PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
NEW COUNCIL MEMBER SWORN IN … Kenny Williams (left) was sworn in as the newest Stryker Village Council member by Mayor Joe Beck (right) at the Monday, April 20 regular council meeting. Williams, who is a Stryker native, replaces Stan Whitlock, who resigned earlier this year.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Stryker Village Council appointed Kenny Williams to fill the vacant council seat at its regular meeting on Monday, April 20.
Williams, who is a native of Stryker and the owner of the Barbershop Ministry in the village, was officially sworn in by Mayor Joe Beck. He succeeds Stan Whitlock, who resigned from council earlier this year.
“I want to help anyway that I can,” said Williams. “I already serve on the Parks and Rec Board and kind of help out the school anywhere where I can.
“I own and operate a Barbershop Ministry here in town and in Hicksville and I’m really just a witness to broken men. We focus on broken relationships and addiction. There are a lot of needs that the men need in the community.
“I’m just trying to build these men up to get to their families unbroken. I just feel like that God’s having me of calling for broken men.”
Council members Shawna Leupp, Sean Ingram, Nick Wlasiuk and Vicki Cameron then approved Williams to fill the vacant council seat.
After Williams was officially sworn into office, council then approved the regular meeting and judiciary committee minutes from March 23 and the monthly financial report.
WATER TOWER AND TELEMETRY UPDATE
Fiscal Officer Beth Rediger gave an update on the water tower and telemetry project. Rediger said she had received an email from the Maumee Valley Planning Organization due to the block grant the village had received totaling $130,000.
“They (Maumee Valley Planning) have to be involved in the bid award,” said Rediger. “There were some documents that had to be added for the block grant.
“It’s now at the contractor to sign, and it’s going to the Williams County Commissioners and then come back to us.
“Then hopefully we can schedule a pre-construction meeting really soon. I’ve emphasized to them like, “hey we want to get going on it.” because the telemetry needs to be replaced because it’s outdated.
“That part takes about four to six months, thus pushing the completion date back to August 2027.”
VILLAGE-WIDE SPRING CLEANUP
Rediger also reminded council of the village-wide spring cleanup scheduled for Saturday, May 2. She added that residents should have everything curbside the night before since Archbold Refuse Service begins pickup at 7 a.m. on May 2.
VILLAGE DISCUSSES ARS CONTRACT
She, along with Village Administrator Alan Riegsecker, recently met with Michelle Reiter of Archbold Refuse Service to discuss a new trash contract which doesn’t begin until October.
Currently, the village has a three-year contract with ARS but is looking at a five-year contract. Rediger said she will present it at the next council meeting.
“We won’t have to change prices for three years, but going into the fourth and fifth year, they’re (ARS) looking at a three percent increase so it will be a small increase for us,” said Rediger. “If we go with the five-year deal, the rates will be a little bit lower.”
LEGISLATION
Council passed the first reading of Ordinance 2026-2, regarding mobile homes and trailers within the village. The ordinance prohibits that no person shall move a mobile home or trailer into Stryker to be used for living accommodations.
This involves location in which no manufactured home shall be in any park of the village unless in a manufactured home park. It also allows for temporary housing provision.
A second reading on Ordinance 2026-3 was passed. The amendment is of keeping animals and fowl restricted running at large to expand the control of all animals within the village limits was passed.
The amendment is for no person being the owner or having charge of any animal, whether registered or unregistered, shall permit it to run at large upon any public place or upon an unenclosed land within the village or upon the premises of another.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Steven Mendez reported that his officers attended a SART Symposium (Sexual Assault Response Team) which covered several key topics including forensic training on strangulation cases, sexual assault investigations, child abuse cases, human trafficking awareness and staged crime scene recognition.
This training provides valuable tools and updated techniques for handling sensitive, complex investigations.
Mendez reminded the department to begin enforcing village ordinances involving weeds and grasses and junk vehicles. This will help maintain the village’s appearance and safety.
Next council meeting is Monday, May 18 at 6 p.m.