EMS APPRECIATION … Wauseon Fire Chief Kessler and Wauseon Mayor Huner stand with the proclamation she had just read earlier making the week of May 21st – May 27th EMS Week in Wauseon. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Jacob Kessler
The Wauseon City Council held their meeting on Monday, May 15th. The meeting began at 5:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.
Minutes from the council meeting that took place on May 1st were approved, following amendment due to a typo, along with the minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting that took place on May 11th.
A joint meeting between the Wauseon City Council and Clinton Township Trustees was then held. The purpose of the meeting was to reappoint Rick Frey to the Wauseon Union Cemetery for a three-year term.
Following approval of the recommendation, the joint meeting was adjourned and the regular meeting for city council resumed.
Mayor Kathy Huner then read a proclamation to make the week of May 21st – May 27th EMS Week in Wauseon.
She also went on to state that she is very proud of the EMS and Paramedic program going on in Wauseon.
Department dead reports were given next with Fire Chief Phil Kessler speaking about the number of personnel at the department, stating the department has a new hire and that there is still one slot open.
Chief Kessler then went on to speak about EMS week and gave thanks to the Clinton Township Trustees for their support.
At the end of April, the department had training where other departments were also involved. A video of some of the training was then shown to council.
Director of Public Service Keith Torbet then spoke and first talked about the pool, stating that it has been filled as of Thursday.
Work is being done to get the chemicals adjusted and the pool is already almost fully booked on Saturdays for the season.
He then thanked the fire department for helping to get the lifeguards CPR trained. North Park was then touched on with it being said it is almost fully done.
Lastly, OMNI Fiber is still doing work around the city. They are installing fiber lines that will be used to provide services to residents.
Under committee reports, safety and code spoke first and stated that they had met to discuss residents’ requests regarding legalizing golf carts on the city streets.
It was stated that they held a good meeting. More discussion is needed but everyone, during the committee meeting, was able to agree that the carts should stay clear of Shoop Avenue. No action was taken on this issue and another meeting will need to be scheduled.
The Tree Commission went next with discussion starting out with the Tree City USA Award Ceremony that was held in Wauseon.
The ceremony was held on May 9th, and it was stated the event went very well, that the speakers were great, and that the food was good as well. A lot of positive feedback was also received with many other localities attending.
The Park Board meeting was then discussed next with the topic first being the possibility of new Pickleball Courts.
The board recommended council approve the placing of six new pickleball courts at Homecoming Park. The cost of these new courts will be around $96,000.00.
It was asked if pickleball is here to stay with Mayor Huner stating that it is, and other communities are saying it is growing.
The price is for the courts without a fence, and if a fence was to be included the cost would increase to around $124,000.00.
Discussion for the Park Board continued with grass and Soil and Water Conservation at Homecoming Park, as well as a donation made by a local businessman.
$90,000.00 was donated for playground equipment at Homecoming Park, which has been ordered. Next, the monument at North Park was discussed with it being stated the finance committee will look at what is about to be done with it.
Lastly, port-a-potties will be placed at the parks around town that do not have a bathroom on site. Council approved the placing of pickleball courts as well as the placing of AED’s at Biddle Park.
Mayor Huner then thanked the Wauseon High School FFA for their help planting and weeding around town.
Council next moved to approve the bills before approving a motion to adjourn at 5:36 p.m.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com
