SWORN IN … A new part-time police officer for the Stryker Police Department was sworn in at the Stryker Village Council meeting on January 18, 2021. Mayor Joe Beck administered the oath to Abraham Stottlemyer. (PHOTO BY VICKI CAMERON)
By: Rebecca Miller
Veteran Rick Wityk led Stryker Village Council in prayer and in the Pledge of Allegiance at the January 18, 2021 council meeting. He prayed specifically for safety for all in the military and for safety for everyone involved in the Inauguration on the 20th.
New officer, Abraham Stottlemyer from Ayersville, Ohio was introduced by Stryker Police Chief Steve Schlosser. Stottlemyer just graduated from Police Academy and was recommended by another part time officer in Stryker. Mayor Joe Beck swore him in and he received congratulations from all council members.
Council voted for Lee Armstrong to stay in as President for another year. Mayor Beck said he will get the Committee member assignments out to them soon. Also approved or accepted were the minutes from the December meeting and the finance report.
Village Clerk Beth Rediger explained some details on the finance report, including revenues versus expenses and the expenditure of the last of the COVID money.
Vicki Cameron asked about the new vehicle for the police and Rediger said they are being told it might be around March. Schlosser said that logistically it is looking like it will be donated.
In communications, Mayor Beck shared a Thank you note from the 2020 Census.
Chief Schlosser reported 50 calls for service, 9 traffic warnings, 2 citations and 2 arrests since the last meeting. He also handed out a comparison chart of 2019 and 2020. He said that 2020 was really not that different even though with the pandemic, one might think it would be.
They were down 20% in the number of calls, but everything else stayed about the same. “The overall safeness of Stryker has gone through the roof. It has become a much safer village in some ways,” he shared, speaking about the lack of horrible crimes, and he attributes that to the citizens.
“We have been fortunate.” Mayor Beck added that having the police presence around the clock is also helpful.
Village Administrator Al Riegsecker reported that right after the Christmas break, one of the town crew employees resigned. He said they were sad to see him go as he was a good worker. An ad has been put out and they would be accepting resumes until January 20th.
Poggemeyer has said they have to have an inspection done on the water tower by the school. Poggemeyer has hired an inspector and then the village can see what kind of grants they can get to get that taken care of. Poggemeyer said it could be three years before that project is completed.
Riegsecker told council that he was contacted by a company about having a solar field and will be meeting with them. He recommended leaving the majority of the land owned by the village for housing and infrastructure and said for a solar field they have to have a minimum of ten acres.
Armstrong said that he wants to sit in on the meeting with the solar field representative. He also thanked everyone for re-electing him and letting him serve the village as Council President.
He offered to help with the interviews for the new job but Rediger explained that there are certain people that should not do that, so it keeps it all “legit and with no ability for anyone to be able to say it was biased.”
In her report, Rediger informed council that Emily Clemens is updating the website and she needs pictures and bios from council members and village employees. She also told them she has started to organize the records and will need a Records Commission meeting soon to do more destruction of old records.
Online Payments can be done at the Stryker Village website now. Clemens can help anyone set it up if they need help. Residents can also get an automatic reminder via email.
Cameron asked about the large item trash pick up and Rediger said that the truck for that usually comes a little later than the regular trash truck. People should leave their large items out on the 3rd Friday and they will get picked up.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
