By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com

New Washington’s Village Council meeting on Monday evening was mostly about updates and the reviews, in general, were positive.

When asked how he felt his time in office was going, Police Chief Jeffrey Shook stated, “We’re progressing nicely through goals.”

This question came from Mayor Ben Lash after receiving the report from the chief at Monday night’s council meeting.

Shook was commenting on the recent arrival of new equipment that had been purchased, and the bringing on board of some new personnel. The intersection of these two events are providing for some nice training opportunities to break in both personnel and equipment.

After Lash listened to Shook’s answer to his question, Lash offered his vote of support by saying, “I can only speak for myself, but I think you’re doing a fine job.”

He was quickly confirmed in this viewpoint as members of council voiced similar viewpoints.

Fire Chief Dick Ackerman reported asked for permission to bring in a maintenance crew to work on the fire department radios. Ackerman asked the contractor come to New Washington so he would not be without the radios for an extended period.

During this talk it came to light that the police department will be switching from analog to digital radios very soon. They will be taking this step before the fire department, rendering communication between the two groups difficult. Until the Fire Department makes the full switch, it was suggested that one or two of their existing analog radios could be converted to digital. Ackerman confirmed that they have one or two radios on hand capable of this conversion.

Clerk Julie Cronau announced the receipt of $25,000 in grant money from the Ohio Public Works Commission. This money will go into the $67,000 catch basin project that will be tackled this summer. In all, 14 catch basins will receive work from this project.

Chuck Kimmerline is expected to begin paving work May 1.

Phase 2 of the pool project is below the $50,000 threshold and will not be bid. The project consists mainly of replacing outdoor electricity and paving the drive that runs between the current pool parking lot and the parking lot between the softball fields. Kimmerline will handle the drive when he is in town and Dave Aichholz will do the electrical work. The total cost will be $14,240.

Joe Blum confirmed that Wilbert Vault will attempt to fix as many gravestones as possible at the Union Cemetery before the Memorial Day Parade. This is Union Cemetery’s turn in the rotation for the Memorial Day program, and Wilbert Vault is hopeful that the weather will cooperate enough for them to do some cleanup work and stone straightening in time.