Tuesday, August 14th, 2012

St. Marys director resigns after 5 months

By Amy Kronenberger
ST. MARYS - Safety service director Jason Little announced his resignation on Monday after only five months on the job.
Little, 40, said he's resigning because he was not able to sell his home in Washington Courthouse and his wife received a teaching job there. Little is stepping back into his former job in public engineering.
"It's very tough," he said. "This was a great opportunity for me, and I hate to leave it ... But I don't have a lot of choice in the matter; I have to do what's right for the family."
Little said he has enjoyed the job, which kept him busy.
"It's been a really great experience with a lot of challenges and a lot of people coming at me from all sides," he said. "That's what I like; I like to stay busy."
Little agreed to stay until Oct. 29. Mayor Pat McGowan said they shouldn't need to hire an interim director. However, if the search takes longer, they will hire an interim.
The mayor said he plans to have advertisements for the open position ready by this afternoon.
McGowan said this morning council members refused to relax the job requirements for the safety service director, which states the person in the position must be a professional engineer with at least five years experience.
"That really limits the field and will make it really tough to find a replacement," he said.
Council members discussed changing the job description during an executive session specifically called for personnel matters. Talking about the qualifications behind closed doors was a violation of Ohio's sunshine law. No formal action was taken following the session.
McGowan said today he did not know discussing the matter was illegal, and law director Kraig Noble, who attended the meeting, made no objection. They will discuss the matter again in open session during their next council meeting.
Little was hired in March, filling the shoes of interim safety service director Craig Moeller, who continues to work as city engineer. Moeller took on the interim safety service director position in December when former director Tom Hitchcock left to take the safety service director job in Celina.
McGowan said he's disappointed Little couldn't stay, but he understands.
"He's a fine young man, and I wish him and his family well," he said.
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Subscriber and paid stories on this date
CELINA - For 14 years the pie auction at the Mercer County Fair has brought in thousands of dollars to help pay for landscaping, benches and asphalt at the fairgrounds.
ST. MARYS - City officials are considering solar power as a way to utilize more clean energy.
Safety service director Jason Little on Monday said American Municipal Power is asking if any municipalities are interested in offering land for a solar field.
CELINA - City council on Monday night approved the transfer of a liquor license from a closed bar to a retail/restaurant business on Main Street.
T
COLDWATER - A meeting will be held Monday for residents living near Robert and Butler streets to discuss installing sidewalks between the streets.
Coldwater 175th anniversary
COLDWATER - Approximately two dozen residents gathered at the village's municipal center Monday evening for an informational meeting on the village's 175th anniversary celebration in 2013.
VAN WERT - A third wind turbine soon will power Cooper Farms' cooked meats location.
Officials at the Van Wert plant announced this week they are i
NEW BREMEN - The elementary/junior high building is in need of roof repairs due to several leaks in the 1991 addition, board of education members learned Monday.
Local Roundup
Compiled by Ryan Hines and Gary R. Rasberry
It was a successful start to the fall sports season for Celina's girls tennis team as the Bulldogs hit the road and opened with a 4-1 triumph over Sidney on Monday.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Tk's Diva and This Sands Hot each picked up wins in their respective divisions of the Grand Lake Trot as the Mercer County Fair opened its first of two nights of harness racing action at the fairgrounds.