Village sewer project gets started

COLDWATER - Work on the village's sewer overflow elimination project has begun.

Shinn Brothers Inc. of Celina, was hired for the $1.6 million project, village administrator/engineer Eric Thomas told council members at Monday's meeting.

Council had accepted the project bid last summer. The village has received an Ohio Public Works small governments grant for $500,000 and a $510,000 no-interest loan. The remainder of the cost will come from the village's sanitary sewer fund.

Officials are under Ohio Environmental Protection Agency orders to separate the storm sewers from the sanitary sewer system to prevent raw sewage from being washed into Coldwater and Hardin creeks.

"It will be touch and go, weather-wise," Thomas added. "They are setting some lift stations."

Village officials obtained an easement agreement so they wouldn't have to purchase any ground for the project.

In other action, council recognized resident Don Desch for his work on the village tree commission from 2009-2016. Mayor Joe Knapschaefer presented him with a plaque for his service.

"As part of the Jim Sowar/Don Desch team, he was there from Day 1," Knapschaefer said.

Desch has reached his two-term limit and will be replaced by Rick Muhlenkamp.
   Finance director Jason Eyink reported total revenue for 2016 was $1.8 million, up from $1.63 million in 2015. He told council members he did not receive any auction bids for the 1996 dump truck with plow blade at a reserve minimum bid of $10,000. He requested permission to lower the reserve to $7,500. Council approved the change.
   A citizen has requested the pedestrian cross signals be retrofitted with audio for those with vision impairment, Thomas said. This should be discussed by the transportation committee. The equipment could be included with the Ohio Department of Transportation enhancement grant for the installation of new signals at the intersection of West Vine and North Second streets.
   Council set a transportation committee meeting for 7 p.m. Monday to discuss the issue.
   Members further discussed whether to relocate the center line on South Second Street. This would result in a loss of parking on both sides of the street where the road narrows. The changes would start at the alley just south of the Eagles lodge and run to the southern corporation line.

When a new water line was installed, the project engineer asked if village officials were considering moving the lane line to the center of the road, Thomas said. The street will be paved this spring and the line could be moved at that time.

Affected residents were sent letters in October informing them of a transportation committee meeting, where this was to be discussed. Nine residents and property owners attended. Those who signed in at that meeting will be mailed notices of the Jan. 16 meeting, which will be held in council chambers. All committee and council meetings are open to the public.

In other action, council members,

• elected Ralph Schwieterman as council president.

• appointed Doug Bertke to the tree commission.

• appointed Kevin Brunswick to the planning commission.

• appointed Schwieterman to the board of appeals.