NEW BREMEN — At its meeting Monday night, April 9, the New Bremen Village Council approved staff funding for the local swim team and the soliciting of bids for a replacement transformer.
Medical marijuana restrictions were also briefly discussed, as was an open house for the new police building.
The New Bremen Barracudas, a swim and dive team, were awarded $6,600 in staff costs, down from $7,300 in 2017. The council approved seeking bids for an electrical transformer to replace one that failed, March 29 of this year, at the White Mountain substation. The estimated cost to replace the transformer is $145,000, but the cost to the village is uncertain until figures can be obtained from the insurance company.
The mayor’s report, delivered by councilman Don Kuck in Mayor Jeff Pape’s absence, reminded the group that the open house for the new police building is May 19 from noon to 3 p.m. and would allow residents to meet the new police dog, which is currdently in training. He said $1,028 was collected in the Fines, Fees, and Forfeitures fund.
Village Administrator Chris Dicke said Brookside Laboratories asked if the third-party testing of small amounts of marijuana for their clients violated the village moratorium concerning this drug. The council agreed with the village solicitor, Jason This, that it did not violate any village restrictions.
Dicke also said residents of Front and Eastmoor would be glad to hear that work on their streets is more than 60 percent done, despite adverse weather. Surplus village property has now been listed on GovDeals.com, a website likened to Ebay for government surplus, Dicke reported.
Auglaize County Commissioner Doug Spencer, seeking re-election for a fourth term, was invited to say a few words to the council. Citing his dedication to the job since he was first elected in 2006, Spencer said that, if elected, he intends to continue to work on many important projects, including preparation for the Neil Armstrong Airport’s 50th anniversary. Spencer is opposed by Patrick McGowan of St. Marys in May primaries.
In other business, the council:
• Approved a second reading of an ordinance to renew the Anthem Medical Insurance, effective May 1, 2018.
• Approved a second reading of an ordinance to allow a tax abatement for the New Bremen Brewing Co.
• Tabled a third reading to revoke the current employee handbook and adopt a revised version.
