CENTERBURG — A recurring conundrum surfaced at Monday’s village council meeting when two Hazel Heights residents asked for clarification on their utility bills.
Walter White and Mike Hubbard asked about the meter charge on their utility bills when they have no meter.
Councilman Rusty Griffith, who works for Del-Co, explained that it is a sewer capacity charge based on the size of their line, not a charge for an actual meter.
Both men also advocated for the subdivision’s annexation into the village to reduce their sewer bills. They asked the village to send a letter to subdivision residents stating the advantages of annexation.
Hazel Heights is a 32-home subdivision on White Road in Hilliar Township. On the county auditor’s map, it is noted as Countryside Manor.
Since the homes are located in the township, the county is responsible for maintaining the sewer system. However, the lines tie into the village’s system.
The village charges residents a 100-percent surcharge because they are outside the village.
Since 2018, the county has not billed the village for maintenance costs.
In 2021, the county asked the village to take over the subdivision’s sewer system and said it would use American Rescue Plan Act funds to upgrade it.
Village officials declined the county’s offer, stating there was no advantage to taking over the system because the village makes more from the sewer charges than it would through collecting the earned income tax.
Additionally, the village would become responsible for the sewer infrastructure and roads.
However, Village Administrator Rick Dzik said that annexing the subdivision could expand the tax base in the future and provide room for the village to grow.
Council tables DORA in legislative action
Council members tabled an ordinance creating a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA).
The council will hold a public hearing on May 4 at 6 p.m. to consider the following amendments:
•To reflect that Long Branch Pizza received its D5-D6 liquor license.
•To reflect fewer hours of operation.
The original time frame was Monday through Friday, 4 to 10 p.m., and noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Revised hours are Thursday and Friday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.
(See PDF below.)
Council members voted 5 to 2 against applying for a Residential Economic Development District (REDD) grant.
The council took the following additional actions:
•Gave a second reading to legislation adopting a cybersecurity program.
•Gave a second reading to an ordinance amending fees in the building and zoning code. (See PDF below)
•Waived the three readings, amended, and adopted legislation with the emergency clause amending 2026 appropriations. Legislation includes fund transfers to the appropriate line accounts to provide $20,000 each for the tree-planting and sidewalk-improvement programs. Council members deleted a $145,000 appropriation to increase the sewer fund.
•Waived the three readings, amended, and passed legislation revising vacation provisions for village employees. Council members removed the emergency clause.
•Suspended the three readings and adopted legislation (with the emergency clause) to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s road salt program.
•Waived the three readings and passed legislation (with the emergency clause) allowing live streaming of council meetings.
Centerburg School Superintendent Ryan Gallwitz presented information on the capacity of the district’s buildings, the potential enrollment generated by the proposed Johnsville and Croton roads subdivisions, and the estimated revenue those subdivisions might generate.
Finances, streets, and lights
Regarding the 2026 paving program, the village will put its $79,000 toward North Clayton Street, starting at Cleveland Avenue.
Dzik said that although the “real fix” is a complete tear-out and replacement, the village can get five to seven years of life out of a mill and fill.
By keeping the cost under $79,000, the village can avoid $8,000 in engineering fees required by the bid process.
Preston and Landrum streets require engineering designs. Dzik said toward the end of 2027, he would engage engineers to design those improvements.
The village will seek an Ohio Public Works Commission grant for Landrum and, hopefully, bid the Preston Street project mid-winter.
Dzik said the village can consider a Factory Street rebuild or a Miller Street full-paving project in 2028.
He also noted a brick-street discussion in the village’s future, including whether Landrum should be paved entirely or whether to add brick areas in the downtown area conducive for community events.
Dzik reported that the estimated engineering cost for stormwater, utilities, and site surveying for the public works garage is $23,000. The village will hold off on this phase until it receives a construction estimate and will seek a USDA grant or loan in October.
Dzik said the new Main Street lighting works well overall, though the intersections could use more light. Options include AEP reinstalling lights or adding lights on the mast arm poles.
Dzik said that V3 will include LED lights off of the mast arm poles in its TAP grant street project at an engineering cost of $3,000.
“Once it’s engineered, once it’s out to bid, we can find out what the actual cost is and start picking and choosing what we want to do,” Dzik said.
“But I’d say the worst-case scenario is that we just have AEP reinstall some AEP lights.”
Miscellaneous
The village submitted its $160,000 state capital budget request for the downtown and Memorial Park trail heads.
It also submitted a $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown grant application for installing an America250 mural, Between the Bricks.
Dzik said that expenses and revenue were at appropriate levels for the quarter ending March 31.
