Mayor turns to association to help obtain grant funds
Erin Wright of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association provided guidance and offered free help to Bolivar Council when seeking grant funding.
Bolivar Mayor Tedd Finlayson invited a representative from the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association to advise council on getting help paying for a number of projects. Erin Wright, senior community development specialist with OMEGA, said council should first secure engineering planning, which will allow her to seek grant funding for street repairs, waterline replacement, lead water pipe inventory, trail upgrades and other village projects. The cost of the service from OMEGA is free.
Public comments
Several residents addressed council regarding plans for the Bolivar school building after it is closed. Finlayson said it is too soon to make any definite plans. Kay Huth asked council to seek public opinion as they consider options for what to do with the property.
T.J. Rombach voiced concern about people routinely running the stop sign at the corner of Yant and Grant streets. He said a number of children play in the neighborhood and it is getting dangerous.
Chris Berens repeated an inquiry made at the May meeting about when a cleaning person was hired, whether or not council approved the hiring, and said $160 a month for four hours of work was too much.
Fiscal officer Barb Kline said she interviewed three people and hired one because she thought she had council approval. App said discussion of the topic was noted in the December 2022 minutes, but no vote was recorded.
Council agreed to suspend cleaning services until further discussed at a special session on July 20 at 6:30 p.m. when a number of topics will be addressed. Village solicitor Steve Babik said new hires require a voice vote of council.
Reports to council
Finlayson said the village should receive county water by late this year or the first quarter of next year. He also said maintenance was performed on several village vehicles at a total cost of approximately $1,250.
Will Bellinger reported the finance committee discussed changing the due date on water bills to allow people five more days than currently allowed. Council will vote on the matter after new water rate legislation is approved.
Bruce Lanzer, chair of the safety committee, reported an increase in police calls in June, primarily due to issues with parking during the Strawberry Festival.
Dan Oberlin, chair of the street and alley committee, asked for and received council approval to remove five dead pine trees and a dead pinoak at a cost of $2,500.
Street Superintendent Levi Kaser expressed confusion about the cost of the park being planned for Bolivar’s “LoveTusc Sculpture.” Berens, who is spearheading the project, said she secured $6,500 in grant money to cover constructing the park and purchasing benches, picnic tables and trees. However, council needs to approve any additional funds that may be needed soon so as not to lose the grant from the Reeves Foundation.
Kline said in her fiscal officer’s report that after receiving a check from the Kimble Foundation meant for and made out to the Tusky Valley Baseball/Softball Association, she accidentally deposited it in the village account. She said she is correcting the issue, and a check will be sent to the TVBSA.
Kline also asked council to move the regular Aug. 3 meeting to Aug. 10, which was approved.
Legislation
Council heard the second reading of an ordinance to raise water rates beginning Sept. 1.
Council voted to raise the water operator’s rate of pay from $750-$1,000 per month and to hire Gary App as a seasonal worker at a pay rate of $12 per hour. Maria App abstained from the latter vote.
Council went into executive session as requested by Maria App to discuss personnel, after which they approved hiring Samantha Allen as assistant clerk at $16 per hour for up to 28 hours per week with no benefits.
The next council meeting will be Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. in council chambers at Village Hall.