Council Addresses Issues at Short Meeting
Barnesville Village Council addressed several issues at a short meeting on Monday, September 8
Absent from the meeting were village solicitor Richard Myser and council members Terry McCort and Cole Carpenter.
As a result, Resolution #4056 appointing a new fire chief and assistant fire chief was tabled until the next meeting. Current Fire Chief Bob Froehlich’s departure is set for October 1.
RFQ Approved
Mayor Hershberger set the stage for the next step in the N. Chestnut Church Street Intersection Project that will be largely funded through the State of Ohio as previously reported by Barnesville Area News.
Both Hersberger and Deal were surprised that only one firm submitted qualifications for the project, May Engineering of St. Clairsville.
The RFQ was scored, Hershberger added, with the firm’s qualifications acceptable.
Councilmember Mark Lucas questioned the need for the project that is tied to the Ohio Jobs program.
The mayor pointed out that former police chief Rocky Sirianni felt adding push button controls for the crosswalks would aid parents walking students to the nearby Barnesville Elementary School
“The electrical service no longer works,” Deal said. “We’ve got it hooked into the streetlights to keep it working”.
Deal also noted the pole by the Presbyterian Church is under a lot of strain.
On a unanimous vote, council approved the RFQ from May instructing the village administrator to negotiate a price for the project. The projected cost was originally estimated to cost $600,000 and that includes a 25 percent contribution by the village.
Paving Update
“They did the last street this morning. They are still going around joint sealing including the curbs”, Village Administrator Roger Deal said of the multiple streets paved this year.
Deal added he would soon meet with Mid-Atlantic Maintenance to “walk through the traffic markers (painting), so we can get those completed for the season.”
Mayor’s Court Report
Hershberger reported August Mayor’s Court receipts totaled $1,785. Of this the village retained $1,317 while $450 was remitted to the state and $18 to the county
Clearwell Work
Deal said that work on the clearwells recently approved by council will begin on September 29. He expects work on tank one to wrap up in time for work on tank two to begin on October 19.
South Broadway Street Project
Contractor Adam Ackerman said that the project is at the halfway mark with the new waterline in place.
“Hopefully, we can pressure test at the end of the week…and then we can start moving services next week.”
Once the infrastructure work is wrapped up, the roadbed will be prepped for a new surface.
While Ackerman said the project will not be complete before the festival, no work will take place during the festival itself.
Land Donation Update
Hershberger said the survey work was complete for the donated land between Railroad and East Main streets that will be the site of a pavilion donated by the BHS Class of 1975.
The land is being donated to the village by Belmont Savings Bank and Riesbecks Markets. The paperwork is being handled by villager solicitor Richard Myser.
The annual request from the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival Committee to close downtown streets and use village-owned parking lots was discussed and accepted without a vote.
Deal pointed out the lot adjacent to the fire department building on E. Church Street is not included in the request. It is reserved for village employee parking.
Bohandy Building AC
There will be working air conditioning on the first floor of the Bohandy building (102 E. Main Street) during the festival which was not the case last year.
Earlier, council approved spending $20,000 for a new furnace/ac unit.
It was anticipated the second unit that worked previously would still function, Hershberger said. But that was not the case.
After conferring, the mayor and administrator determined replacing the older unit is warranted.
Because, otherwise, “it going to be throwing bad money after it so we okayed to get that replaced,” the mayor said.
Council approved work totaling slightly more than $8,950 with Rumer-Loudin for the second unit bringing 2026 costs to just under $30,000.
Other Business
Two building permits were approved for: 208 Walton Avenue, new metal roof, and 316 N. Chestnut Street, siding.
Payments totaling $200,998.62, as presented by the fiscal officer, were approved as were August financial statements and bank reconciliations.
Of Note
Three other items discussed at the meeting were profiled separately by Barnesville Area News. Read about these at the links below.
Muskingum Watershed Grant Application
The next meeting will take place on Monday night of Pumpkin Festival, week, September 21.
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