November  2004

Sherwood Village Council

    Sherwood Village Council on Wednesday November 11th was updated on the possibility of a new water treatment plant for the village. This project was originally started last spring by the village's old board of public affairs.

  Rick Weaver of Poggemeyer Design Group reported on two scenarios, the first being a 50,000-gallon underground storage facility built below a 28 by 40 foot building. A second blueprint involved a 100,000 gallon tank built beneath a 28 by 32 facility but Weaver said that a tank that large would not be as economically feasible since the village would have to increase its water usage. The buildings would cost $60,000 to $70,000 to build.

   Weaver recommended contacting Maumee Valley Planning Organization to conduct a village wide income survey in order to determine availability for certain grants. MVPO must get approval from the state of Ohio in order to do the survey. Low to moderate income percentage and median household incomes will be the two biggest factors in determining grant qualification, Weaver said.

  Weaver added although Sherwood at present has plenty of water well capacity, should the village continue to grow, another water source may be needed.

  Council also discussed news that the Ohio Public Works has $304,000 Ieft over this year, and the village wants to use the money to help with a drainage project on the north side of town. The total for the drainage project comes to an estimated $550,000 to complete.

  However, acting Mayor Glen Vance only received this news last Thursday and had very little additional information available, thus putting council on the spot as to whether to obtain the money, which has been  offered to the village by the OPW. Ultimately, council did agree to accept the loan repayable over 20 years at a 0 percent interest rate.

    In other business, council;

    - selected Jim Hohenberger as its vice president for the rest of the year. Before Hohenberger's appointment, council did without a vice president.

- discussed the future of the Sherwood Homecoming, which has suffered from declining attendance in recent years. At last months meeting The Sherwood Lions Club ask council to consider moving the Homecoming back downtown Council decided to allow homecoming to be held downtown on Saturday, June 25, but will speak to the Lions Club regarding the controversial suggestion to add beer to the event.

- reminded residents that Regional Income Tax Authority exemption forms can be picked up at the village offices. The RITA forms are for those age 65 or older to exempt the first $10,000 of their earned income. Those interested need to obtain forms by the end of the year.

- was told that a financial estimate will be drafted to determine the cost of  making the council room handicap accessible.

- discussed the possibility of taking over EMS services for Ney village. Ney is currently handled by Williams County EMS, but some Ney residents have apparently expressed displeasure over the county's response time.

- okayed a suggestion from Police Chief Charles Fitzwater on a neighborhood watch program starting in Sherwood. The VFW has been approached for funding, but apparently wanted to know council's opinion on the matter. Fitzwater has asked for $1,000 in material and signs.

- will spend grant monies received earlier this year from the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act (FIRE) grant on breathing apparatus for the Sherwood fire department.

- approved the second reading of an ordinance limiting the use of mailboxes, signs and other obstructions on U.S. 127, between Ohio 18 and Fountain Street.

- approved a resolution to apply for a NatureWorks grant for the Sherwood memorial park. If approved, Sherwood could pay in stages a maximum of $50,000 in grant monies, to be reimbursed eventually.

- heard that Byron Beltz will fill the seat of village administrator Joan Raker on the zoning board; Raker will continue to chair the meetings but will not have voting privileges.

. - was told by Raker that water hydrants have been flushed, storm sewers are being cleaned (with some of the older sewers in need of eventual replacement), and the Pearl Street lift station pump is in need of repair.

-noted that a road repaving project on Fountain Street has been completed, as has part of the Sherwood Crossing apartment buildings project.