PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
REC SOCCER PROPOSAL … Local resident Austin Finnegan (above) presented a proposal to have a youth recreational soccer program in West Unity at the council meeting on Thursday, May 14.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
West Unity Village Council met in a regular session on Thursday, May 14, with council members Kevin Gray, Shawn Blaisdell, Terri Lebowsky, Randy Mahlman, Stephen Marvin, and Scott Dunson present.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, council approved the payment of bills and the minutes of the regular council meeting on April 9, 2026, and the special council meeting on April 23, 2026.
Council then went into executive session at 7:46 p.m. to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual, unless the employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing by division (G) of section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.
The council returned from the executive session at 8:28 p.m. and passed Resolution 5-2026-10 establishing the rates within the specified ranges of pay of certain officers and employees of the village for the 2026 calendar year in accordance with the current payroll ordinance and declaring it an emergency.
The approved salary and pay rates are as follows:
—Chief of Police, J.R. Jones: annual salary of $78,873.60.
—Full-time Police Department Lieutenant Phil Fry: $30.99 per hour.
—Full-time Police Department Sergeant Jacob Spiess: $27.00 per hour.
—Full-time Police Department Patrolman Braydon Gorsuch: $25.11 per hour.
—Full-time Police Department Patrolman Robert Smith Jr.: $25.11 per hour.
—Village Maintenance Employees: Jason Altman ($25.05 per hour), Ryan Carpenter ($22.00 per hour), Tim Allion ($23.05 per hour), and Blake Jones ($21.00 per hour).
—Village Fiscal Officer Sarah Higdon: annual salary of $59,092.80.
Village Administrator Joshua Fritsch: annual salary of $76,211.20.
—Deputy Clerk: Aubrey Jennings: $23.05 per hour.
—Part-Time Mowing: Tim Belding: $15.00 per hour.
—Part-Time Summer Recreation Director: Kellie Martin: $15.00 per hour.
Council heard a presentation from Austin Finnegan and Andrew Grant as they put a proposal together for a West Unity Recreational Soccer program.
Finnegan told council the reason he brought the proposal up is because there are a lot of kids from the West Unity area that are going to Montpelier, Bryan and Archbold for soccer, which is a fall sport.
“I think we could do this here in town because there is enough interest in the school,” said Finnegan.
“I have talked with multiple people at school, and they’re interested in volunteering and having their kids in the program.”
Mayor Don Leu told Finnegan there is plenty of room at the park to have a youth soccer program in the village.
Finnegan pointed out there could be additional interest, especially with a professional soccer team coming to Detroit and two lower division professional soccer teams coming to Toledo and Fort Wayne.
Grant said the soccer program will be starting in the fall of 2027. He is also hoping to put together a free soccer camp for anyone interested in this coming fall in the village.
Council passed a second reading of Resolution 4-2026-8 ensuring compliance with the Land and Water Conservation Fund under Project No. 39-00264 and 39-00558 and establishing a policy for open space utilization at West Unity Memorial Park.
The village is responsible for ensuring the 7.06 acres of land located at West Unity Memorial Park remain dedicated to public outdoor and recreational use in perpetuity.
Council approved a Then and Now Purchase Order to be issued to the Treasurer of Ohio EPA for a permit to install at a cost of $3,186.75 for the South Liberty Street pump station project.
Village Administrator Joshua Fritsch reported the road project on North High Street has already started and will start paving after Toledo Edison moves the pole that is in the middle of the new extension of the street.
Fritsch told council that Williams County Engineer Todd Roth wants to install a stone parking lot along with Rails to Trails west of U.S. Route 127.
He said that Roth understands that if Pine Street were ever extended, they would have to forfeit the parking lot.
He will be meeting with Jason Hancock to go over how much concrete he can do at the Kissell Building for $50,000.
He is hoping that concrete work gets started in the beginning of September.
Fritsch also recently attended the Residential Public Infrastructure Grant hearing, and the village was the only one who applied in Williams County.
“It’s very competitive, so I don’t know if we’ll get it, but it will be for the pump station,” he said.
Leu suggested that a time capsule could be placed at the Memorial Park as part of the village’s America 250 celebration on July 4. He is looking for organizations, groups, or residents to contribute artifacts for the capsule.
The council then adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m. Next council meeting is Thursday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m.