HARDWORKING HORSESHOE … Gathered for the September 8, 2022 Village Council meeting, going around from the left were Wastewater Manager Randy Mahlman, West Unity Little League President Todd Gerig, Chief J.R. Jones, Village Administrator Josh Fritsch, Solicitor Katie Rakes, Village Clerk Sarah Higdon, Mayor Don Leu, and Council members – President Kevin Gray, Steve Marvin, Terri Lebowsky, Dave Short and Nathan Massie. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
During the September 8, 2022 West Unity Village Council meeting, Village Administrator Josh Fritsch presented a proposal to Council to create a new position of leadership for the village crew.
Fritsch explained to council that there have been no responses from anyone qualified for the advertisement to fill the position for wastewater management. He went on to say, “A while ago we had talked about making Randy (Mahlman) in charge of the streets, park, water and wastewater. That is 100% ok with me.”
“I would call this position a Utility Supervisor and have attached a job description for you in your packets.”
Presently Mahlman is already working for the village in leadership, but would just be adding more to his job description and gaining a new title.
Following a short discussion, in which council members shared their concern that it might be more than Mahlman would want to handle and assurances from Mahlman that he would be fine, council agreed with Mayor Don Leu’s suggestion to write a Resolution for the October meeting to form this position.
There was mention of a possible raise in pay for Mahlman as he will be taking on more responsibilities.
In regular business, council voted to approve:
-Minutes of August 11, 2022 meeting
-Ordinance 2022-4 amending ordinance 1112.24 (d) and € regarding storm sewer pipe materials and driveway culverts in open ditches.
-Resolution 09-2022-21 Establishing the rates within the specified ranges of pay of certain officers and employees of the Village of West Unity, Ohio for the calendar year 2022 and declaring it an emergency (the changes that were made were for Full time Police patrolman Jacob Spiess – an annual salary of $37,340.16 as of August 4, 2022, and Deputy Clerk, Aubrey Jennings – $17.00 an hour as of September 21, 2022)
-Resolution 09-2022-22 authorizing Village Administrator, Joshua Fritsch, to prepare and submit an application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital improvement and/or local transportation improvement program(s) and to execute contracts as required and declaring it an emergency
-Resolution 09-2022-23 continuing the Village’s current professional services contract with Solicitor Katherine J. Rakes until December 31, 2022 or until the village secures the services of a new solicitor, whichever comes first.
-Payment of bills
In the village Administrator Report, Fritsch informed council of the following: the Lincoln St. resurfacing project was advertised on August 31 and was scheduled to be advertised again on September 7th.
Bids will be opened on September 28th at 1:00 p.m.; Denny Bell is going to survey the railroad property as soon as he can; errors on the CRA form have been corrected and will be given to anyone asking for a building permit; the silver playground equipment was moved to Wabash Park, the fence will be left up until the mulch and the new equipment arrive; the crosswalk at Linden and Jackson is done except for the equipment that ODOT is providing, which should arrive in mid-September; BIG TRASH PICK UP is scheduled for September 22 & 23 on the North side of town and September 29 & 30 on the South; and A public meeting concerning Aqua Bounty will be held at North Central Schools at 6 p.m. on September 12th.
Police Chief J.R. Jones reported that for the month of August there were 17 miscellaneous calls, 26 Agency Assists, 33 Investigations, 16 traffic warnings, 7 traffic citations and 0 accidents. He also informed council that the department has been participating in Firearms Training.
Village Clerk Sarah Higdon told council that the village got a thank you note from Kamco for the use of the park for their event. She scheduled a Finance Committee meeting for October 13th at 6:45, and said they will also need one in November and December.
Mayor Leu said that the repairs on the Christmas decorations that were acquired is going well. He encourages businesses and residents to sign up at the Village Office to do a decoration at the park for Christmas. A Street Committee meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on October 4th.
Solicitor Katie Rakes informed council that she had met with Fritsch and Mahlman to discuss the changes needed to coordinate the ordinances and resolutions and she will have something ready to present to council at the next meeting.
Present at the meeting to give council an update on what is happening in West Unity Little League was President Todd Gerig.
Council members all thanked the village employees for keeping things rolling so well. Councilor Dave Short asked if there is a possibility of planting some shade trees at the park next to the tennis and pickleball courts as it is blazing hot there during the day.
Other suggestions that surfaced were the possibility of turning all tennis courts into pickleball as it does not appear that many residents are using the tennis courts for tennis; also, the possibility of putting a batting cage at the end of one of the courts. No decisions were made but Fritsch said they could most likely put new trees up soon.
Councilor Steve Marvin said that he is still concerned about Rings Cemetery and Rakes said she will check into whether or not it was annexed in the past.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned. The next council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com