It happened again, five days before Christmas. If this had been the first time, that would be bad enough. But it wasn’t. Pedestrians keep getting hit at crosswalks in West Liberty.
And the village council debated just what they should do about it at their first regular meeting of 2023 Monday night.
Mayor Jill McKelvey opened the discussion with a suggestion to stencil reminders to look right or left on the pavement, something she’d found effective while visiting Troy recently. “It’s simple, but sometimes simple is all we need,” she said.
While the council seemed open to the idea, they also agreed with Jayne Griffith, who argued at least part of the problem comes from a lack of parking spaces. She stated the importance of being aware as a pedestrian, especially with regard to children.
Still, the main suggestion continues to be more signs, whether to remind drivers that people have the right-of-way or to make sure foot-travelers take extra precautions.
Unfortunately, that’s something Bill Detrick, street superintendent, is “adamantly opposed to,” according to McKelvey.
Another suggestion was to implement the Safety Town program, which educates children in safety awareness. But, Griffith concluded, “We may just want to take another look and not assume a car will stop.”
In other action Monday night:
• The council approved implementing a Geographic Information System (GIS) with Wessler Engineering. This will cost $21,500 plus $3,500 for time and material. After the initial expenditure, the village would pay $2,700 for first-year maintenance and $500 per license after that. Wessler would create GIS mapping of the existing water distribution system as well as the sanitary water and storm water collection systems.
• Griffith was nominated and elected president of the council for 2023.
• In her update regarding the West Columbus Street bridge project, Griffith said she plans to meet with the team at Elle A. Design to come up with a projection as to what the bridge will look like once reconstruction is complete. “It’s been a long-time coming,” she said. They are also working on the 2024 calendar.
• Logan County Commissioners have filed aggregation paperwork with PUCO, which will take 30 to 45 days for approval. A follow-up meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Green Hills Foundation Hall.
• The deadline for contractors to register their business with West Liberty has been extended into February. Police will send any non-registered companies to the clerk’s office.
• An issue with the police department time clocks has been brought to the attention of the council. The current clocks time out after 14 hours, which messes up paychecks for officers working overtime.
• Councilmembers passed the second reading for ordinances covering employee raises—3 percent for supervisors and 50 cents for hourly employees, except Shane Freehauf, who has been with the village over five years and, as a result, will receive $1 more an hour.
• February Business of the Month nominations were: Looking Sharp hair salon, Civista Bank and Thompson, Dunlap & Heydinger, Ltd.
• The fire department has put in requests for a new firetruck (over $700,000), another chief vehicle (or at least a new transmission for the current one), and firefighter air packs, at a cost of close to $300,000. The village has applied for a FEMA grant for the latter, which would require a 10 percent investment from West Liberty.
This is the second time they’ve applied for the grant. The grantwriter accidently chose West Lafayette in a dropdown section the first time, disqualifying the application. Though the village has four $10,000 CDs allocated for the fire department, the village will need help from the community to pay for the needed equipment.
• Peoples Bank plans to have the direct deposit option ready in February.
• A pipe burst in the police department garage during the cold snap on Christmas Eve. Shane Oelker, chief of police, will explore the purchase of a small heater as well as the possibility of installing a generator.
• McKelvey approved an emergency packer repair of $1,800 before Christmas.
• The council discussed putting up security cameras around the Splash Pad at Lions Park. Unfortunately, the cost was greater than anticipated—$4,516 for three cameras on poles, but does not include electric.
• Council committee appointments will stay the same as 2022.
• Griffith agreed to continue as the Macochee representative.
• West Liberty will host the Champaign (County) Economic Partnership meetings the first Wednesdays of May and October. McKelvey believes there are many great collaborative opportunities for employment and economic development with the nearby county. She noted there’s a lot happening in Urbana and in Bellefontaine, and West Liberty has a strategic position between the two.
• Village council members will meet with the Lions Club and the West Liberty Business Association at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss plans for working together in 2023. “We had phenomenal foot traffic during the Tour of Homes,” McKelvey said, “and a 43 percent increase in local shopping on Black Friday.”
• Returning to an earlier discussion, Councilwoman Jeanette Zerkle also mentioned the need to add more parking areas. Though McKelvey contended they’re working on it — specifically focusing on the land near the Shell station — but “everything takes so long.”
The next council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23.
