Richwood Council voted unanimously at Monday night’s regular meeting to purchase a new street roller for the village.
Village Administrator Monte Asher had received bids for several types of street rollers that could be used in compressing new hot mix when filling potholes on village streets. It is equipped with a vibrating drum that will that will help compact the hot mix into the pothole and and adhere to the asphalt around it.
The price tag for the selected 2018 Bomag BW900-50 roller is $15,114 and it will be purchased from Southeastern Equipment in Dublin. It is hoped that it will be delivered in June.
Asher stated that alleys may also be harley-raked and the roller could also be used to compact the filler in potholes.
Council members also discussed proceeding with securing bids from refuse companies. Solons have discussed the possibility of having one company pick-up village trash, coming once a week to gather garbage, instead of four or five different companies picking up trash five days a week and damaging village streets.
Asher showed a picture taken this week of a trash truck cutting a corner and driving over a catch basin on East Blagrove Street, missing the actual roadway by two feet.
Mayor Scott Jerew will contact the North Central Ohio Solid Waste District, which offered to put the project out for bids at no costs to the village. Council does not have to accept any of the bids, but felt it should continue with the project members have worked on for a few years.
Asher also submitted a request to council regarding the police department. He asked council to consider adding another rank in the department. Currently there is a position for a lieutenant and the police chief, but Asher said he would like to see a sergeant’s position added.
The position would be filled within the department. Any present officers could apply if they met a series of requirements. This would provide an officer with authority on duty during all three shifts. After some discussion, council voted to approve the request.
In other business, council:
-Heard from village resident Geof Phipps about flooding in the area of Wood Street and Beatty Avenue. He asked council what could be done to eliminate the excess water.
-Authorized the disposal of old equipment to be sold as scrap, with the money going into the general fund.
-Heard about last week’s waterline break on East Ottawa Street which made a boil alert necessary.
-Learned that the police department is getting quotes for body cameras and getting ready for a trial period.
-Was told that Asher, serving in his role as village police chief, will be the Master of Ceremonies at the Union County Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony on May 10 in Marysville. The North Union New Age A Capella group will be invited to sing the national anthem at the event.
Council’s next meeting will be held Monday, April 23 at 7 p.m. in the administration building, 153 N. Franklin St.
The public is invited to attend.