Strasburg Village Council
KEY ACTION: Council agreed to dedicate the new playground equipment at Franklin Park in memory of Neal Dickerhoff, a 25-year employee of the water/sewer department.
Dickerhoff lost his six -month battle with COVID-19 on May 12. A moment of silence was also held in Dickerhoff’s memory. Mayor Steve Smith said Dickerhoff was a kind, fun loving, and generous man and loved biking.
OTHER ACTION
• Learned at the May 3 meeting two resolutions were passed declaring necessity for a five-year tax levy for the purpose of police protection, effective Jan.1, 2023. A resolution was also passed requesting the county auditor to certify the valuation of taxable real estate within the village that would be raised by a certain millage over a five-year period. A police levy will appear on the Nov. ballot.
• Heard Van Wallbrown has been hired as a fulltime police officer. He will serve a six-month probationary period.
• Heard one side of the curbing has been installed on Maple Avenue, however work is once again slowed due to several sub-contractors testing positive for COVID-19. Village Administrator Ron Lambert said once the curbing on both sides of the street is complete, the street will be paved.
• Learned Fernsell Avenue is ready to have curbing installed. The water and sewer lines have been installed.
• The revitalization core group met with business members of the community to discuss the revitalization of the downtown. Mayor Smith plans are to involve community members in the fact-finding mission.
• Held the second reading of an ordinance adopting and implementing Ohio Fire Code, of the village codified municipal regulations.
• Adopted an ordinance, as an emergency, with respect to the rates of pay and stipends, and creating new position within the fire department. Marty Zehnder cast the lone no vote.
• Passed an ordinance, by emergency, hiring Tracy Zurfley, as a firefighter.
• Adopted an ordinance updating the billing rates for fire protection and emergency/rescue services charged by the fire department through Ohio Billing Inc.
• Heard from Zehnder, that a community/ senior center is needed in the village as there is no place to hold an event. He has a problem getting people involved and all say it’s a good idea but he can’t move forward alone. He said the village needs to start somewhere by obtaining ground to construct a pole building.
• Accepted the resignation of Andy Slemmer from the fire department, effective May 17. He has served on the fire department for 23 years. He said he was reprimanded and ask to return his chief’s shield and equipment within 24 hours or according to Slemmer or he would be arrested. “I quit. I am done playing games and vowed to run for mayor.”
FOR YOUR INFO
• The Memorial Day parade will step-off from the school at 10 a.m. May 30 and march to Grandview cemetery for a service. In case of rain the service will be held in the school. Those participating should be at the school about 9:30 a.m.
• Mike Becker, head baseball coach, was given approval to install an 8- by 10-foot shed by the third base dugout. The shed was donated.
• Information was provided for Reach Alert, a community notification service. Council took no action.
• The fire department is hiring part-time staffers and have responded to 25 emergency medical services, compared to 12 at last report, six fire responses, five motor vehicle crashes from May 2 to May 16. They missed one call due to no staff and Beach City VFD responded. Two calls were handled by mutual aide as the staff was already committed on other calls.
• Two permits were issued to install a bulletin board at the rear of the library and a sign at 738 North Wooster for a new business.
UP NEXT meets at 6 p.m. June 7 at 224 N. Bodmer Ave.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Strasburg Village Council meeting
