PROCLAMATION Pictured are West Unity Mayor Don Leu and newly re appointed Council President Kevin Gray
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
The West Unity Village Council met on February 8, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. Present were councilors Dave Short, Nathan Massie, Shawn Blaisdell, Terri Lebowsky, Stephen Marvin, and Kevin Gray alongside Mayor Don Leu, Fiscal Officer Sarah Higdon, Police Chief JR Jones, Village Administrator Joshua Fritsch, and Village Solicitor Mark Hagans.
After a prayer and the pledge of allegiance, council voted to accept both the bills and minutes of the January 11, 2024 meeting as presented.
Three ordinances were then passed on their third and final readings, and Ordinance 2024-2, which approved emergency appropriations on the sewer fund for the turnpike pump that will be reimbursed at a later date and the replacement of the sound system and rugs at the Kissel Building, was passed after a suspension of the rules on its first reading.
Ordinance 12-2023-12 allowed Village Administrator Fritsch to sell property via internet auction, and Ordinance 12-2023-13 allows the village to participate in the Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program for 2024.
Councilor Marvin then asked a question on Ordinance 2023-12, specifically with regards to the process of reverting the water tank back to the previous owners versus abandoning the deed and shutting the water pump off.
Ordinance 2023-12 would allow the village to present the deed for the pump to the original owners, and if they are not interested in their claim to the deed, the village may then decide to abandon the pump and discontinue its use.
Council entered executive session at 7:45 p.m. to consider the purchase of property and returned at 8:03 with the administrator’s report.
Fritsch shared that there were some violations found in the recent EPA inspection, with a list of the violations being presented to council.
Some of these violations have already been corrected, and some are in the process of being righted. Most of the violations had to do with inspection and research.
A quote was presented for one of the necessary inspections, and then an ODNR test well at Memorial Park to watch the local aquifer was discussed, with the administrator sharing that he thinks it is a poor location choice.
The mayor shared that he wouldn’t mind one being somewhere in town, but that he would not like to see it at Memorial Park either.
There is one by the water tower at Harrison Lake, with discussion being held on how far north the monitoring is expected to go.
With no further information on the current situation, council wondered if they might choose to put the test well at the solar field by the school.
The village’s annual asset list for the Water and Wastewater Department was presented, with replacement costs and item importance highlighted in the report.
There were three leaks last year, and the rate study, which takes place every three years, will happen again this year.
Chief Jones’s report was approved as presented, which included discussion on details around switching the police department from salaried to hourly.
This change would result in an adjustment of the ordinances related to police pay, but council shared they are interested in doing what is needed to get the transition done.
A special meeting was then scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on February 19th before Sarah Higdon shared the clerk’s report up to date.
RITA tax services submitted another collection report, and a landlord occupancy sheet was shared to keep better track of renters within village limits who may not be paying taxes.
It was decided to draw the renter list into legislation to be presented at the next meeting before a Records Retention meeting was scheduled for March 14th at 7 p.m.
It was then voted that Councilor Kevin Gray be council president for 2024 before the mayor declared February 2024 as Career and Technical Education Month, urging the community to get familiar with the technical education services offered in the area.
Council shared how great everyone was doing, thanking village employees for their hard work.
Councilor Blaisdell shared that the roads have been good and the police presence in the village has been appreciated before council adjourned at 8:30 p.m., set to meet in regular session next March 14, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
