PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SRO AGREEMENT … Council members, from left: Shawn Blaisdell, Randy Mahlman, and Terri Lebowsky discuss legislation regarding the one-year agreement with the Millcreek-West Unity Local School District for a School Resource Officer.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The West Unity Village Council met in a regular session on Thursday, July 9. Council members in attendance were Kevin Gray, Stephen Marvin, Scott Dunson, Shawn Blaisdell, Randy Mahlman, and Terri Lebowsky.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, council then approved the June 11, 2026, meeting minutes.
Council approved the renewal of a one-year contract with the Millcreek-West Unity School District for the use of a School Resource Officer (SRO).
It’s an agreement between the West Unity Police Department, the Village of West Unity, and the school district.
Police Chief J.R. Jones said that every year the village does a renewal with the school district and noted the only exception involved health insurance and wages, which change every year.
Jones also presented the monthly police report for June. He pointed out the increase in animal complaints in the village, from 15 animal-related complaints over the first six months to 22 complaints reported last month.
“The dog warden and our department have been working on one particular case which has occurred time and time again, and we’re handling it through the courts now,” Jones said.
Council passed the first reading of a resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the county budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.
Village Administrator Joshua Fritsch updated on the current status of the North High Street project.
He said the project is being delayed by Verizon, which needs to move the pole that is in the new road that extends from High Street. He added that they cannot asphalt the road until the pole is moved.
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Don Leu reported on the time capsule that was recently placed in Friendship Park as part of the America’s 250th Birthday Celebration.
It is scheduled to be opened again in eight years, when West Unity will be celebrating its bicentennial, and then opened again 25 to 50 years after that.
Leu also learned, through a former member of the 1976 Bicentennial Committee, that another time capsule was placed in the village that same year and needs to be dug up.
It was suggested that the 1976 time capsule could be dug up as part of the village’s Fall Fest activities in October.
Regarding the chip and seal work on village streets, Leu suggested holding a street committee meeting prior to next month’s regular council meeting on Thursday, August 13.
Ward Construction of Leipsic will be coming to the village the week of July 20-24. The village will have a list of affected roads for them to look at and to provide an estimated cost.
Other Business
Police Chief J.R. Jones, set to retire in February 2027, will transition into the village administrator role.
Current Administrator Joshua Fritsch will retire in December 2026 but has agreed to return to assist Jones with the transition through February 2027.
“He (Jones) can start spending a few hours with him (Fritsch) to start learning the ropes,” said the mayor.
“It will be a little different because he (Jones) won’t be doing the water and sewer stuff, but he will be helping with water and sewer rates like everybody does. I think everybody is okay with that.” Council voted 6-0 to approve the transition plan.
The mayor said a replacement for Jones as police chief will begin internally. The council adjourned the meeting at 8:16 p.m. Next meeting is Thursday, August 13 at 7:30 p.m.
