The talk around Richwood is about what to do with the former town hall/opera house building.
Monday night, Council met Sarah Barr, owner “Raising The Barr,” who is offering to talk with village residents about what they would like to see done regarding tearing down or remodeling the building. As of now, council needs more data before making any decisions about the building.
Barr is currently working with Marysville on the Avalon Theater project. She has raised two thirds of the money needed to fix that theater, which will be a multi-use facility for the city. She also looks into securing grant money for projects.
Council has several options to consider:
•Tear down the historic building, which Mayor Scott Jerew has said will cost of $32,830.
•Save the front of the building and the clock tower, possibly for a historical society, office space, etc.
•Save the whole building, shore up the roof for safety reasons and consider remodeling the whole building.
Council has considered saving the last two bays to use for storage of village equipment and also the street light operation panel.
It was also discussed that there are no facilities in Union County that would hold two hundred or more for a wedding, banquet, etc. Having a facility such as that could be rented out and the fees could be used for upkeep on the building.
Solons approved a motion to authorize Barr to perform a feasibility study for $12,500, pending the village solicitor’s approval of the contract.
Barr stated that she does have a soft spot for Richwood since her grandfather, Cecil Charles, was instrumental many years ago in discussing remodeling the town hall, and her parents, Bruce Charles and Molly Morrison, both graduated from North Union.
Mayor Jerew reminded council to talk to neighbors and friends about filling out census forms, because every person not counted in the census for Richwood means that the village loses $1,200. That money can go a long way in helping the village, he said.
A request had been made of council to allow a Boy Scout Retreat on May 2 to take place at Richwood Park. The scouts would go fishing, swimming, and camping, while possibly working on earning badges. Jerew said the village only has four camp sites and he would look into getting a camping permit for the one evening.
Local resident Jerry Moore asked council about several properties that are littered with junk, unlicensed vehicles, trash and furniture. It is unsightly and he would like to see more pride in the village of having cleaned up properties.
Jerew said that there are ordinances regarding couches on porches and sitting in yards, noxious weeds and tall grass that can be enforced. He said that if the village were to take junk from yards, it will be assessed on the owner’s taxes. So with spring in a few weeks, council would like to see properties free of trash and cleaned up.
In other business, council:
•Heard that Reddy Brown, Donald Ridgeway and Laurie Eliot Shea will be the tree commission committee.
•Learned that Jason Wills would like to work with council on making adjustments for him to install streets on Dudley Circle and finish up the housing project this year.
•Was told by Village Administrator Monte Asher that Pickens Company ran a camera in a storm line clean out on West Bomford Street, jetted the main and will be placing two clean outs for preventative maintenance in the future.
•Was told that all town blue prints were moved from storage in the opera house to the village administration building for storage.
•Heard that four new signs were installed on posts at each entrance into Richwood honoring the Nation FFA Agronomy team.
•Heard that Asher started a change order to remove the old street lights, which will be paid by grant money.
•Was told that Coronavirus guildelines are in place for the police department.
The next open council meeting is set for Monday, March 23, at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.