PEMBERVILLE – If residents want to sand bag to try to limit flood damage to their property, the village
has sand, sand bags and shovels at the village street garage.
However, council members indicated Tuesday night that sand bagging is up to individuals and do not see
the village responsible for coordinating the effort.
Mayor Gordon Bowman said the village’s latest flood experience, caused by an ice jam Sunday and Monday,
left about 40 homes in the area of Water and Bridge streets and Bierley Road with water in basements but
no main floor flooding.
Council Member Eric Campbell said he was unaware of any calls for bags and noted that sand bagging
efforts in the past have been aimed at helping prevent business flooding but not helping out homeowners.

Council Member James Opelt, who took office Tuesday and is a former mayor, said the idea of individual
responsibility for bagging is appropriate. "But there are some citizens, especially senior
citizens, who may need help getting furniture moved. We might think about putting something together to
help. Maybe we need a team in place to work with residents."
Bowman said sand bags are just a small part of flooding issues in the village. "There are no easy
answers in dealing with the Portage River."
Bowman said he supports the idea of a support network.
The mayor said people were keeping an eye on the river Sunday and Monday and "were prepared to
assist if needed."
Council also:
• Unanimously elected Randy Rothenbuhler as president pro tem to serve in the absence of the mayor.
• Agreed to hire Brian Heestand as village zoning inspector to replace Robert Hudson, who retired. The
vote was 5-1 with Campbell in opposition.
• Heard Bowman praise village employees for their efforts through last week’s storm.
• Heard Village Solicitor Mike Marsh report that the owner of property at 810 W. Front has signed the
paperwork to allow demolition. Marsh called the effort to get the property demolished a "unique
bureaucracy." Demolition will be handled with funds the Wood County Health Department and Wood
County Planning Commission received via a grant. There is no time line for demolition.
• Agreed to have the large evergreen on the Village Hall property removed. Council Member Marge Cox said
the tree has overgrown the area and also has "open areas" in its foliage. She said the tree
commission will have a new 15-20-foot evergreen planted in its place.