CENTERBURG — Centerburg council members reviewed a preliminary agreement on Monday that calls for joint ownership of Memorial Park between the village and Hilliar Township.
The draft agreement gives the township 51 percent ownership and the village 49 percent. Mayor Dave Beck explained that the 51 percent allows the township to be responsible for administrative activities and providing and arranging for maintenance. The village would pay 49 percent of maintenance costs.
Beck said the Hilliar Township trustees have not yet seen the agreement drawn up by the Knox County Prosecutor’s Office. He emphasized that the village needs more information before reaching a decision. That information includes park maintenance costs, plans and cost for capital improvements such as a new shelter, and definition of what maintenance costs are.
Another consideration for the village is whether a land-locked sliver of village property along the creek would be annexed into the park. Beck said that joint ownership would also involve a discussion of how the village will pay its share of costs and whether a levy is feasible.
The village previously helped pay for the park, but discontinuing that help is what Beck called “collateral damage” from when the village withdrew from the township.
“This community uses that park a lot. People won’t like this, but we should be paying our fair share to maintain it,” said Beck.
Council members will meet with the township trustees on Monday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. to discuss the proposal.
Councilman Tom Stewart requested clarification on the village’s vaping laws. Individuals were observed vaping in 1834 Midway Tavern, and Angie Webb of Webb’s Marathon would like stricter laws to prevent teens from buying pods.
Beck said that ordinance 537.16 covers vaping and makes vaping and other tobacco products illegal for individuals under age 18.
“The issue is trying to enforce this,” he said. “We need the public’s information if they know the public’s selling or teenagers are reselling.”
