GAMBIER — After much discussion, Gambier Village Council took no action at its meeting Monday on legislation that would have allowed Kenyon College to put up two temporary trailers for office and classroom use.
Ruth Woehr, a planner and representative for the college, said the trailers would be used to accomodate displaced staff and students during the construction of three buildings in proximity to the college library.
The proposed location is in an area of the parking lot between the Palme House and the Ralston House on campus and another near Bolton Theater.
Woehr said construction on the three buildings would begin at different times this year. One of the buildings will be an art studio, another an English House, and the third a building that would house a museum, art gallery and the art history department. She said college officials considered other possible locations for the temporary classrooms and office space, but these alternatives were deemed unfeasible.
Councilwoman Liz Forman expressed concerns that the college’s plans will displace parking and force more people to park near the center of the village.
Dave McConnell, chief business officer for the college, said parking would be little affected by the trailers or the long term building plans.
Others on council expressed concern that the trailers could remain standing for a period longer than three years, and there was some discussion about putting a time limit on a variance which would require the trailers to be removed either after August 2011 or until construction was completed.
Councilwoman Susan Sukys asked college representatives present at the meeting for more details on their plans and a better time line. She added that she felt they had not given enough consideration to use of existing buildings, including Ernst Center and Gund Commons.
Councilman Tom Stamp said he thinks the college has an incentive to tear down the Ernst Center, which has been an eyesore and would add permeable space, of which the college is lacking due to recent building projects.
Woehr said the college would remove the trailers as soon as construction has completed.
Two motions were made pertaining to the variance for the trailer near the theater, one with a time limit, one without one. Neither were seconded. No motion was made to bring a second proposed variance to a vote.
Two members of council, Betsy Heer and Tom Stamp, recused themselves, as they are employed by the college. Councilman Lee Cubie, who is not affiliated with the college, was not present at the meeting.
Council voted to enter into a contract for the painting of the village’s water tower, a project that should get under way soon. Suzanne Hopkins, village administrator, said she and Mayor Kirk Emmert will be meeting with the low bidder for the project, American Suncraft, and should soon know when the starting date will be, as well as how the project will unfold. She said the village will take the water tower off line for a few days before the project begins, which means the village’s water will come straight from Mount Vernon. The tower could be off line for up to 30 days.
The contractor’s bid was $146,000.
Emmert said lead paint on the tower will be removed; the tower will be shrouded during that process and the lead paint will be disposed of in a proper manner. He added that this is why the project is so expensive.
Hopkins said village staff will monitor the water pressure throughout the village with pressure relief gauges in several parts of town. She said the tower will have to be emptied. Hopkins said she would be open to encouraging village residents to make use of the water instead of allowing it to go to waste.
Emmert said residents will be notified when the project is about to begin.
In other business:
•Emmert said he attended a meeting with Kenyon College and Monroe Township Trustees last week, in which the fire chief of the College Township Fire Department reported that department’s efforts to recruit new members and regularize the schedules of all members were going well.
•The mayor announced the new post mistress of the village post office, Dana Bosche, who will begin on Thursday, June 26. At 2 p.m. that day he will speak at a celebration of Bosche’s installation.
•Council voted to formally take ownership of a sculpture created by Barry Gunderson, a village resident. Kenyon College has agreed to pay for the construction and repainting of the strucuture, which will be placed on village land south of the Kenyon Athletic Center. Improvements will be made to the site, including trimming of trees, dismantling of a shed and the construction of a fence south of the sculpture. Emmert said there will be some cost to the village for liability insurance associated with the sculpture.
•Council approved an expenditure of $500 for the village’s Fourth of July celebration, which includes a parade, a picnic and the Citizen of the Year award. Emmert said anyone who wants to nominate someone for the award should talk to him, or a member of council or the administration. He added that he is also looking for someone to make a brief speech at the event, and expressed his openness to naming a poet laureate of the village during the event as well.
•Council confirmed the mayor’s appointment of Mike Schlemmer and James Bartee to fill two vacant positions on the village’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Emmert said the village needed to have three members not affiliated with the college in order to avoid potential conflict of interest issues.
•Council approved legislation to enter into contract for street paving for 2008.
•Hopkins said village staff fixed two water leaks on service lines while installing pit meters last month, and added that the village’s water bill for May was one of the lowest May bills in years.
•Hopkins said the Village of Gambier’s Community Garage Sale is Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
•Council approved legislation creating a new handicapped parking space north of Scott Lane on Gaskin Avenue in front of the Kenyon College Bookstore.
