By Megan Lewis
For the Sidney Daily News
JACKSON CENTER — Chief Chuck Wirick introduced the newest police officer to the force, Officer Kaitlyn Deal during the Monday, July 24, village council meeting. Deal graduated from the police academy on June 17, 2023. She was sworn into duty on June 19. Even though she currently lives in Sidney, she will be working part time at both the Jackson Center and Botkins Police Department. Wirick sees this as a benefit in her training, as both work for similar ideals within their respective communities.
Council approved an ordinance establishing a new rate class for watering the athletic fields in the village. It was originally added to the rate classes on the 2018 water table, but was dropped off by mistake. The new rate class will be 1 ½ of the present rate for that meter size. This does not apply to fire protection service lines, only the athletic fields. No citizens will be affected by this change. The Parks Department will be taking care of the water bill for these places as they always have.
The passing of ordinance which allows for certain adjustments to be made to the appropriations of certain public funds was also approved. The General Fund will get an appropriation increase of $25,000 to cover general engineering services like Choice One. Next will be a $12,000 increase to the Sewer Operating Fund to pay the landfill fees for the disposal of Bio-Solids produced by the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Electric Operating Fund will see a $34,775.45 increase to their fund. This is to cover the interest in the Substation Bond Anticipation Note. Lastly, the Mayor’s Court Fund will see an increase of $4,500. This is to disburse its receipts to the state and village.
The first reading of an ordinance for the new general fee schedule for services that the village provides for its citizens was read. The fees going up will be the dump truck rental fee. It will be $50 plus landfill fees of $75 if taken by the company or $150 if taken there by the renter. Filling your pool using the fire hydrant will be $10 for every 1,000 gallons. Mowing and weed control violations will be $200. sewage and storm water tap fee will become $300, while water tap fees become $500. There was some discussion over what the water service line fees will be, but that will probably be resolved by the second reading during next week’s meeting.
National Night Out will be held at the Community Pool on Aug. 2. Ed Maxwell submitted an application to obtain a $2,500 grant for the Jackson View Cemetery. He plans on meeting with the Public Property Committee to discuss the administrative rules for the new cemetery while Choice One begins marking the existing grave sites. Bruce Metz has begun thinking of ways of making it a nicer place with a wrought-iron fence, flagpole, and perhaps a bench. The South Ohio Storm Line construction project began on Monday while they continue making progress lining the storm drains by Plastipak. Brenneman Excavating finished their manhole project last week. A few of the council members finally got a meeting with Dekra-Lite Industry to go over Christmas lighting ideas for the town. They plan on drafting a couple of rough ideas to present to the council at a later date.
