Mayor Breaks Tie to Undertake Free Water Study

Rarely are professional studies offered to a community free-of-charge controversial. But that was just the case at the Barnesville Village Council Meeting on October 21 when members tallied a 3-3 tie putting the matter in hands of Mayor Jake Hershberger.

Hershberger then voted in favor of engaging with the Ohio Rural Community Assistance program for a water system analysis, a project he advocated at a recent meeting.

ORCA is part of the Great Lakes Action Partnership of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership Inc., a national network of non-profit partners working to provide technical assistance, training, resources, and support to rural communities across the U.S., its territories and tribal lands.

When Hershberger initially proposed undertaking the study on October 7, it was met with pushback by some council members and Village Administrator Roger Deal. The matter was turned over to the Water and Sewer Committee to review and provide a recommendation. Village Council President Tony Johnson along with councilmembers Les Tickhill and Brian Yarnall are members of the committee/

Hershberger shared the committee met and recommended proceeding with the study.

Councilmember Terry McCort opined undertaking the study would result in a recommended rate increase would certainly be ridiculous. Deal said he would do the work related to the study but felt the efforts would be wasted if study recommendations were not implemented.

Hershberger countered that the study also was an assessment of the village’s assets and infrastructure that could provide a guide for future operations of the department.

McCort said Deal had served the community well over the past 30 years guiding the department to negate the need for study. Johnson pointed out Deal would be retiring in a few years and the study would provide important information for the village.

Johnson motioned to move forward with Yarnall seconding the motion. Voting in favor were the three members of the committee: Johnson, Tickhill and Yarnall. Council members McCort, Robyn Misner and Steven Hill voted no.

The council voted to instruct Village Solicitor Richard Myser to prepare a revised Ordinance for Park Board Meetings. Councilmember Robyn Misner who serves as representative on the Park Board said board members felt quarterly meetings would suffice. The board currently meets monthly. The first reading of Revised Ordinance #3904 will take place on November 4. A draft of the ordinance is currently posted on the village website.

In other action, the council approved:

• Payments of $171,820.83 were approved. Of this, $40,985.98, covered employee health insurance premiums and $65,585 was related to the South Chestnut Street Storm Sewer project
• Approved Fire Chief Tim Hall’s request to remove Abby Mathes from the EMS Squad
• Approved building permits for: Megan and Scott Perko, 738 East Main Street, new garage; Donald Perdue, 200 Robinson Avenue, new shed; First Christian Church, 219 West Church Street, new garage structure; and Neilly Wilson, demolish condemned residence, 119 South Arch Street