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Members of the public help clean up a destroyed barn near Four Seasons Park in Minster after high winds flattened it.
MINSTER - A tornado that ripped through the area early Saturday morning caused heavy damage to Four Seasons Park and left some village residents without power for about 14 hours.
National Weather Service officials confirmed Tuesday that the storm was an EF0 tornado.
Village administrator Don Harrod told councilors Tuesday night about the extent of damage caused by the high winds. While insurance officials have not set a dollar figure on the damage, Harrod said it will run in the "hundreds of thousands" of dollars.
"One shelter house is completely destroyed, roofs on the dugouts were blown off, one scoreboard was damaged, one bank of lights is out, several backstops were damaged along with fencing around the diamonds and a number of trees were uprooted or broken off," Harrod said.
A man inspects the ruins of a destroyed shelter house near a softball diamond in Four Seasons Park in Minster on Saturday afternoon.
The storm also knocked out power to local customers starting around 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Power was restored to the village around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Harrod.
He said five power poles were damaged on the south side of West Seventh Street and two two AES transmission line poles were broken off.
"Village crews along with the assistance of New Bremen's electrical crews were able to rebuild the village's pole line," Harrod said. AES crews reset the two transmission poles and repaired a broken crossarm west of the village.
Councilor Tom Herkenhoff expressed appreciation to the village of New Bremen for the assistance provided by its electric crews assistance in restoring power to the village.
Several linemen repair utility wires along West Seventh Street near Four Seasons Park in Minster on Saturday.
On a 4-1 vote, councilors approved a resolution to install sidewalks along State Route 119 on the north side of the highway. The sidewalks will be installed on the north side of State Route 119 west of State Route 66 to Miami-Erie Drive. A crosswalk with flashing lights will be installed at that point and the sidewalk will then run west on the south side of the highway. Harrod said all of the area affected is in the village limits except for a 40-foot section, which is in Jackson Township.
The cost of the project has been estimated at $130,000.
Councilor Travis Wilges cast the lone negative vote, saying the entire area where sidewalks are to be installed should be in the village.
Harrod said county commissioners will be asked to assess the cost of the sidewalk on the 40-foot section to the property owner. Mayor Dennis Kitzmiller said the village doesn't have the authority to assess the cost to a property owner outside town.
Harold Riethman's property is in the affected area and was annexed after council dropped the sidewalk issue in November 2021. Riethman said since the village would have to pay for the cost of installing the sidewalk if commissioners don't assess the property owner, it should pay for his sidewalks as well.
Riethman was the only property owner to speak against the sidewalk project at the meeting.
Riethman also asked whether street lights would be included in the sidewalk project. Herkenhoff said street lights are installed whenever the village puts in sidewalks.
Councilors approved an ordinance authorizing the execution of an agreement with Jackson Township to annex 15 acres on the northeast section of town to the village. The property, located off East Seventh Street, will be developed for the next phase of the Stonegate subdivision.
An ordinance to authorize an annexation agreement on 4.9 acres at the west end of West Seventh Street was given first reading.
Councilors also,
• approved an ordinance setting new rates for the village swimming pool. The ordinance raises the price of a season family pool pass from $80 to $100 and the price of a single-day individual admission from $3 to $4 for adults and $2 to $3 for children. The season pass for individuals remains at $50.
• heard Harrod report the village sold playground equipment being replaced at the Paris Street Park on GovDeals.com for $12,680. He also reported new equipment for Stallostown at Paris Street Park for the playground and splash pad has been ordered from Gametime at a cost of $1.2 million. The price includes installation. The playground equipment will be installed this year, but the splash pad will be a 2024 project. Harrod said he also met with Garmann and Miller staff to prepare a park project plan to submit to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in conjunction with a $500,000 grant.
• learned inspection is set to begin for sidewalks on the northwest quadrant of the village. Harrod said when a list of sidewalks that need to be repair is updated, letters will be mailed to property owners.
• went into executive session to discuss the possible sale of land. No action was taken.
The next council meeting will be 6:30 p.m. April 18 at village hall.
A destroyed utlity pole lays on the ground near West Seventh Street in Minster.
