After serving as president since 2021, West Liberty councilmember Jayne Griffith was
quick to nominate fellow member Trent Spriggs for the position for 2025. Her motion was
seconded and passed at the village council meeting on Monday, Jan. 13.
“I might not run next year,” Griffith explained, “and Trent needs the experience.”
Griffith’s term with the council will end on Dec. 31, 2025.
The council also decided to keep their committees—street, finance and safety—the
same. Mayor Brad Hudson recommended as much, saying, “I would prefer we stick with what we have for consistency.”
Griffith will continue to be the LUC representative and was chosen as the firefighter
dependents fund representative as well.
Jack Reser, Logan County auditor, attended the meeting to walk the council through the
steps to pass the two resolutions needed to put a five-year .80 mil levy renewal on the ballot for a special election, which will be held on May 6, 2025.
This levy would put $28 per $100,000 of valuation, which works out to about $26 per
household and would provide $21,000 in revenue for the village. The council passed both
resolutions. If it doesn’t pass in May, they will put it on the November 2025 ballot.
In his report, Bill Detrick, street superintendent, updated the council about damage to a
guardrail near the cemetery last month, which will cost almost $6,000 to repair. Due to the
nature of the incident, Detrick said the council will have to pay for that, at least for now, since he didn’t think the driver who hit the guardrail has insurance.
Police Chief Shane Oelker was on-hand and gave his feedback. “This is part of an active
investigation that’s still pending,” Oelker said, “so I can’t say much.” Detrick added, “We should probably get it fixed and go after him for reimbursement later.” The board agreed and passed the request for $5,980 to repair the guardrail.
One of the village’s two plow trucks broke down, leaving the department with only one
truck plus a tractor to clear the streets during and after Friday’s snowfall. They got it done but, Detrick said, they need a new air compressor.
He found a two-stage one that could be used for other purposes for $1,400, which he can purchase without council approval as it’s below his $1,500 limit. However, it would need to
be installed by a certified electrician and that adds as much as $500 more to the cost.
Finally, Detrick admitted that though they’ve been able to handle the recycling until
now, “that won’t always be the case.” With that in mind, he said he has someone lined up as a potential substitute.
Following the resignation of officer Brett Mancini, Oelker offered the position to Officer
Tyler Simpson at $23 an hour. Oelker asked the council approve this change retroactive to the beginning of the pay period, which started on Friday, Jan. 10.
In addition, Oelker requested they back date Simpson’s six-month probation to when he
began the job in October 2024.
“We haven’t had any issues,” Oelker stated, “and probation doesn’t really accomplish a
lot.” The council approved both requests.
Oelker said he’s only received one quote, for $24,000, to outfit the department’s new
cruiser and would be OK waiting another two weeks to see if they get any more.
The department’s 2016 SUV needed the water pump repaired and, in doing so, the
mechanic discovered the motor had blown. They are able to get a rebuilt replacement Jasper motor for $9,088, which Oelker said “should make it almost like a new car.”
In addition, replacing the engine would save the village the cost to outfit a new vehicle
and they would get it much faster. The council agreed to the rebuild and to paying for the
engine upfront.
Roger Allen, president of the West Liberty Board of Public Affairs, attended the meeting
to discuss raises for water/sewer department employees Shane Freehauf and Keith Amlin.
He requested the council consider giving both men a 5 percent increase.
“Costs have gone up so much,” Allen said. “I almost feel embarrassed asking for five. I
would like to ask for 10. That would be closer to the true cost of living.”
The raise ties into the issue of certifications, which Allen believes the village should pay
for, even though it “shoots them in the foot.” He explained that “getting certified does make
them more valuable to other jurisdictions.”
Hudson recommended they discuss pay raises and certifications further in a separate
finance committee meeting.
Two yearly resolutions covering how the council transfers funds—2025-R1 and
2025-R2—were passed.
After an executive session, the council agreed to extend solicitor Chris Moell’s
contract another two years.
Council also decided to renew the mosquito control agreement, which costs
them $400 per treatment. In 2024, they did eight treatments over four months
and plan to stick with that schedule for this summer for a total of $3,200.
“I think it was worth it,” Griffith said. “There was a distinct difference, so it was
money well-spent.”
After adjourning the meeting, council members paused to recognize and congratulate
Cindee Boyd, village clerk. Boyd retired from her position as clerk on Nov. 29, 2024, but was rehired on Dec. 3.
The next West Liberty Village Council meeting will take place on Monday, Jan. 27, at 7
p.m.