Village of Strasburg to get new website
Fire Chief Steve Laskey
Strasburg Village Council met March 7 and approved $250 to the “Drone Guy” to take overhead photos of the village for the new website. Jeff Smith, council president pro-tem, said the photos will be placed on the new website that was approved at the Feb. 7 meeting.
Council agreed to reconstruct the village website with Revize, a website design company. The annual cost will be $6,500 with a $1,800 annual fee for tax forms and a notification system and $1,300 fee for emails or taxes. The first year the $1,300 will not be charged.
Fire Chief Steve Laskey said the department recently accomplished a major goal in its operation, which was to be completed in 2024-25. Laskey said after firefighters’ action on a mutual-aid structure fire with Dover Fire Department, Strasburg has now been placed on Dover’s first alarm for the entire city of Dover. Laskey said this has never been accomplished in the past. He credited the hard work and dedication of the fire department members to grow and build the best fire department possible.
Strasburg’s full-time fire department was established in May 2022. Part-time staffers serve the village 24/7. Laskey also responded to councilman Marty Zehnder voicing his opinion about micromanaging the departments at the Feb. 7 meeting.
Laskey said, “I understand you want me fired.”
Zehnder denied he made that statement. Laskey said he works 40 hours a week, 12-hour shifts three days a week and sometimes 24-hour shifts.
Other action
Council did the following:
—Learned from Laskey that with the expansion of ProVia’s shipping into the plant located in Franklin Township and the department being added to the Dover alarm box, the fire department may have an increase of 50-150 additional per year. The department also is moving closer to meeting with businesses to begin the process of inspections and introduce the process as part of the initial break-in period.
—Heard Zehnder ask about installing a turn lane on Fort Laurens Road when it merges right onto U.S. Routes 250/21 through the village. He told Mayor Steve Smith to contact the Ohio Department of Transportation and the county engineer about the matter. Smith said he has spoken to both parties in the past about the situation.
—Heard Zehnder make a motion to return a garage, once used to park school buses, back to the school. Don Wallick, Dustin Briggs, Kathy Burrier and Jeff Smith voted no. Zehnder and Liz Dreher voted yes.
School officials turned the garage over to the village around 2012. Village equipment is stored in the garage. The matter is ongoing discussion with the school officials and the village’s attorneys.
Briggs asked Zehnder if he had a solution how to store the village equipment and if taxpayer funds should have the expense of constructing a new village garage. Zehnder said to put up a lean-to.
Wes Hostetler, resident and board of education member, wanted to know the value of the pieces of equipment stored inside the building. Smith explained the items stored in the garage and how they are used in the village. Hostetler said the matter concerning the garage is probably going to court and said it will get ugly.
—Passed a resolution urging the legislative branches of the federal government and the State of Ohio to enact legislation to further protect persons within the village of Strasburg from inherent dangers of train derailments on the tracks located in the village.
—Learned from Smith about the parking places to be striped between the traffic lights on Wooster Avenue. He said the temperature must be above 50 F to finish the striping. There will be a parking place in front of Number One Chinese Restaurant, two near the SSB Community Bank and three in front of Game Day Grill for a total of six parking spaces. There is no parking on Wooster Avenue, only between the traffic lights, since the three-lane concept was installed.
—Heard two fire department members are attending paramedic school and two members are completing fire safety inspector classes in May 2023.
Other information
The fire department was selected to receive an award on Saturday, March 11 for its involvement with Special Olympics at the basketball tournament at Strasburg High School.
There will two public hearings on rezoning of the west side of Third Street to Seventh Street Southwest. The first will be April 6 at 6 p.m. at the village planning commission meeting, and the second hearing will be April 18 at 6 p.m. during the council meeting. If approved, the speed limit can be lowered.
The fire department responded to 38 calls from Feb. 20 to March 6. This is an increase of 14 calls from the last report on Feb. 22.
Cleanup Day in the village will be April 11. Items should be placed on the curb with the trash. A list of acceptable/unacceptable items is available at Village Hall and on the village website.
Council agreed to hold two community yard/garage sales this year. They will be held May 11-15 and Aug. 10-14.
The community was reminded the law prohibits outdoor open burning statewide during the months of March, April, May, October and November from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The police responded to 221 calls in February.
Council will meet March 21 at 6 p.m. at 224 N. Bodmer Ave.