UTICA — Several topics were addressed in this month’s council meeting for the village of Utica. One of the first things up for discussion was a resolution directing the clerk to advertise for bids for 2009 paving projects and declaring an emergency.
“Our village administrator came to us, and it appears the cost of paving is due to the increase; some of the materials will go up drastically after July,” said Mayor Larry Friesel. “So the person who usually gets our bid advised that if he did get our bid, he would lock the price in for us.”
With the approval, the village will save approximately $3,000.
Ordinance 09-005 was approved, which will provide the new position of village fiscal officer, and allow the acting village clerk, Anna Flaherty, to be accepted into the new post after a formal resignation from the clerk’s position is given.
“The finance committee and the council have been working very diligently to come with a position called village fiscal officer. The officer would do the same things as the clerk, except it is not an elected position, but an appointed one,” said Friesel. “The fiscal officer would be responsible to the mayor and the council. We came up with a complete job position.”
Village Solicitor Sara Light reported she had several Mayor’s Court cases last month. She met with a delinquent taxpayer and also with the planning commission, and has another meeting scheduled.
Utica Police Chief Robert Curtis reported that letters were sent to property owners who had junk property or nuisances on the property. The citizen who receives the letter has 10 days to either contact the village or have the place cleaned up.
Village Administrator Jud Brechler said the start of the sewer line project on North Washington Street has been postponed until Wednesday, due to inclement weather.
Street Committee Chairman Jack Raines discussed issues from the committee’s March meeting. Problems with street names are being looked into by the committee to see if better signage would help in some areas of the village.
Raines also reported that Shawn Blake spoke with the committee about putting out four, two-seat small tables on the sidewalk in front of the old Richie restaurant during the summer with a small fence around them. The committee will discuss the issue further.
Taking down the no parking signs on South Central Avenue as school buses are on that portion of the street like they were when school is in operation was discussed. Raines also said the poles holding flashing lights on U.S. 62 and Wells Avenue were bad and needed to be replaced. Lastly, he said the paving of sidewalks and curbs on Jefferson needs to be discussed.
Chairman Lester Grennell reported on behalf of the light committee that a water rate study will be held for the next few months. He said the committee also discussed a shutoff ordinance.
Friesel said the village received a notice Friday that the company planning to take over the Holophane building will not be coming because it cannot get sufficient power from Ohio Power. But, he said, the Community Development of Licking County has two to three possible buyers who are looking at the property.
In other news:
•Utica Planning Commission will meet April 21 at 7 p.m. in council chambers.
•The mock disaster schedule for May 6 is from 6 to 8 p.m.
•Village cleanup days are scheduled for May 6 and May 13.
•The village garage sale is scheduled for June 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A pancake breakfast at the squad house will be held from 6 to 9 a.m.
•The Fire Department Auxiliary will have a steak dinner Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.
•Another public hearing on the Buena Vista Avenue property is scheduled for April 27 at 5:30 p.m.
