By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com

The proposed Verizon tower took another step toward passage, as a second reading on the rezone was passed by the New Washington Village Council.

Amanda Wegrzyn of NTP Wireless returned to offer input, and Patrick Chanea, a Verizon tower engineer, was in attendance to provide more detail about just what a tower would entail.

Buckeye Central Schools, on whose land the tower would sit, also had in attendance Superintendent Mark Robinson and Board President Missy McDougal. Robinson outlined what made the school an interested party. The tower would generate between $600 and $700 per month in rent for the District, and the location east and north of the football field was what Robinson called, “probably the least bothersome.”

“We are interesting in being a good member of the community,” Robinson continued, “This will improve cell service.”

How much such a tower would actually improve service in the community has been something of a sticking point in the negotiations so far. Mayor Ben Lash and council members have been somewhat unsatisfied with the non-committal nature of the claims made by Verizon.

“Verizon hasn’t been able to say with some degree of certainty that cell service will improve,” Lash said.

Chanea took very little time to put those concerns to rest.

“Yes, it will improve the service,” Chanea stated quite matter-of-factly. He further elaborated on the other major concern, that the tower would be 4G service only, leaving many New Washington subscribers without improved service. Chanea confirmed that the tower would be 3G as well.

“Every one of our customers using 3G or 4G service will see improved service.” Chanea stated.

These elaborations were enough to convince council to pass the motion on a second reading.

Clerk Julie Cronau gave her report from a recent IRS meeting she attended. New mandates from this organization are seeing stricter rules regarding non-cash fringe benefits. These include meal reimbursements for workers traveling while working for the village, use of public vehicles, and uniform allowances. The IRS is looking to ensure that all of these benefits are catalogued and taxed appropriately as additional income. An example of this is a village worker driving a village truck home at the end of the day will charged $1.50 per one way trip, meaning a drive back to the village will equal $3 of additional taxable income.

In discussing expenditures Lash proposed that council purchase the vacant lot at the northwest corner of Mansfield and Kibler streets. The consortium owning the land has had it for sale for some time and is asking for $25,000. Council was in agreement, citing that while nothing may be done with the property immediately, this purchase would keep control of what does eventually go in there with the Village.

“I think it’s a plus for the community for us to own it,” Council member Scott Hiler said.

A bid from CoSam for $12,000 for repair work to the Street Department roof was approved.

Another proposal from Lash, although this one at a slightly earlier stage of not involving funding numbers yet, was for the remodel of the Village Hall. The proposal is for the bathroom at the northwest corner of the building to be renovated into the clerk’s office. This would do two things: provide for a securable clerk’s office, and provide more space for general council quarters.