CENTERBURG — Village solicitor Alexis Henson swore in Richard Dzik as Centerburg’s new village administrator during Monday’s village council meeting.
He succeeds former administrator Teri Wise, who submitted a letter of resignation in August. Her last day was Oct. 3.
Dzik was formerly the city director for Huber Heights and the safety-service director for Mount Vernon.
He plans to meet individually with council members in the upcoming weeks to learn their priorities and preferences on various issues.
In his first report as village administrator, Dzik reported that most of the playground equipment in Memorial Park is installed. The next step is to install the drainage, followed by laying down the finish layer, soft padding for the whole playground, and final grading.
“We are still hoping in the next month to have that project wrapped up,” he said.
Dzik said the plan is to complete manhole lining the week of Nov. 3. The village will coordinate the work around school hours.
Dzik also noted the planning commission unanimously recommended denying amendments to the zoning code that would allow poultry within the village.
Council members will conduct a public hearing at the November council meeting to discuss the recommendation and proposed amendment.
Miscellaneous
Street department workers repaired the sidewalk on Union Street near the old high school, where a sinkhole developed last year. Previously, they had made temporary repairs. They also assisted Del-Co with a water leak at the hardware store.
The village had 100-percent compliance with its wastewater samples at the treatment plant. Workers cleaned both clarifiers, the ultraviolet system, UV channels, and effluent walls, and repaired the east clarifier. They also removed four hoppers of sludge.
Dzik expects the lighting project on Main Street to be activated this week. Electricians completed final connections on Monday.
The village received bids for design services for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant. Dzik and village officials will review and score the bids and select the company.
COJFD
Councilman Daniel Hardwick reported the COJFD board is discussing what the correct information is relating to the number of firefighters on staff if the levy fails.
Hardwick said the board has made no decision and invited the community to attend the next board meeting on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.
Legislative action
Council members waived the required three readings and approved three pieces of legislation:
•Authorizing the village solicitor to file a petition to annex parcel 17-00686.000 into the village. Council members approved the annexation agreement at their Sept. 2 meeting.
•Supporting the COJFD fire levy
•Authorizing Dzik to apply for an OPWC grant (Ohio Public Works Commission) for design services with V3 to replace or repair the stormwater infrastructure at the intersection of Preston and Main streets. The estimated grant amount is $100,000.
Council members took the following additional actions:
•Verbally appointed Hardwick as the village’s representative to the Central Ohio Joint Fire District Board
•Tabled to a later date an ordinance amending the zoning code to allow poultry in the village
•Gave a first reading to an ordinance authorizing the village to acquire health insurance coverage for eligible village employees. Dzik said the premium increase is 2.9 percent.
The council also heard a presentation from the Benesch law firm regarding a recent state initiative that provides grant money for subdivisions promoting workforce housing.
