Village pledges $1,300 to study EMS merger

NEW BREMEN - The village will participate in a study that will look into merging its emergency medical services with those in Minster and Fort Loramie.

Council members on Monday agreed to contribute $1,300 toward the study, which will be led by Minster officials. German Township's share of the cost will be $325. The resolution was declared an emergency, waiving the 30-day waiting period after final passage.

The study's results would not be binding but would provide guidance on how to best serve the area's emergency medical needs, mayor Jeff Pape noted.

The measure was the first of five emergency resolutions passed, something Pape said was "quite possibly a record during my tenure."

Current waste provider Ma-harg was awarded a three-year contract to continue to provide refuse services. The new contract includes a price increase. Effective immediately, the price of bags will increase to $7.75 per pack, 5 cents more per bag.

The third resolution named Pape as the village's authorized representative at American Municipal Power and Ohio Municipal Electric Association state meetings. Former administrator Wayne York had filled the role. The next meeting of these groups is Sept. 17. Village administrator Chris Dicke will be the alternate representative. The plan is for Dicke to become the primary representative in the near future.

Attorney Thomas Guillozet was hired to replace recently retired magistrate Bob Kehoe. Guillozet will be paid $175 per hour for his services. The magistrate oversees any contested cases that cannot be decided in mayor's court.

The final emergency resolution transferred $30,000 from the income tax fund into the swimming pool fund to cover current expenses until the end of the pool season. In response to several questions she had received about the appearance of bubbles in the pool liner, Dicke noted these were due to the adhesive used in the installation. In a relatively simple process, village employees release the excess air in the liner to restore it to a smooth surface.

Council members also,

• officially appointed Dicke as the village administrator.

• approved a $20,766 change order from PAB Construction for additional sidewalk replacement, additional curbing and concrete pavement removal on the Circle Drive Project

• learned assessments have been distributed to Circle Drive residents for sidewalks and curbs in the recently completed projects. Residents have the option of paying upfront or having the fees applied to their tax bills.

• rezoned lots at 19 and 21 N. Main St. and 12 and 18 N. Franklin from R-2 residential to commercial. No future development plans for the lots have been announced.

• heard Dicke discuss initiating a pedestrian study to see if the speed limits on state routes 274 and 66 need to be reduced. She also suggested a study of village water and sewage rates, which were last increased four years ago, Pape said.

• heard first reading of a plan to upgrade the village computer systems at a cost of $40,000.

• heard the asphalt path is in place at the Kuenning-Dicke nature area, the parking lot on the north edge of the area also has been paved.

• learned additional amenities are set to be installed at Komminsk Park. This week another musical toy called a Skyaphone will be put into place. The Twist and Shout is to be installed before the end of September.

• learned resident Tyler Liechliter has been working on installing several concrete pads on village paths as he continues to work toward his Eagle Scout award.