By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The notorious New Washington birds seemed to have received the notice for the unofficial start of the summer because they are sure letting everyone know about it.
The birds that had been the subject of noise nuisance for months at New Washington Village Council meetings made a return showing when Roger Throckmorton noted the sudden increase in noise from the birds at Wednesday night’s Village Council meeting.
Throckmorton, along with Suzanne Wuthrich, had asked council to table the noise ordinance at the April 28 council meeting after the noise level decreased. Darrell LaVenia, another complainant, said that if the noise levels could remain at the low levels they were maintaining, they could make it through the summer.
Unfortunately, the unofficial start to the summer seemed to have been the cue for the tropical birds to increase their noise levels. Throckmorton requested at Wednesday night’s meeting that council reinstitute the process for the nuisance ordinance.
“They have now picked up,” Throckmorton said, referring to the birds owned by Teri Stacklin. “We feel that we’ve really tried to cooperate to do something about the birds. Presently, the noise level has increased dramatically.”
New Washington Police Chief Scott Robertson and Council member Geraldine Lucius both asked Throckmorton about the time periods when the birds were at their noisiest.
“I really need to hear this myself, in my mind, so I feel comfortable (about making a decision),” Councilwoman Lucius said after asking Throckmorton to call her when they became a nuisance.
Robertson noted that he had heard them getting louder recently though he added that the number of birds was down. Stacklin has been trying to rehome the birds.
“That’s my understanding,” Robertson said. “I can try and talk to her again if you want to try and start up the ordinance again.”
No motion was made to put the ordinance back on the agenda.
Village Administrator Norm Lucius presented options to council concerning repair on the truck bed of the village’s red dump truck. Lucius suggested using the Dexter Company, which has experience with these projects doing the county’s trucks, to repair the rusty bed. He said they would sandblast the bed and the frame before painting it. It would cost the village roughly $700.
Councilwoman Gertrude Durnwald wanted Niedermier’s to do the repair work. Lucius quickly pointed out that Niedermier’s would only repair the spots and the job would cost $900.
Council voted, with Durnwald being the lone nay, to have the Dexter Company do the repair work.
New Washington has recently joined the Central Joint Ambulance District and Robertson said they are currently in the process of switching over 911 and geomapping systems. He said they will continue to respond as they have always done until the systems are switched over. With the paperwork in motion, Robertson hoped it would be completed by Friday.
Brian Agin reported that Bucyrus Road Materials has completed most of the paving projects though the Jeffrey Drive project still remains to be completed. Bucyrus Road Materials is currently waiting on a large paver to become available before the company can complete the project.
Fire Chief Dick Ackerman reported that no one was hurt in Wednesday morning’s mobile home fire in the New Washington Estates. The fire is still under investigation though Ackerman said they would be undergoing a more serious investigation on Thursday.