PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
COUNCIL MEETING … West Unity Village Fiscal Officer Sarah Higdon (left) and Mayor Don Leu (right) go over the May meeting minutes during its regular council meeting on Thursday, June 11.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
West Unity Village Council met in a regular session on Thursday, June 11. Council members present were Kevin Gray, Stephen Marvin, Shawn Blaisdell, Randy Mahlman, and Scott Dunson. Terri Lebowsky was absent.
Also in attendance were Mayor Don Leu, Village Administrator Joshua Fritsch, and Fiscal Officer Sarah Higdon.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by the approval of the May 14 meeting minutes and the payment of bills.
Fritsch reported that he was recently notified by Tom Trowbridge of ODOT that the culvert project involving U.S. Route 127 scheduled to be done in 2027 was delayed until 2029.
He told council that ODOT was having problems with getting bids for the project. With the U.S. Route 127 culvert project already on hold, Fritsch said ODOT instead will be doing paving work on U.S. Route 20A in 2028.
It will also involve engineering consultation by Jones and Henry Engineers of Toledo looking at catch basins, curbs, gutters, and valves in addition to the paving work being done.
The road project involving High Street, which is extended back to an alley towards Jacoby’s Ole Smokehouse, is being delayed due to concern regarding the location of a utility pole owned by Frontier Communications. The utility pole needed to be moved in order for asphalt work to be done.
Fritsch also pointed out that a sewer pump recently went bad at the Wastewater Plant, which will cost the village $18,000 to replace it.
Fiscal Officer Sarah Higdon reported the village received a refund of $16,510 from RITA (Regional Income Tax Agency) for allocation of 2025 costs for income tax collection.
Council approved a third and final reading for Resolution No. 4-2026-8, ensuring compliance with the land and water conservation fund project 39-00264 and 39-00558 and establishing policy for open space utilization at West Unity Memorial Park.
The resolution involves an agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to receive funding for outdoor recreation improvements at Memorial Park.
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Don Leu updated council regarding the village’s time capsule which will be placed at Friendship Park on Saturday, July 4 as part of the Independence Day activities.
He encouraged residents to submit items for the capsule which is going to be opened in eight years as West Unity will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2034. The village was founded in 1834 according to the State of Ohio.
Leu recently traveled to Lima where he visited a park which featured a new kind of playground equipment, Movmnt which is an electronic game that provides a variety of development benefits that help kids learn skills that transcend the play space.
The cost for the electronic game is $20,000 and should council approve it at the July meeting, it will be installed in Wabash Park.
Council then went into an executive session at 8:10 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) (1) of section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.
No action was taken during the executive session as Council returned to regular session at 8:28 p.m. Council then adjourned at 8:32 p.m. Next meeting will be on Thursday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m.
