By: James Pruitt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
A group dedicated to promoting U.S. 6 stopped by the Edgerton Village Council and gained its support.
Gary Hunter, executive director for the Ohio division of the U.S. Route 6 Tourist Association, stopped by to talk about the group and to donate a sign signifying the highway as a historic route. Route 6 stretches 3,652 miles from California to Massachusetts.
There are 45 towns in Ohio that are located along the 248 miles of highway which traverses Ohio from Conneaut in the extreme northeast corner of the state, along Lake Erie and down through Williams County. The organization has a page for each community detailing attractions for tourists.
Hunter was recently named to his post for Ohio. He was a 28-year trustee for Rome, Ohio. He got the job after making inquiries about a woman who ran the entire route of U.S. 6 last year, but without any local news coverage.
The goal is to add information for communities to the north and south of the highway to get tourists to stop and eat, stay in local motels and shop and Hunter asked the council for its assistance in that effort. He said he willing to speak to service clubs, Chambers of Commerce, church groups and libraries to talk about the history of the route.
The village received a large sign and will order two smaller signs. The large sign will go on the western limit on U.S. 6.
In other actions, the council
Approved an ordinance allowing staff to make blanket purchase orders up to $50,000 for routine items. The fiscal officer will develop policies and procedures governing blanket and super blanket procedures.
Interim Village Administrator Dawn Fitzcharles reports the E-Waste collection day was a success. Forty households took advantage of the event. The village will hold another one closer to the town cleanup day.
The village will spend nearly $49,000 to fix the broken heating system on the west side of the administration building.
An inspection by the state EPA found two violations. One is the need to separate incompatible chemicals and the other is the need for several residences and businesses to install backflow devices to prevent water contamination.
The village will be informing residents and business owners on the process to address the second violation.
“The risk is slight, but why mess with the best aquifer in the nation,” Mayor Lance Bowsher said.
James Pruitt may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com