The Village of Richwood Council agreed to accept property from the Union County Land Bank during its meeting on Monday.
The Union County Land Bank acquired 17 Lynn St. and tore down the house and out buildings on the property.
“The Trail Blazers would like to turn that into a small green space along with a parking lot for the North Union (boys’ baseball) if at all possible,” said Mayor Scott Jerew.
He suggested the village donate the 25 loads of dirt hauled to fill the basement of 17 Lynn St., which cost $3,750, because the land bank has offered to sign off the land to the village at no charge.
The mayor said the land bank indicated the contract will state that if the village sells the land for any reason in the future, half of the proceeds will go to the Union County Land Bank or Union County.
Additionally, the council approved:
-A resolution to allocate funds for the remediation or demolition of blighted properties in the Village of Richwood. According to the resolution, the council agrees to set aside $10,000 per year, beginning Jan. 1, to be saved for the purpose of “assisting with remedying and/or demolishing blighted, unsafe, dilapidated houses after following all laws and procedures for doing the same.”
-The second reading of resolutions to increase the water rate in Richwood and to approve a 5% increase in wages for all employees, including administration, mayor and council, and to increase the zoning officer wages to $7,500 per year and make a part-time officer a full-time officer with benefits. Both resolutions go in effect Jan. 1, 2022.
-The second reading of a resolution about the Village of Richwood temporary appropriations for the 2022 budget.
-The first reading of a resolution to designate Village Solicitor Julie Spain to receive Sunshine Law training on behalf of certain elected officials.
In other news:
The mayor said the village is applying for Capital Bill funds for a splash pad and workout equipment around the trail at the Richwood Park as well as a small shelter house, tables and a fence at 17 Lynn St. He plans to apply for the splash pad as one project and apply for the workout equipment, shelter house, tables and fence as another project. Jerew added that the material for the shelter house is estimated at $17,000.
Signs will be installed near the recycling bins behind the administration building on North Franklin Street to remind users that the bins are for residential use only. The recycling company will also provide a larger box for cardboard and paper. The mayor said the North Union Local School District has inquired about bringing recyclable materials to the village bins once a week. The schools have recycling bins for paper on their campuses. The mayor said he has to check if the schools are considered commercial users.
As for the bulk water update, concrete has been poured and two bolsters were installed to protect the water hauling station. Gravel was hauled to put around the new concrete. Then, a sump pump hose was hooked up, and the valve was checked. Village services workers ran power from inside the administration building to the outside box, but they still need to wire the backflow preventer.
Chipping, a process where tar then chip stone is laid on top of low traffic roads to maintain them, stopped when the park closed on Nov. 1.
Additionally, park restrooms and water fountains have been winterized and closed. Water has been shut off at the girls’ softball field as well.
The Marysville Fire Department will be undergoing diving training on the north end of Richwood Park on Thursday, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
North Union Elementary School is hosting its first “Reverse Veterans Day Parade” on Thursday, weather permitting. The parade is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. from the intersection of Veterans Way and Grove Street.
Participants are asked to line up from Lynn Street and make their way past the Veterans Memorial as the parade route proceeds down Grove Street and onto the elementary school grounds. Veterans are invited to attend and decorate their vehicles for the parade. A virtual assembly will also be posted that morning on the North Union Elementary School’s website and Facebook page.
The mayor said the second annual Richwood Park Haunted Lake Trail on Oct. 29 was a success with about 500 attendants. The Trail Blazers group is donating $2,000 from the event to its line item of the village’s budget.
Councilmembers raised concerns about residents owning cows and other livestock in the village because of the smell. Spain said she will research zoning ordinances of other communities to regulate odor. She added that this issue typically comes up with chicken farms. The mayor said residents may legally have livestock in the village “as long as it doesn’t smell.” Spain added that if livestock gets loose, residents automatically receive a fourth degree misdemeanor charge.
Newly elected council member Jackie Hamilton is expected to attend the next meeting to be sworn in to fill Laurie Eliot-Shea’s seat before she officially begins her first term as a council member on Jan. 1, 2022.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m.