By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Recognizing similarities between their community and Danville, officers from the New Washington Police Department attended the funeral of fallen officer Thomas Cottrell.
During Monday night’s New Washington Village Council meeting, Police Chief Jeff Shook said they sent officers to Newark to participate in Cottrell’s funeral that took place this past Saturday.
“That kind of really hits home for us because that took place in a community of 1,100 people and six police officers – which is pretty much a mirror image of us,” Shook said. “We supported that funeral by sending a car.”
Shook added that Crawford County was well represented in Newark from every agency in the county.
“I was very pleased when I saw that we were represented down there,” commented Mayor Ben Lash. “I really appreciate that.”
The Village Council also welcomed new Village Solicitor Tim Obringer. Obringer is a Buckeye Central alum who attended The Ohio State University and the University of Toledo Law School.
“He has extensive experience in all types of legal matters and we’re happy to have Tim join us,” said Lash.
“I want to thank all of you for the opportunity to serve the village of New Washington and its residents as solicitor. I will do my best for you. I have a lot of experience representing towns and townships and city officials,” Obringer said.
The former solicitor, John Berger, retired at the end of 2015.
Village Administrator Norm Lucius informed council that they may want to consider purchasing a new dump truck. Lucius said the lower control arm broke off the front wheel of the old gray dump truck last Friday when workers went to pick up brush. He added that, though he received an estimate of $300 to put a used arm on the vehicle, the mechanic believed that it was no longer roadworthy.
The 1989 one-ton Chevy dump truck currently has 93,000 miles on it and is rusted out. The truck had some work done to it not long ago when a bed was welded to it, but it was not a complete fix. It was typically used to haul snow, brush, and blacktop patch.
“We got our money’s worth out of it,” said council member Joe Blum.
“If we need one, if it’s not roadworthy – that’s how we pick up everything,” noted council member Brian Agin.
Council woman Jerri Lucius felt that the village should not put the truck back out on the road knowing the condition that it is in, a sentiment that was later supported by the new solicitor.
Lucius said the average price of a new truck with a bed would be around $45,000. Though Lucius requested it in this year’s budget, the purchase of a new dump truck was not added in.
The council tabled the issue for further discussion.
The work on the offices for the police department gave some council members pause after the price tag was announced. It would currently cost the village an estimated $11,170 for the electrical and air conditioning work. Studer-Obringer’s estimate to complete the project – which included new floor work in the garage area, painting the exterior walls, putting in a short wall, and installing two offices – came in at $17,000, putting the total estimate around $28,000.
“I’m all for it but this kind of caught me off guard,” said Agin as he referred to the price of the project. “I didn’t know what they were going to be doing.”
“I want you to be comfortable with what you’re okaying,” said Lash, “but I don’t want this to drag on and on because it’s been a long time running. So, I really appreciate everything that’s been done, but answer your questions, get what you need to have to be able to approve this or not approve it so we can keep moving.”
“I was comfortable when I came in today,” Agin admitted. “Well, until I saw that. That’s a lot of money for us.”
Agin and Paul Forster will discuss the plans further with the contractors and intend to be ready to move on the project at the next council meeting.
The council voted to set aside June 24 and 25 as dates for the community garage sale.
The next village council meeting is set for Feb. 8.