Fire Department Billing Changes Proposed
Proposed legislation was introduced Monday to Barnesville Village Council, which also heard updates on a number of ongoing issues.
Council heard the first of three public readings of legislation that would allow the fire department to charge for responding to auto accidents and to charge “customary and reasonable” rates for emergency medical responses. Chief Bobby Froehlich said the department was aiming to implement “industry standard” fees, noting that the department currently cannot charge for auto accident responses even when they occur outside the village in areas such as Interstate 70. He said the rising cost of diesel fuel is one reason he requested the update.
Council also heard first reading of a proposed “street policy” that Mayor Jake Hershberger said could be beneficial when the community seeks grant funding in the future. It was developed at the suggestion of officials with Belomar Regional Council who were collaborating with the village on an application for Safe Routes to School funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The proposed measures were not yet available for review on the village website late Monday.
Solicitor Richard Myser informed council that “two major events” had occurred since its last meeting on March 9. First, he mentioned that the village had closed on the purchase of 407 acres including Long Run Lake, a former R&F Coal Co. reservoir located northwest of the intersection of State Routes 26 and 148, from Capstone Holding Co. for $1,725,680.
Council took initial steps to buy the property in 2025, prior to four newly elected members taking their seats. On March 9, following lengthy and contentious public debate about the matter, council voted to proceed with the purchase with Mark Lucas being the lone member to dissent.
Myser said the deed had been recorded last week and the money transferred to Capstone. He noted that Capstone also donated an acre of land along I-70 to the village for placement of a portion of its future waterline extension project.
That project was the second major event Myser had referred to. He said the village had hosted a meeting last week with 47 residents of the Hendrysburg and Fairview areas present. He said an additional meeting scheduled for March 24 was expected to draw another 50-60 residents who could be served by the extension. Many of those individuals were expected to sign deeds of easement, making the project possible. Myser added that about 75% of those residents live in Belmont County with 25% in Guernsey County.
Myser anticipates that construction of the waterline extension will begin in June and take eight to nine months to complete.
Meanwhile, Police Chief Rocky Sirianni asked council to consider expanding the police force from its current limit of eight full-time officers to nine. He said the move is needed because former chief Dave Norris, who serves as the school resource officer at Barnesville High School, plans to retire shortly after the 2026-27 school year begins. Sirianni said SRO positions are difficult to fill, noting that a full-time position that includes the SRO post as a portion of its duties would be easier to hire. In fact, he said one candidate is already interested.
Council agreed to have Myser create the necessary legislation for members to consider. It was noted that the Barnesville Exempted Village School District covers 65% of the SRO’s salary while working during school hours.
Village Administrator Roger Deal supported the chief’s request, saying that having an extra officer performing code enforcement during the summer months would be beneficial to the community.
Deal also mentioned that he is still seeking to hire at least two seasonal employees to mow grass at a rate of $15 an hour. He is hoping to hire immediately, since he said April and May are the busiest months of the mowing season.
In other business, council approved the following building permits:
Greg and Patricia Williams, 220 Bethesda St., for an addition;
Joel Braido, 771 E. Main St., demolition of a house;
Min Yu Lin, 635 E. Main St. for a new concrete porch; and
Kenneth MacMillan, 808 E. Main St. for a new metal roof.
Council also took time to recognize the achievements of the Shamrock Varsity Boys Bowling Team, which captured sectional and district championships this season and became the first bowling team in school history to qualify for the state tournament.
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