the MARC system.)
Present at the meeting to present their annual reports were Sandy Gordon and Nick Ramos for the Parks and Recreation.
Ramos read an extensive list of items that have been accomplished throughout the Montpelier parks over the past year, including specific testing and certifications for himself.
A few of the items mentioned were: construction of new Major League dugouts, refurbishing of Major and Minor league baseball diamonds, repair of pool pump and a number of other pool repairs and upgrades.
Gordon took it from there and informed council concerning the numbers involved in different programs given during the year.
She gave special tanks to Rich Stoy and the Water Distribution Department for all their work installing the concrete block and excavating the dirt for the basketball court at Storrer Park and for unloading site amenities, making concrete benches, planting trees and moving dirt at Founders Park.
She commented on how they helped “other departments as needed and gratefully received assistance from them as needed.”
She stated that one of the greatest successes of the year was the Soccer program and she is looking forward to that again this year.
She is hoping to hire many of the same Concession/Recreation employees that worked with them over the summer as they were really good and have been trained. She is looking forward to this summer and hopes that the programs will pick up in numbers.
She also reported that the items have been purchased and stored to be placed at Founders Park, including bollard, drinking fountain, trash receptacles, message center, bike racks and a bike fixit station.
In other business, Council PSC committee president Melissa Ewers reported that the committee met previous to sharing at the Chamber Banquet, and that she felt that went well.
Council member Kevin Motter stated that “anyone who wants to come to the community and build affordable housing is welcome.” Rockey added that they have a 15-year tax abatement for residential construction.
Mayor Yagelski stressed how everyone should go out and see the water plant and get an understanding of how well the small group keeps that water so delicious that it wins the top award for Municipal Water.
He also commented on how important it is to maintain the aquifer, and “with what is going on in the community north of here, that aquifer is here for the future of all of us and we have to preserve it. And that’s all I am going to say about that,” he said.
In his report, Rockey informed council that an application for demolition and site renovation was submitted by the Landbank for 215, 217 and 419 W. Main St. for $499,000.
So far 215 has been donated to them, owner of 419 is cooperative and the agreement was executed with the owners of Kommon Kravings.
Last week Matt Davis who is with the Regional Growth Partnership, contacted about data for a company lead that he is working on for a possible new business in the area.
It is for 50 high paying jobs and they are looking at a possible place inside the village. Rockey said they did not give him much information but he wanted council to know that it is being checked into by investors.
Following the discussion of a few other items about which council members asked, with no further business, council went into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and acquisition of property. There was no action taken.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com
