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West Liberty-Salem BOE looking into water tank replacement |
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Written by Casey S. Elliott
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Thursday, 14 March 2013 14:18 |
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WEST LIBERTY – Deteriorating water tanks and pumps at West Liberty-Salem Local Schools may force the school board to replace the equipment sooner than expected. The 25-year-old equipment might have been replaced as part of a building levy project, but the rate of decay may force the board to approve replacement of equipment this year. The district would foot the total cost of the replacement. The water tank is “rusting from the inside out,” Superintendent Kraig Hissong told the board during its March 5 meeting. The school board is debating whether to seek a levy to replace aging infrastructure, expand classroom space and reroute access to the school facilities. Voters chose not to approve a 7.5-mill, 27-year improvement levy and a 0.5-mill levy in November 2012, estimated to generate $14.5 million. The levy would have paid for the district’s share of a $37.5 million Ohio Facilities Construction Commission project, of which $32 million, 71 percent, would have been paid by the state. If the board chooses to seek the levy again, it must do so through a special election in August or risk losing the guaranteed 71 percent of state funding. Administrators say they could continue to seek a levy from voters, but expect the state’s funding share would decrease in future years. Hissong said leaks in the water tank have been patched, but he fears the tank soon will be beyond repair. The water pumps are running constantly because another piece of equipment failed and has not been replaced. The pumps are needed to maintain water pressure for the building. He said if the tank and pumps are not replaced and a leak develops that cannot be patched, it could force the school to close until the equipment is replaced. Hissong said engineers estimate a replacement tank to cost $20,000 to $22,000. The replacement and installation of pumps is estimated to cost $5,000. “This is the stuff that you don’t see when you are driving down the road,” he said. “It is exactly why we need the building project. Sooner or later we are going to have to address these things. They will have to be fixed.”
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Village officials working on sign, contractor registration ordinances |
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Written by Editorial
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Thursday, 14 March 2013 14:16 |
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Editor’s note: The following was compiled from the Russells Point Village Council post-meeting notes from March 4, which were submitted by Mayor Robin Reames. RUSSELLS POINT – Council took the first step toward passing a sign ordinance and contractor registration ordinance during its March 4 meeting. In regard to signs within village limits, council passed on first reading only an ordinance amending the village’s previous sign ordinances which were reported to contain a specific prohibition against certain billboards. Council also discovered recently its political sign ordinance may be in conflict with current constitutional protections. In response to the recent discoveries, council agreed it necessary to amend the sign ordinances to allow local and regional businesses to advertise services in the village and to allow political signs in accordance with constitutional protections. As for the contractor registration ordinance, council noted after reviewing documents pertaining to this subject, it discovered village ordinances contain specific requirements for contractors doing business in the village. After discussing the current ordinances, council deemed it necessary to amend them to provide residents with more information regarding contractors working in the village. The newly-written contractor ordinance was passed by council on first reading only. Also during the meeting, Mayor Robin Reames presented council with two possible changes to the Code Enforcement Office. Reames suggested establishing a Zoning Amnesty program, which would require changing ordinances, and she discussed the possibility of having the Code Enforcement Office open on Saturdays during the spring and summer months. After discussing the possible changes, council agreed it did not see any benefit to the village to make the changes. Council, however, did suggest Code Enforcement Officer Joel Kranenburg be available by appointment only on Saturdays, and he should make random inspections throughout the village on Saturdays. |
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Blackford assumes role of treasurer at Riverside |
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Written by Editorial
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Thursday, 07 March 2013 15:32 |
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Special to the Current DeGRAFF – Jennifer Blackford was hired as Riverside Local Schools’ new treasurer/CFO during the board of education’s Feb. 26 meeting. The move was part of a transition phase in place since Oct. 15, 2012, when Blackford was hired as assistant treasurer and assigned to work under Riverside Interim Treasurer Paul Carpenter, who agreed to remain as the district’s official treasurer of record on a part-time basis until Blackford received her school treasurer’s license for the Ohio Department of Transportation. In order for the move to become official, the board accepted Carpenter’s resignation, effective Feb. 26. Blackford’s contract, which is effective Feb. 26, 2013 through July 31, 2015, will pay her a yearly salary of $59,000. Also during the meeting, the board agreed to one-year limited supplemental contracts with the following individuals: Tim McGill (weightlifting supervisor), Chad Lump (varsity boys track coach), Gregg Johnson (varsity girls track coach), Logan Whitaker (junior high boys track coach), Andy Phelps (varsity softball coach), Katie Manahan (JV softball coach), Jill Kelsey (volunteer varsity softball assistant), Kylee Ransbottom (volunteer JV softball assistant), Scott Mann (varsity baseball coach), Derrick Purtee (varsity/JV baseball assistant coach; varsity/JV football assistant coach), Chuck Stevens (varsity/JV baseball assistant coach), Tim Davis (varsity/JV football assistant coach), Dan Robb (varsity/JV football assistant coach), Jason Bell (varsity/JV football assistant), Jennifer Walls (varsity football cheerleading co-advisor), Annette Lump (varsity football cheerleading co-advisor), Mandy Cotterman (junior high football advisor), Wendy Cromer (varsity volleyball coach) and Tim Doty (high school/junior high football coverage). |
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Recycling volume on the rise in Huntsville |
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Written by Editorial
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Thursday, 07 March 2013 15:31 |
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Editor’s note: The following was compiled from the Huntsville Village Council regular meeting minutes from Feb. 26. HUNTSVILLE – Mayor William Jenkins, during council’s Feb. 26 meeting, was presented with a check for participating in the Community Recycling Incentive Rewards program. Logan County Commissioner John Bayliss and Logan County Solid Waste District Coordinator Alan Hale were in attendance to hand over a check in the amount of $1,156 to the village. As part of the Community Recycling Incentive Rewards program, the village received $10 per ton of recycled material collected in 2012 at the village’s recycling center. Council was informed the volume of recycling at the Huntsville center increased 9 percent from 2011 to 2012. Also during the meeting, Jenkins informed council he spoke with Fire Chief Tim Jenkins about repairs on the fire truck. Holden Brothers said it could build and install new battery boxes for the fire truck at a cost of approximately $700. In other business: •Council agreed to increase the village’s insurance premium with PEP, Public Entities Pool of Ohio, to reflect replacement costs of emergency vehicles. •Council member Carol Williams reported that the Neighborhood Watch group would like to help the elderly during the village’s cleanup days in May. •Council member Dan Griffin told council he spoke with Cody Caruthers, the new president of the Huntsville Ball Association. Griffin said there are several improvements the association would like to make to the ball fields before the summer leagues start. Caruthers will attend a future meeting to discuss the improvements, Griffin noted.
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