CENTERBURG — Village council members passed legislation declaring their intent to accept Hilliar Township’s donation of Community Memorial Park at Monday’s meeting.
Harry and Charlotte Darling gifted the park to the township in 1945. The deed restricted park use to social and recreational events.
However, the park needs extensive maintenance. At a township public hearing last month, Trustee Eric Cochran said the trustees see growth coming and believe the village has more resources to maintain the park to everyone’s benefit.
“I don’t see how we can do this without burdening the township, and we didn’t want to ask the township residents to pony up more money to try and maintain it,” he said.
The trustees are scheduled to vote on transferring the park to the village on Feb. 12. According to the draft resolution, the trustees will transfer the balance of its playground fund, which stands at $17,048, to the village with the proviso the village continues to use it as a park in perpetuity.
Central Ohio Joint Fire District Chief Mark McCann addresses Centerburg Village Council on Feb. 3, 2025. Credit: Cheryl Splain
The township will also transfer the playground equipment to the village.
Additionally, the village agrees to sell the park back to the township for $1 if it decides it no longer wants to maintain it. The village will annex the 12.97 acres.
Council members voted to set a special meeting on Thursday, Feb. 13, and formally accept Memorial Park. The special meeting enables village staff to work with recreation leagues before spring baseball and softball season starts.
Reports
Village Administrator Teri Wise said crews continue to work on potholes, plowing, and salting. The village ordered another 50 tons of salt.
Improvements to the garage on the former library property include laying stone inside so the village can use it for storage.
The village recently had 180 to 190 tons of sludge removed from the wastewater treatment plant.
“Almost 50 tons of that was paper that we had to put in because the sludge was so liquid,” Wise said.
Village workers will build a cover over the sludge storage area to mitigate rainfall. Another solution is to extend the storage area using a slanted concrete slab so that water will drain away from the sludge bags instead of pooling among them.
Workers installed all four backup generators. The next step is to have an electrician inspect the wiring. The village bought the generators with money from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The village will open bids on the Jerry Street project on Feb. 18; Wise will bring them to the council on March 3.
Wise anticipates a final completion date of Oct. 15. However, if American Electric Power relocates several power poles by April, the project will start earlier.
Del-Co has not given a completion date for the water line. The remaining work includes tying the service laterals into the new line on Union Street. The new lines end across from Hometown Market.
Legal
Solicitor Kyle Strough did not report much other than what was in his legal memo to the council. He provided council members with a pre-annexation agreement for the AMVETS property and will send it to County Prosecutor Chip McConville for review.
The property includes AMVETS and a rental house. The house is a nonconforming use. If it ceases to be used or the use changes, it will be demolished.
“You really should not have a residential use associated with something commercial,” he told the council.
Strough anticipates having an annexation agreement for the March council meeting.
COJFD
Fire Chief Mark McCann said the flu bug has hit the department.
The department will host a pancake breakfast for seniors on Feb. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
March 13 is the 25th anniversary of the fire district’s formation. The department is planning a spaghetti dinner to celebrate.
Working with Del-Co, the department completed its critical water usage report. Critical users include the nursing, fire station, and the village.
“If something would happen, we have a contact and an address,” he explained.
McCann also reported that Del-Co would likely run a water line under Route 3/36 to the firehouse and Hilliar Township House.
He plans to sell the well pump and back-flow preventer after Del-Co hooks up the station to its lines and sell them. Knox Public Health will guide the department in capping off the well.
The new fire engine should arrive early in March. Monroe and Truro townships loaned a truck to COJFD, so the station has had two trucks while waiting on the new one.
Revitalization
Councilwoman Saundra Dove reported the new lights on Main Street should be in place for Christmas.
The Revitalization Committee discussed the uses for the North Hartford garage parcel and the green space where the former Intown Restaurant was located.
related reading
Legislative action
Council members took the following actions:
•Waived the three readings and approved legislation adopting the five-year update to the Delaware-Knox-Marion-Morrow Joint Solid Waste District management plan
•Authorized selling surplus village property in the North Hartford Avenue garage. Wise will coordinate with the Knox County Land Bank on demolition.
•Adopted after waiving the three readings a resolution to place a 3.0-mill renewal on the November General Election ballot
•Adjourned into executive session at 7:05 p.m. to discuss compensation.
