Tuesday, April 24th, 2018

Abatement OK'd for brewing company

Couple opening microbrewery in New Bremen

By Jeff Elking
NEW BREMEN - Village council members on Monday approved final reading of an ordinance establishing an eight-year, 45-percent tax abatement for the New Bremen Brewing Co.
Business owners James and Diane Gilberg plan to open a microbrewery on the west edge of the village in the Bunker Hill Industrial Park, directly east of the Fastenal building and fronting State Route 274. The planned building would be 3,600 square feet with seating for up to 85 people.
The brewery, to be named Gongoozle, will have James Gilberg as the brewmaster along with three full-time and three part-time employees. The business would have an A1C permit, which would allow beer to be produced and sold on the premises. The owners hope to be operational by this fall.
Members also gave final approval to renewing the village employee insurance plan with Anthem. The plan, which goes into effect May 1, will see the same coverage levels with workers absorbing a 5.1 percent increase and a $5,400 out-of-pocket family limit.
Administrator Chris Dicke said she had met with officials from GPD Group, an electrical engineering firm, concerning replacing the electrical transformer that failed earlier this winter. The lowest quote for work was $107,831, of which the village must pay a $15,000 deductible. GPD employees have also reviewed the village's industrial electrical loop.
"We are in relatively good shape for 10 years before we would need to update any big items. We should and will continue to do preventive maintenance," Dicke said.
Vectren should complete its work on the Eastmoor/Front Street project this week, with general contractor Shinn Brothers expected to start the last week of April.
Mayor Jeff Pape informed council the village is working with Marketing Essentials of New Bremen to update and improve the village website.
"The goal is to give it a fresh face and updates and improvements every two to three years," he said.
Dicke went on to say the email billing and ACH payments available on the website continues to gain users, which makes the office more efficient. Updates should help improve the flow of information from residents to the village and make it easier to fill out and submit electronic forms directly to the village.
Dicke also reminded residents to contact village officials before starting a building project to get the necessary permits and verify property lines and agreements.
The annual village cleanup is from 8-11 a.m. May 5 at the recycling center. Residents are asked to consult the village website, newbremen.com for eligible items and to remember to bring proof of residency.
Additional online stories on this date
WAPAKONETA - The second St. Marys teen in a week has died from injuries suffered in and automobile accident on U.S. 33 in western Auglaize County. [More]
Bulldogs defeat state-ranked St. Henry 8-3
CELINA - After having endured a rough weekend of baseball and facing a tough week ahead, Celina needed something to spark the team as it faced state-ranked St. Henry on a rainy Monday afternoon. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Celina seeks help in collecting funds
CELINA - City officials are turning to the state to try to collect nearly $325,000 in delinquent municipal court fees and fines.
After having heard
ST. MARYS - The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office is now investigating a homicide after one of two men shot on April 11 near State Route 364 near Grand Lake died this morning due to injuries suffered in the incident.
ST. MARYS - City officials introduced legislation on Monday to speed construction of the new water-treatment plant.
Council members gave first read
MINSTER - School board members on Monday accepted a $293,247 fire-suppression work bid for the planned junior/senior high school renovation project.
The bid was submitted by A-1 Sprinkler & Systems Integration of Miamisburg.
CELINA - A volunteer for the Aaron Heilers campaign pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a reported confrontation with rival candidate Travis Faber on April 17.
ST. HENRY - To make a grant application for a $397,000 intersection project more competitive, village officials might increase their share of the cost if their application were approved.
CELINA - Mercer County Cheryl Ann Board of Developmental Disabilities members on Monday discussed plans for their required yearly in-service on May 3
Mercer County's unemployment rate, already the state's lowest, fell another half percent in March to 2.4 percent.
The March rate was down from February's 2.9 percent, according to Ohio Department of Job and Family Services data released today.
ST. HENRY - MPS Feed LLC, a partnership between Mercer Landmark Inc and Prairie Star Farms, is building a new state-of-the-art feed mill and processing plant in St. Henry.
COLDWATER - Austin Riethman worked on his swing and getting stronger in the offseason.   
And the Coldwater leadoff hitter is seeing results.
Rie
Compiled by Colin Foster and Gary R. Rasberry
Minster scored four runs in the top of the second, but South Adams score five in the bottom of the fourth to win the interstate battle of state-ranked baseball teams 5-4 at Anderson Field in Berne, Indiana.