Coldwater swears in new chief of police

COLDWATER - Village council members welcomed a new police chief at Monday's regular meeting.

Kevin Wynk was sworn in as chief of police by village solicitor Judy Koesters.

Wynk graduated from Grand Lake Law Enforcement Academy in 2012 and began his career with the village of Coldwater. He worked as a patrol deputy for the Mercer County Sheriff's Office for five years and returned to Coldwater in 2019 as a patrol sergeant.

Wynk was raised in Coldwater and is honored to have the opportunity to serve the community.

"To be able to be promoted to the chief of police in my hometown is a compliment," he said. "It's a very proud moment."

Former police chief Jason Miller's resignation, effective Feb. 26, was accepted at the previous council meeting. He will remain with the Coldwater force working most of his shifts at Mercer County Community Hospital.

Mercer Health officials in August 2022 approved a contract with the Coldwater Police Department to provide coverage at the hospital, as workplace violence has increased in hospitals locally and across the nation, Mercer Health Chief Financial Officer Jon Dingledine had said at the time.

In other action, councilors gave first reading of an ordinance accepting the plat of RK Development Phase One. Randy and Karen Schwieterman will develop a subdivision between West Vine Street and Burkettsville-St. Henry Road.

Village administrator/ engineer Eric Thomas said the five lots are intended for single family residential homes.

Also on Monday, councilors heard second reading of an ordinance modifying the personnel policy manual.

Changes include eliminating Good Friday and adding Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth as holidays for village employees, to coincide with the federal holidays.

The amendment would also eliminate the maximum number of sick days an employee will be reimbursed at a 25% rate at the time of separation.

Included is a provision for eligible employees to opt out of the medical insurance policy and be reimbursed at the rate of pay equal to a health savings account single payment.

The amendment also adds that employees who are reimbursed for educational expenses and leave village employment within three years of completing the training may be required to pay back the cost of said training.

Thomas reported he was contacted by the Ohio Department of Health about the automatic sampling device at the wastewater plant.

"The samples go to the Ohio Department of Health's laboratory," he said.

Thomas noted they test for different things, including the COVID-19 virus.

"We've been pretty flat. There was a little hiccup in August. It went up maybe 100%," he said. "This week it went up 2,300%."

He said nothing can be done about it, but wants people to be aware of it.

Thomas said the Coldwater Public Library will hand out solar eclipse glasses beginning at 9 a.m. March 2. This will be a drive-through distribution in the library parking lot.

Councilors met in executive session for 12 minutes to discuss land and personnel. No action was taken afterward.

Council meets next at 7 p.m. March 11 at the village hall.