BY NIKKI BURKHAMER
Examiner Contributor
An ordinance to close part of a downtown alley was approved at the recent West Liberty Village Council meeting, along with introducing a new council member.
The open seat was discussed in executive session. Many interviewed for the position, but Rodney Brower was appointed to the seat. The votes were very close among the six that applied. Additionally, two more seats will be available in January.
Related to the downtown alley, Village Administrator Richard Ford feels that the council needs to look at it as if it was the council’s responsibility to take care of it.
“We can partner with the downtown businesses, but I think we should be all in now. We need to understand that responsibility is the council’s, but if the downtown association wants to assist us, then that would be great,” Ford suggested.
The alley is located by Dorcey’s Flowers and beside the West Liberty Branch of the Logan County Libraries, and the ordinance to close part of the alley to vehicle traffic will be in effect in 30 days. Members discussed utilizing the extra space for something interesting and artsy like benches made of tractor parts or of used windmill blades.
It was announced that the EPA will be conducting lead testing for 200 homes in town. There will be no cost for the village or the residents for this service.
Several grants could possibly be used in the near future by the village. A Bureau of Workers Compensation Safety Grant consultant was in town, and a grant for a V-plow to plow alleys could be applied for.
Ford applied for funding to purchase fire gear with a BWC safety grant. It would provide the village with six sets of gear for the fire department.
The village administration is waiting on the Heritage CEO to give an easement for the west Columbus Street Bridge grant as well.
It was suggested that contacting State Representative Matt Huffman or State Senator Susan Manchester might speed things up as they do not want to lose the $1.265 million grant.
Also, a Mad River restoration grant was approved and submitted by the EPA. This grant would restore banks at Lions Park and Onion Creek and it will be in the amount of $266,000.
A resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission, authorizing the necessary tax levies, and certifying them to the county auditor was read and accepted by the council.
Finally, the council discussed meeting only once a month. The last few meetings have been so short, and it was suggested that, if needed, another meeting could be scheduled if an ordinance needed to be passed or if something pressing needed to be discussed.
Members approved a motion that starting in October, there will only be one meeting a month — the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.
However, for this month, the next council meeting is still set for Monday, Sept. 22.
Important upcoming dates were shared. The Splash Pad will close Sept. 25. And, there will be Pink Out activities in town Oct. 9.
