GRAND RAPIDS – The village’s compost facility at the wastewater treatment plant may get a small makeover
to stop unwanted drop-offs.
During council’s last meeting, Village Administrator Chad Hoffman reported the compost facility has been
getting stumps, brush and vines which are forbidden to be taken there. He said it is obvious people know
they’re bringing the wrong items because they drive their vehicles to an area of the site where they can
hide what they’re dumping.
"We may look at fencing that corner off," he said. "It’s been getting bad." He said
the option of locking the gate at the facility would prevent water haulers from using it who come at odd
hours.
The compost site was created solely for the convenience of residents within the village who needed a
place to take their grass clippings.
The village will request that the Ohio Department of Transportation consider extending Ohio 295 from the
south end of the bridge, along Ohio 65 and Wapakoneta Road, then out to U.S. 6. Hoffman said when the
Ohio 24 project is done, Route 295 will be extended along the "old" Ohio 24 and across the
bridge to replace Ohio 578.
"No more 578, the shortest route in the state of Ohio," he said.
Hoffman said it would help promote business development being able to have a state highway that
interconnects with other state routes.
Councilwoman Pam Sherwood announced residents can pay $5 to participate in the town’s Community Garage
Sale Days on Aug. 14-15. The fee helps defray the cost of advertising the event and gets the home on a
garage sale map. Residents have from July 31 through Aug. 9 to pay the fee at the Olde Gilead Country
Store.
Hoffman reminded council the village’s lease agreement with Suburban Natural Gas is up in 2012 and
different options will be reviewed starting this year.
The administrator said Suburban was asked in 2007 to repair a leak which is at the approach to the
village’s bridge over the Maumee. He said he received a letter Monday from the company that it had just
received its Ohio Department of Transportation permit on July 23. The repair is scheduled to be done in
August or September.
In addition, Hoffman said a final notice had been mailed to Suburban about not withholding village income
tax for their employees who do work within the village. While he said it is "a very small amount of
money," all the other utility companies that have workers in the village keep track of the hours to
pay income tax on it. The administrator said if the company does not comply, the village will file
criminal charges in Bowling Green Municipal Court over it.
Guest Naomi Twining updated council on the Howard Family Farm site being accepted as a site on the
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Twining also showed a large framed photo which included Col.
Dresden Howard in it who as part of the village’s first pioneer family to settle the town.
"Thank you for all the work you’ve done," stated Councilwoman Carolyn Erdody.
"It’s a labor of love," responded Twining, who has done all the research to get the former
Pioneer Inn and the Howard Family Farm sites recognized by historical groups.
Council also accepted the chamber of commerce’s application for the use of public land for its Sept.
12-13 Canal Days event.
Council approved purchasing three "Neighborhood Watch" signs for the village corporation limits
and on the town’s organization sign for $27.50 each.
It also approved permission for Ryan Hobbs to widen the sidewalks at his funeral home. Councilman Bill
Hutchison voted "no."
Mayor Judy Keifer announced the signs placed in the village right-of-way advertising a vacation Bible
school and a second event were removed because the village does not allow any kind of signs in those
areas. Residents can be asked if they will allow signs on their property, but no signs can be placed in
the right-of-way.