By DENISE R. FREELAND
News Leader Staff Writer
Minerva Service Director Steve Jackson reported to Village Council, at its meeting Aug. 24, that in his capacity as building inspector, he has examined and photographed the Southern Inn on U.S. Route 30 and a building on Short Street, both of which are in poor repair.
He said he deems both structures to present health hazards and that Minerva Volunteer Fire Department Chief Aaron Stoller believes them to be fire hazards. Law Director Clark Battista is in contact the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the buildings, and has drafted a notice to the Short Street property's owner.
Councilman Phil Davison said he spoke to the owner of the Short Street property who said he plans to "take care" of the building.
Mayor James Waller reported on behalf of Administrator David Harp that Minerva Forging, which is moving into the former FormTech facility, has completed engineering and is obtaining right of ways for a new gas line.
The village was awarded a $5,532 NatureWorks grant to be used at Bicentennial Park, which will possibly be used to work on the creek banks or for a new access road, Waller said.
He also reported that the Market Street railroad crossing by the Normandy Inn will not be rebuilt this year. Site plans for the crossing must be submitted by Nov. 9 and the Ohio Rail Commission has until Aug. 11, 2011, to complete the project.
Waller said he plans to contact OhiRail, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and the Ohio Rail Commission regarding the Valley Street crossing.
"Maybe we just need to ask the state, if we pave over the railroad tracks down there, what kind of problems are we going to have," Waller said. "It's apparent that OhiRail's not going to do anything with it."
Waller also informed council that Rolland Wolf is suing the village for lawyer's fees from a June 2000 case regarding a fence.
Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce Director Jim Arrasmith presented videos developed by the Minerva High School audiovisual and leadership classes addressing swearing. Council agreed that he should work with the school district to broadcast the videos to all students.
"Talking to the kids, it may come back slowly to the parents, and some of the teachers have a tendency to get a little overboard with their language from what I'm hearing," Arrasmith said. "What I'm after is that yelling back and forth down the street, the discomfort of the language in the parking lots and between the schools."
In other business, council:
* APPROVED resolutions authorizing Harp to file applications with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the purpose of acquiring funding through the state Issue I: Ohio Parks and Natural Resources bond issue NatureWorks program, and for funding assistance under federal Land and Water Conservation as administered through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
* SUSPENDED statutory rules to approve all three readings of an ordinance making appropriations as follows: General Fund, increase from $2,218,437 to $2,239,937; Municipal Road, increase from $0 to $25,000; and Water, increase from $382,675 to $387,675.
* HEARD Waller report the village has received a "guesstimate" of $39,900 for resurfacing Knox Court up to the drive for the offices. He said he would like to see the project completed and Chestnut Street paved this year.
* DISCUSSED laying out the new section of East Lawn Cemetery and heard Jackson suggest that the men who dig graves should be consulted.
* HEARD Councilwoman Billie Rowe request that the committee charged with updating the charter meet.
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