By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

Coming off the heels of the Hatchery Festival the New Washington Village Council took a look at projects that will need to be tended to as well as projects that are already underway.

During his report to Village Council, New Washington Fire Chief Dick Ackerman noted that with the recent rainfalls the fire department roof had a leak which went over one of the electrical boxes. Brian Agin added that the roof may need to be replaced.

“I think we got about all we could get out of the roof,” Agin said. “When we get a shower it doesn’t seem to show, but when it pours it shows up.”

Also in Ackerman’s report he said that Global Industry showed new gear with coats and pants costing a little over $2,000 per set of coat and pants. Ackerman requested that council allow the purchase for a few sets.

In Agin’s report to Village Council he explained that a grinder pump on Bucyrus Street had been replaced, and that the storm sewers on East Street had been clogged. Norm Lucius also said that the spiral slide from the park at this point can’t be repaired, and that he will see if a replacement can be found.

Agin also noted that Zeigler Electric had estimated the cost of replacing the existing lights outside of Village Hall and the Fire Department. Zeigler estimated the cost which would be upgraded to LED lighting would be $846.

Police Chief Jeff Shook’s report noted that the culprits who caused some damage during the Arts Fest would be getting in contact with Council President Joe Blum about working off the difference of the damages. Shook said that he was training new officers and getting the budget for next year in place, and moving forward with village business.

Mayor Ben Lash commended Shook on his work for both the Hatchery and Art festivals.

“The other fests went well, Lash said. “You were on top of it; things didn’t go well by accident.”

In committee reports Blum reported that he planted two shrubs that died over the winter, as well as searching for a new bench for outside of the library. Blum also reported that during the Hatchery Festival the dehumidifiers in the town’s Historical Society Museum stopped working and were being supplemented with two dehumidifiers that were 20 years old. Blum said that he might be looking at a commercial one as a replacement.

Councilman Paul Forster reported that he was in the process of checking into new lighting for the swimming pool, as well as a sun shade for the baby pool at the village’s swimming pool.

Councilwoman Gertrude Durnwald reported that while they were short-handed with the most recent recycling collection they were able to manage. Durnwald also noted that due to Independence Day the next recycling day for New Washington will be on July 18.