CRESTLINE — Crestline Village Council met online Monday evening including Facebook Live so residents could participate.

Mayor Linda Horning Pitt said she has been meeting with local, state and federal officials to attempt to secure funding for the village and village residents during the pandemic.

Council approved a resolution to dispose of village property no longer needed through Internet auctions on the third reading. Resolutions for declaring a state of emergency for the village due to the COVID-19 outbreak and to authorize the village administrator to transfer property owned by the village at 303 N. Seltzer St., to the Village of Crestline Community Improvement Corporation were approved as emergencies.

“The reason for the state of emergency for the village is to allow us to be eligible for grants and other benefits throughout the pandemic,” Horning Pitt said. “We are good, but we need to make sure we have done everything we can to make sure our small businesses are eligible for any type of funding available.”

She also encouraged residents to complete the 2020 census and mail it in or complete it online.

“Crawford County is at 52.7 percent in completing the census,” Horning Pitt said.

An ordinance to amend an existing ordinance concerning deposits for water service was approved along with an ordinance to transfer money from the general fund to the ambulance fund.

Council member Bev Payne said she is waiting to hear from state officials regarding the opening of the Crestline pool.

“Some communities have already cancelled opening of pools,” Horning Pitt said.

Payne said it does not look good but is hopeful.

She said Ed’s Barbershop is planning a drive-thru parade with vehicles’ horns blowing to lift spirits of residents during the stay-at-home order and threat of the coronavirus. A Facebook event has been created for the event that will take place Sunday, April 26.

“We are doing our first drive-by parade in the Crestline community on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. We will start lining up around 4 p.m. We want to bring joy to those who might be down in the dumps right now. We will meet in the Avita parking lot at 385 N. Seltzer St.,” Payne said. “We would love to bring the community together and show people we still care about them even though we can’t come over to see them. We will be driving by houses with elderly, young kids, anyone who can’t get out or anyone who needs a pick me up.”

Kevin Eckert said an anonymous donor wants to pay for the town clock to be painted black and gold. He said his committee, the streets, public buildings and grounds committee, is working on a plan to repair the clock.

Crestline Police Chief Jeff Shook said his officers will assist in bringing a procession through Crestline for 27-year-old Sgt. Thomas Jacob Truex who died in Okinawa, Japan, on March 31 where he was stationed with the U.S. Marine Corps.

“On Thursday about noon, we will be picking up the funeral procession down on 61 and will come through town,” Shook said. “This young man was from Crestline and I encourage local residents to get outside and show their respect for him.”

Council member Alan Laferty thanked all first responders for putting their lives on the line to keep residents safe.

Village Administrator John Rostash updated council members and Crestline residents on several issues during his report.

Council’s next meeting is May 4 at 6:30 p.m.