Several people were on hand for the March 27 meeting of The West Unity Village Council and to help recognize the commitment of Dan Fedderke. Fedderke, who has been with the West Unity Police Department for 30 years, started as a part time officer but now serves as the Assistant Police Chief. Police Chief J.R. Jones, Mayor Peggy Bernath, and council all extended their gratitude for the commitment that Fedderke has given to the Village and the residents of West Unity.
New Fiscal Officer Kim Grime was also officially welcomed by the Village the same evening. Grime replaces former Fiscal Officer Becky Thatcher, who was dismissed in a Special Meeting held by council on Monday, March 24. Grime previously held the position of Deputy Clerk of the Village for nine years. The Village is currently working to fill her vacated position and hopes to do so soon. Grime thanked everyone for their vote of confidence as she takes on her new role.
Council also heard from Village Administrator Ric Beals. In his report, Beals noted that he is continuing to work on obtaining a 12% discount on the streetlight electricity as well as that he has been notified that the project involving the paving of the parking lot behind the Village Office qualifies for SWIF grant from the EPA. He is currently working on submitting the paperwork for the grant. Beals also reported that Kamco’s construction project involving a new addition on Linden Street will begin as soon as weather permits.In legislative matters, Ordinances 2014-02 and 2014-03 both passed under emergency language. Ordinance 2014-02 allows for the Village to bill an owner of a manufactured home park, mobile home park, or multi-family apartment complex for water usage that is beyond that shown by the individual renters’ meters. It was noted that individual residence meters at times totaled less than the master meters provided for the property as a whole due to leaks within the property’s water system. The Ordinance will allow the Village to avoid any further losses resulting from the discrepancies. Ordinance 2014-3 authorizes the sale of the 1983 Chevrolet C30 V8 Truck, which has been deemed unneeded personal property.
Passing on first reading was Resolution 03-2014-02, which is a show of support the Mill-Creek West Unity May 2014 tax levy to fund a School Resource Officer. Village Solicitor Ryan Thompson commented that it is important for the public to understand how important the School Resource Officer is to the school system as it provides a uniformed police officer at the school at all times. Mayor Peg Bernath also commented on the good that current SRO Michael Polley brings to the community and West Unity’s youth by building relationships with the students during both the school year and the summer when Polley spends his time with the Police Department being active in the parks.
During her report, Mayor Peggy Bernath provided Council with the news that she had learned from Rails to Trails that two areas of the Rails to Trails path will soon be seeing improvements. One of these areas, Bernath was happy to report, is the section that lies between Wabash Park and the school.
The next meeting of the West Unity Village Council will be held in council chambers on April 10 at 7:30 pm.