Richwood Zoning Inspector Marion Bump was questioned by village council members during Monday night’s meeting regarding the delay of a new business obtaining their occupancy permit at the industrial park.
Bump stated that officials with T.C.I. went to the Union County Engineer’s Office to secure an occupancy permit. They were told that the county needed a copy of the blue prints of the building in triplicate, which Bump assumed was already on file.
The former business, MAI, left the facility nearly two years ago and the building was sold to TCI.
The new business is permitted by the EPA to clean materials based on the PCB content. Once proven to be PCB free, the items are then able to be recycled and given a second life as new products. The business is seeking an occupancy permit so they may start hiring approximately 20 employees and begin working.
Village officials are wondering why the county is not approving the permit, as the structure was previously a manufacturing business.
Council is trying to help the new business get up and running.
Christy McMahon approached council with permission to work on the Fisherman’s Trail at Richwood Lake. McMahon is a member of the committee working on the walking path around the lake.
McMahon showed council a waiver of liability and asked if it would be permissible to have volunteers sign when they are working on projects at the park. Village Solicitor Alison Boggs shared with council that it would work as a “blanket” waiver for any projects, such as picking up trash, brush, planting trees, etc., with council’s permission prior to the proposed projects. Council suggested the committee come to council with a plan for any removal or planting projects.
Cameron Troesch updated solons about his Eagle Scout Project of replacing support posts at shelter house #1. He has four of the sixteen posts cut, stained and replaced. He will continue working on the project with assistance from councilman/former scout leader Reddy Brown and Troesch’s scout leader.
Council is also continuing the search of a recorded deed of the former town hall building, located at 101 S. Franklin St. There have been several inquiries about the possible purchase of the building, but council is unable to proceed until a recorded deed is located. Boggs is continuing the search for that document.
During the meeting, councilman George Showalter asked about fixing a leak in the roof of the town hall. If and when a deed is found, he felt that fixing the leak would be a benefit to council in keeping the building from further decay. Council also questioned having the vines on the south side of the building removed. Village crews will look into the job.
It was announced that the village will host the annual Trick or Treat event on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Richwood.
Council also approved Resolution 09012017 which accepts the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission and authorized the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor. Due to time constraints, passage was voted on after the second reading at the Monday night meeting.
It was announced that village employees Tim McGowan and Eric Kincaid completed service training for fire hydrants and valves. Village crews also tapped new water and sewer service on S. Franklin Street.
The police department is still in the process of interviewing candidates for full and part-time officers. It was also announced that they are waiting on radio and camera equipment to be installed in the R-17 unit that was recently donated by Union County Commissioners to replace R-9 as the newer K-9 unit.
An update on the walking path committee work includes preparing titles for closings on properties, which should be completed in the next two weeks. And funding on the closing monies of the project have been applied for from state grants. The amount of $110,000 is needed to finish the walking path around Richwood Lake. The committee has been applying for more grants to see the project completely funded.
Mayor Scott Jerew and Village Solicitor/Police Chief Monte Asher were absent from the meeting due to illness.