The Village of Richwood Council wants to encourage healthy transportation around the municipality through walking or biking.
Tamisha Matus, a Creating Healthy Communities coordinator at the Union County Health Department, said she can allocate $7,500 to $10,000 in grant funding to develop an active transportation plan for the village.
Matus explained that active transportation means using “physical strength to get from point A to point B without the use of a car.”
The active transportation plan would include maps, a sidewalk inventory and a bike access inventory “to help bolster any funding applications moving forward,” Matus said.
“I really think it would be a good next step, but I want to see what you guys think,” she told the council. “We’d eventually need to get the public input as well.”
Aspects of active transportation would be to increase access to the park and connect the streets, Matus said.
The local health department has funded multiple park amenities over the years, bringing the goal now to “get everyone to the park,” Matus said.
Additionally, the plan could include safe routes to school to encourage North Union students to ride their bicycles to their respective buildings. Matus is expected to approach the local board of education to discuss the active transportation plan.
Mayor Scott Jerew added that he would like to see the village improve its health rating.
“We can do that. This would help with that for sure,” Matus replied.
With council’s approval, Matus said she will include the village in her grant funding allocations. She will also share an example of an active transportation plan from another municipality in Union County.
In other news:
-Richwood Bank has applied to vacate part of a right of way on the north side of Blagrove Street and the west side of Clinton Street, where the bank’s parking lot is located. Jerew said the bank would like to change the right of way to build to the edge of the parking lot. He added that there is not any infrastructure underneath the asphalt. Zoning Inspector Marion Bump said it is in accordance with the current zoning of the property. The council approved the first reading of a resolution to vacate the right of way.
-Matus told the council that the Union County Health Department will not be able to provide the Richwood Farmers Market with “a substantial grant fund” next year. The market received $7,300 in grant funding last year and $5,000 this year. However, she said the health department can continue to sponsor the market.
-The council approved the purchase of a nearly $10,000 new John Deere mower for the park. Village Administrator Monte Asher said he will trade in the current mower.
-Asher is working with Craig Mescher from Access Engineering for bid packets about painting the village’s water tower.
-Asher is meeting with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency about a mitigation plan. He added that the village will be spraying to mitigate mosquitos throughout the summer and will alert residents, including before the tractor pull on Saturday and before the annual Richwood Independent Fair.
-The council approved the second reading of a resolution to adopt the Magnetic Springs-Richwood sanitary Sewer System.
-The council agreed to remove the horseshoe courts at the Richwood Lake Park and replace them with the splash pad.
-The council agreed to spend about $1,000 to survey the land on Lynn Street, where a shelter house and parking lot will be located. The Village of Richwood will receive $50,000 from the 2022 state capital budget for the project.
-Brown will work on an amendment to address grass clippings and leaves in the general ordinance.
-The council approved the Richwood Planning Commission’s membership bylaws update to match the Ohio Revised Code.
-In a 5-1 vote, the council approved Cheryl Johncox’s membership to a two-year term on the planning commission. Council member Pat Morse dissented. Additionally, the council approved Jim Dew to a four-year term on the planning commission, with Council member Von Beal dissenting.
-The council approved hiring Triad Architects not to exceed $42,100 for the opera house restoration project.
-The council approved the proposed zoning map again after the planning commission’s membership became legal. The commission will move forward with a public hearing.
-Bump said Habitat for Humanity applied for a permit to rebuild a home that burnt down on Clinton Street.
The planning commission will meet on Monday, July 11 at 6 p.m. followed by a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Council will then hold a regular meeting at 7 p.m. that evening.