WEDCO’s Diamond Zimmerman attended West Unity Village Council to inform them that there had been a request to use the Community Reinvestment Area Tax Exemption. Rupp & Roach Enterprises own the building on Oak Street that will be affected and they will pass the tax savings on to Trinity. They expect to make a $150,000 investment into expanding the property and with the tax savings will be retaining positions and creating new jobs according to Zimmerman.
“Value of the applicable tax savings is about $3,200 per year,” Zimmerman said. “Rupp & Roach is asking for a 15-year tax exemption and that value is about $48,000. With the current location in the pre-1994 area that means no school participation or involvement is needed.” Council agreed to grant the requested tax abatement.
Council learned at their Thursday, October 25 meeting that the renovation of Parkway Street has been completed and the street should be open to traffic next week. “Everything is now leveled and seeded,” said Village Administrator Ric Beals.
According to Beals, workers broke a sewer lateral and a water service line which have since been repaired and lowered.
In legislative action, Council passed a Resolution authorizing the village to participate in the State of Ohio Cooperative Purchasing program for the purpose of purchasing a new police cruiser for the village. Council also approved a change order that added $9,318.61 to the total cost of the Jackson St. waterline and storm sewer project. Final cost for the project was $111,206.36.
Village Administrator Beals reported that Jason Hancock and his crew completed the sidewalk along East Jackson St. One of the council members had pointed out to him that the sidewalk in front of the bank looked discolored. Beals checked with Hancock who said this was caused by rainwater washing from the bank and over the sidewalk before it had a chance to completely set. He said the only way to remove it would be to remove the sidewalk and start over. He also stated that the discoloration would fade with time and recommended leaving it as is.
Stop signs have now been installed in the alley behind village hall at N. Main and N. Madison Streets. Demolition grant money has come through from the county for the village to use in razing the Mann property on S. Defiance St. The property should be demolished by the end of 2012.
Beals reported that there had been some vandalism at the new shelter house in Memorial Park. “Someone broke one of the new composite picnic tables,” Beals said. “It looked like they stood on the top then jumped off onto the seats, breaking them.” He also said he has installed a temporary lock for the kitchen door and is in the process of installing a more permanent lock.
Taylor Wheeler has been hired as a Maintenance I worker for the village of West Unity at a starting wage of $12 per hour. He begins his duties November 5th.
Mayor Peg Bernath reported that a short ceremonial tree planting had been held at Memorial Park honoring Paul Feeney. She also asked Council to remember the family of West Unity resident Paulette Potts, who passed away earlier in the week.
Mayor Bernath informed Council that the village had received word from the corporate office that the West Unity branch of the State Bank would close effective February 1st. “They said that most of their banking is done online anymore,” Bernath said. “They have very little foot traffic through the bank and couldn’t justify keeping it open.” Customers have the option of using any of their other branch offices throughout both Williams and Fulton counties.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.