CENTERBURG — Centerburg Village Council’s agenda was light on Monday, with only one piece of legislation up for discussion.
Council members waived the three readings and amended Ordinance 2023-34. The amendment increased the pay of the zoning administrator/code enforcement officer to $40 per hour.
The previous pay scale was $18 to $22 per hour. The increase takes effect Dec. 2, 2024.
Council members revised the zoning administrator’s job description in October. It is now a part-time position, 20 hours a week.
Village administrator Teri Wise noted that her goal with the new zoning code council passed in 2023 is to “educate and communicate.”
“Our goal is not to be an iron fist. Our goal is not to change the village as it stands now, a nice little village, a rural village to live in,” Wise said. “We’re not wanting to make it Powell, we’re not wanting to make it Westerville. We are wanting to keep our rural look but still be attuned to what’s coming in and where it’s going.”
Centerburg Village Council reports
Village administrator
Wise reported the street crew continues leaf pick-up, replaced the hydraulic pump on a salt box, and is inventorying village buildings. Workers found a manhole smoker and banners the Lions Club bought many years ago, but the village never used.
Other projects include inventorying street signs, replacing GFCI outlets in the gazebo and Bell Park, and uncovering a manhole next to AMVETS. AMVETS will use that manhole when it taps into the village’s sewer system.
Wise noted the Heart of Ohio Trail is getting a lot of attention. Centerburg is one of nine locations with a tracker.
Facebook users continue to grow, Wise submitted the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant, and closed the Hartford Street Ohio Public Works Commission project.
The village sent 25 assessment letters for late sewer payments. Thirteen property owners paid; Wise will send the remaining 16 totaling $9,043 to the county auditor.
Del-Co started its new water-line installation project. The project runs from Preston Street to Union and Factory streets, along Routes 3/36 to AMVETS and Hometown Market.
“There is a big leak at the water meter there on Preston that they’ve never been able to fix, and then they’ve had a continuous, very large leak this summer out by Hometown Market,” Wise said.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
The wastewater treatment plant had two non-critical, noncompliant samples. Wise submitted a report to the Ohio EPA.
Crews pulled the plant’s mixers and sent both to Buckeye Pump for repair.
“If these are original equipment and the cost to repair or to rebuild is pretty close to the cost of buying a new one, especially since they won’t give me a guarantee on the work they do, we will probably venture forth and just buy new ones to replace them,” Wise said.
Workers installed the East Main Street backup generator; the next one will be the Cleveland Street generator, which Wise expects to arrive this month.
Central Ohio Joint Fire District
Central Ohio Joint Fire District Chief Mark McCann reported the Serve the Berg and Thanksgiving activities went well.
The department submitted a $22,164 MARCS (Multi-agency Radio Communication System) grant to replace six old and unserviceable radios.
It also applied for a $12,592 Firefighter Exposure to Environmental (FEE) grant. The grant will pay for a new turnout gear extractor to clean turnout gear.
McCann noted the Hartford Township Fire Department balance-bills for its EMS runs. Balance billing is the amount left after insurance pays its portion.
However, he said COJFD residents are not to pay balance billing. Anyone who receives a bill should contact McCann.
McCann told Centerburg Village Council members the department will put the fire levy on the ballot again in the spring.
Revitalization
Councilwoman Saundra Dove said the village has not yet received the new downtown lights. The committee is working on the America 250 project and continues to look for ways to improve communication.
Dove also noted the Knox County Chamber of Commerce said it would waive the $250 membership fee for business associations. She volunteered to be the liaison between Centerburg’s business association and the chamber.
The annual Cookie Walk is slated for Sunday, Dec. 8, from 3 to 5 p.m.
