Friday, January 14th, 2022
Chickasaw council prepares to sell village hall
Plan is to move to another building
By Tom Millhouse
CHICKASAW - Councilors at their Wednesday meeting advanced a plan to sell the village hall. Sealed bids on the building will be opened at the March 9 council meeting.
Mayor Ben Kramer reported council directed village solicitor Judy Koesters to prepare a legal description of the property on Wayne Street to prepare to advertise for bids on the building. He said council set the minimum bid at $90,000.
Kramer said if the property is sold, money from the sale would be used to renovate a village-owned building next to the Chickasaw fire station on State Route 716. He said he expects funds from the sale would be enough to cover the cost of renovating the building that would then house the village office.
Kramer said there has been interest expressed in purchasing the village hall, which formerly served as the village water treatment facility. The water plant has since been moved to the Marion Community Industrial Park and the old water tower was torn down. He said the current village hall doesn't have water service or restroom facilities.
Craig Knapke of Access Engineering advised council that Mercer County Commissioners will open bids Jan. 20 on the village's planned $2.1 million northside infrastructure improvement project. Council is expected to make a recommendation on a contractor for the project at its Feb. 9 meeting. Commissioners would make the final decision and award the contract, Kramer said.
The northside infrastructure improvement project involves the reconstruction of Wayne Street, including new water lines, storm sewer lines and Americans with Disabilities Act compliant sidewalks and repaving state routes 274 and 716 in the village. Plans also call for the paving of Veterans, Virginia, Center, First, Roosevelt and Liberty streets, the eastern portion of Wayne Street and part of Mulberry Street. The project is expected to be completed by fall.
Funding sources for the project include a $750,000 Community Block Grant Neighborhood Revitalization grant, a $160,000 Community Development Block Grant, a $500,000 Ohio Public Works Commission grant, a $510,000 Ohio Public Works Commission interest-free loan, $200,000 in Ohio Department of Transportation matching funds for paving state routes 274 and 716 in town and $30,000 in village money.
Council approved payments totaling $60,000 for contracted services related to the improvement project. Also approved was a $1,539 payment to Access Engineering for the survey on the proposed second water line from the village to the Marion Community Industrial Park.
In other action, Kramer swore in councilors Randy Liette, Jeff Pohl and Wayne Hein to serve new four-year terms on council. Liette was elected council president.
Cole Van Gundy was sworn in as a new member of the Chickasaw Board of Public Affairs. Jim Moorman was thanked by village officials for his 17 years of service on the BPA.
Councilors discussed a proposed ordinance to regulate concrete driveway setback from the street. The proposed ordinance would require property owners installing new driveways to make the portion of the driveway in the village utility easement asphalt, not concrete, where it meets with the street.
Council members agreed to keep regular council meetings at 8 p.m. during months when Daylight Saving Time is in effect and at 7 p.m. during the other months.
The next meeting is 7 p.m. at the village hall.
