Following the opening of the Monday night’s Richwood Village Council meeting, members went into executive session to discuss employee compensation.
When members returned to regular session, a motion was made and approved to increase employee wages two percent, effective Jan. 1. An exception was made eliminating the village zoning officer from this ordinance. Another ordinance for the zoning officer’s salary was approved and it was raised to $3,600 a year, effective Jan. 1.
Fiscal officer Sarah Sellers informed council that the village books continue to be updated and that a rough draft of a temporary budget for 2020 will be available to work through. The village needs to have a temporary budget to start the new year. The temporary budget will be submitted to the Union County Auditor before Jan. 1. A permanent budget is due by the end of March.
Mayor Scott Jerew addressed council regarding a few points of interest. He received a call from the TCI of Ohio, the recycling factory located in the village’s Industrial Park. The company is outgrowing the facility and has approached Jerew regarding the purchase of approximately eight acres in the park in order to possibly build another facility. This property would allow the size of the company’s parking lot to be increased. Currently, the company has 40 employees and the expansion would increase that number to 60 employees.
Jerew suggested to council that it get that section of property appraised and continue discuss the issue with TCI. The property includes land on Ira Bean Parkway from Route 37 and heading east.
In other business, council:
-Received an invitation to attend the Wreaths Across America ceremony to be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Veteran’s Way memorial. The Union County Civil Air Patrol will be performing the ceremony of laying wreaths at the memorial. This ceremony has been held in Richwood for many years. Veterans and the public may attend the ceremony.
-Heard from former resident Dean Gilliam regarding a property he owns on West Bomford Street. This property runs along Ash Run and floods during heavy rains. He offered an opportunity to council should it be interested in purchasing the property in the future.
-Heard that Evan Jamison may have property near the girl’s softball diamond should the village be interested in purchasing it.
-Heard that the North Union Board of Education may be interested in making the former middle school property on Norris Street available for a proposed Resiliency Center for Richwood. Other organizations supporting this project include The Hope Center, Union County Board of Mental Health, Impact 60, Union County Health Department, Village of Richwood and many other groups. This proposed project will have opportunities for community members to seek mental health, food pantry, clothing donations, drug and alcohol counseling, etc. Jerew will attend the next school board meeting on Monday.
-Heard the curbs, asphalt and catch basins are all in regarding the Edgwood storm line and street project. There is still some clean up, fencing and moving of dirt to complete.
-Was informed that new street lights should be delivered any day. The light poles may be readied when they arrive to town, laying them along the street when the poles will be installed. Once they are delivered and staged, they will come in the next day to install the poles.
-Was told that all officers qualified during recent handgun re-qualifying.
-Heard that the Marysville Police Chief Floyd Golden has authorized the Richwood police officers use of the Marysville indoor shooting range for fire arms training in April, 2020 at no charge.
Due to the next scheduled meeting of Dec. 23 being right before Christmas, council will hold its second meeting of the month on Monday at 7 p.m. at the administration building. The public is invited to attend.