Council gives OK to Veterans memorial
Millersburg Village Council held a regular council meeting on Jan. 9.
During the meeting Brandon Irving, director of the Holmes County Veterans Services office, and Jason Pennell, veteran services commissioner, addressed council regarding the possible installation of a veterans memorial at Deer Run Park. The plan is to seek donations for the construction of the memorial.
The site will honor and memorialize veterans and POWs, MIAs and KIA individuals. All branches of the service will be recognized. They asked for consideration in providing the space for the project.
Council was in favor of the location and project and gave verbal approval to proceed with the planning and the use of the land. Irving and Pennell will submit plans to council when completed for formal approval.
The minutes from the Dec. 27 regular meeting were then approved, as were bills and payroll totaling $319,540.27.
Millersburg Police Chief Matt Shaner then recommended the hiring of Javen Miller as a full-time dispatcher. Miller, a college student who is completing his coursework online, has been shadowing and doing an internship for the last several months in dispatch.
Council voted to approve the hiring of Miller, effective Jan. 14, at a pay rate of $22.70 (per pay resolution).
After Miller’s hiring was approved, village administrator Nate Troyer informed council about several topics:
—DRB & P&Z commission: No meetings are scheduled in January. The design review guideline and ordinance updates that the commission has been working on are progressing nicely. The commission has worked through the guidelines document and is now pairing it with the ordinance to ensure they coincide with each other. Troyer said he anticipates having a draft to council in February or early March.
—ODOT sidewalk TAP project: The bid opening for the project is March 9.
—ARPA: Awaiting final plans and bid documents, which are being prepared.
—Appalachian Community Grant: Award announcements will be in early spring.
—2022 dump truck: Troyer said he received an update that the dealer is in possession of the truck as of Jan. 3. They found a window gasket leak, so once that is repaired, it will be sent to the upfitters for the dump body, hydraulics and plow installation.
Treasurer Karen Shaffer then presented the December financial statement and acknowledgment form that council received the report consisting of the bank reconciliation, appropriation summary, fund summary, revenue summary, payment summary and payroll.
Shaffer informed council that the liquor license notification from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control was received for Day-Max. Council had the right to object to the license and request a hearing, but a motion was made to not request a hearing, and all members of council voted yes to not requesting a hearing.
Shaffer also informed council that numerous residents have expressed their appreciation for the recent reduction in utility bills.
Mayor Jeff Huebner then informed council about several things:
—The committee appointments for 2023 will remain the same.
—Council needs to establish the time and dates for regular sessions of council for 2023. A motion was made and approved by all council members to hold council meetings on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
—A council president needs to be elected for 2023. A motion was made to elect Tom Vaughn as council president. All members voted yes to the motion besides Vaughn, who abstained.
Additionally, Councilman Bob Shoemaker informed council that he and Nate Troyer met with Jason Troyer of Holmes County Emergency Management regarding warming stations. Shoemaker said he was informed there is a warming center located at the Holmes County Commissioners Office. There was a discussion at their meeting to contact local churches and Job & Family Services to organize and possibly create additional centers to be used during extremely cold temperatures and/or power outages.