Haskins seeks council member

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HASKINS – Village Council is currently short one member – and they’re looking to fill that vacant seat.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the inaugural meeting of 2014, village Treasurer Lisa Heft indicated that, thus
far, the village has not received any letters of interest regarding the seat.
Brad Heft, who served as president pro tempore of council in 2013, most recently occupied the seat, but
did not run for it in the November election. Only three people – all council members – ran for the four
open positions in the election.
It was noted that after 30 days Mayor Paul Gies can appoint someone to the seat, but he voiced his
preference for the seat to be filled by council action.
Brad Heft, who attended the meeting, told Gies, after the topic was broached by Councilwoman Ashley
Brooks, "let it run its course and if nobody fills it, I’d be willing."
If a new member other than Heft fills the seat, it would mark the fourth new face on Haskins Council in a
year. In 2013, three members of council – Tim Enright, Lisa Bundy and Glenn Harding – resigned their
seats, which were then filled by Helen Bonnough, Julienne Snyder and Phil Tipton, respectively.
Tipton, Bonnough, and Snyder were each elected to new terms in November, and were sworn in just prior to
Tuesday night’s meeting.
Tipton and Bonnough were subsequently nominated to serve as president pro tempore, and Tipton was elected
by a vote of 3-2. Brooks, Perry, and Snyder voted for Tipton.
Brooks is to chair the village’s Streets and Utilities Committee, formerly chaired by Brad Heft, until a
new member is chosen.
Drawing a considerable amount of discussion at the meeting was the village’s response to the recent
snowfall. Village Administrator and Police Chief Colby Carroll said they fielded a number of complaints
about the removal, notably from the postmaster about mailboxes being plowed in, making it difficult for
mail carriers to reach them.
He said they are trying out a new plowing method to alleviate the issue.
On a related matter, council unanimously voted to approve the purchase, of not more than $30,000, of a
Ford F-350 truck, which would be outfitted with a plow. During lengthy discussion of the matter prior to
the vote, it was noted that the village’s small fleet is in need of additional vehicles to combat the
kind of snow seen this year.
"It’s a need, not a want," said Streets and Utilities Superintendent Steve Long.
In other business, council:
• Heard that the village will be meeting with Mel Lanzer Co. General Contractors next month concerning
the construction of a new village hall on the site of the former Haskins Elementary School. The firm,
located in Napoleon, was the top contender on a shortlist of four companies compiled by the village. The
firms were interviewed in December.
Carroll said that ground could be broken for the project as early as March or April, weather permitting,
with the potential for the village to move into its new administrative home in the fall.
• Heard that the Haskins Police Department received a $5,400 grant for in-car camera systems.
• Heard from Carroll that reports of identity theft incidents have increased in the village. He said that
banks seem to largely write-off the incidents rather than go to the expense and time of investigation.

• Voted to donate $100 towards a DJ at the upcoming Middleton Township Fire Department barbecue and car
show.
• Voted to pay $500 in dues to the Wood County Economic Development Commission.

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