Barnesville Council Meeting Recap – November 4

By Diane Reynolds, Barnesville Area News Company

Mayor Jake Hershberger opened the meeting by praising the efforts of the Barnesville football team and noted with approval the high turnout for Halloween events.

After a presentation by two representatives of the Public Entities Pool of Ohio (PEP), a risk-sharing pool insurance company used by many local jurisdictions, the council voted unanimously to move the village’s property and liability insurance to them for the next year, backdated to October 15, 2024. The insurance will cost approximately $29,000 less than the council is now paying for insurance, the deductibles are lower, and the new plan includes cyber-attack coverage not available under the old policy. The council will also look into the issue of no longer paying insurance on buildings that it does not currently own, such as the Barnesville Senior Center. Council member Steve Hill had raised the question of whether, since the Senior Center is now independent, it should be paying its own insurance. Village administrator Roger Deal noted that buildings like the hospital and the Senior Center have gone back and forth in ownership, which may have led to some confusion over financial responsibilities.

The council unanimously authorized a payment listing of $159,044.31 ($85,060.50 of this amount is related to the Morgantown Avenue paving project). Steven Hill asked if any money had been received from the VFW or American Legion to help pay for the recent restoration and moving of the Soldier Statue. The answer was no.

The council unanimously passed Ordinance 3988, allowing it to start the bidding process for oil and gas leasing on a 10.376-acre parcel in Warren township. A change in state law means the parcel can now be leased, said attorney Richard Myser, after several council members raised questions as to whether the leasing is, in fact, legal.

Deal reported that the West South Street widening process is now complete, including the installation of a side rail. He also reported that the Tunnel and Trail project will be open for bids soon, while the South Chestnut Street paving project will begin this spring.

A draft of the Safe Routes for Schools (SRTS) plan is now available. This will be a joint project of the local schools and the village. Routes to be studied for possible inclusion must be within two miles of a school. Steven Hill brought up including the route from Shamrock to Roosevelt Drive in the plan, as the sidewalks in that area, he said, are not good. The mayor will bring this suggestion to the planners. The draft plan will also be guided by the 100+ surveys that came in from residents. As this is the first time Barnesville schools will be part of this program, its initial SRTS bid will be non-competitive, meaning the village will be sure to receive funding. This may not be the case in subsequent years. Nothing has been voted on yet, as the initiative is still in the planning stage.

The council held the first reading of Ordinance 3987, which would allow Park Board meetings to move from monthly to quarterly. In more Parks news, Deal reported that the practice ball fields on Pultney Avenue had been seeded and mulched. He praised the volunteer effort that went into this project, saying it reminded him of old times.

Fire chief Tim Hall announced that the new rescue boat, paid for with grant money, had arrived. He also said that the fire department has been extremely busy putting out grass fires since the lifting of the state burn ban and asked that residents refrain from burning outdoors.

Myser will draw up an ordinance for the next council meeting in response to council members Terry McCort’s request that the council adopt a flat fee for building permits. He noted that such permits can range from $10  to $250 at this time. The amount of the proposed flat fee has not been determined.

After some expectation that there might be multiple bids, no bids have been submitted for the purchase of the Bohandy building on the corner of Main and Chestnut streets. Steven Hill expressed his dissatisfaction that an earlier bid endorsed by the mayor was rejected by the council, saying he was “pissed off.” He added that the building was “nothing but a liability” to the village. He also proposed charging for its use, instead of donating the space for free, as is done now.

McCort countered that he feels there will be further interest in the Bohandy and questioned the urgency to sell a potentially valuable piece of real estate. Brian Yarnall asked if McCort thought the village could recover the $700,00 it had invested in the structure? McCort said that was not what he meant, but proposed remaining positive about the property, while Yarnall noted that it has already been on the market for four years. Mayor Hershberger suggested marketing the building more to attract buyers.

Council will meet again in the Municipal Building Monday, November 18 at 7:00.

Barnesville Building Permits

The following building permits were approved by Barnesville Village Council on November 4:

• Mir Sabry, 382 Dewey Avenue, demolish house
• Stacy Wells, 112 South Arch Street, construct pavilion