Sherwood Village
Administrator Appointed
Sherwood village lost a longtime
council member, but gained a village administrator during its council
meeting Wednesday May 12th.
Council passed an ordinance creating
the position of village administrator, stating, the new position was
needed "for the economical and efficient management of the village
streets and utilities prior to the enactment of the village income tax.”
The village administrator will be in charge of the water, sewer and
street departments and will oversee employees of those departments. The
administrator will be paid $5,000 a year.
In creating the position, the village
also abolished the board of public affairs (BPA). Council thanked BPA
members for their work and dedication to the village.
Following the passage of the ordinance, Councilwoman Joan Raker resigned
her position on council as of Wednesday May 12th. Mayor G. Clayton
Miller appointed Raker as village administrator, and council approved
the appointment. She will be sworn in before June 1.
"It's not going to be easy," said Raker, who added she will try to do
the best possible job. The mayor then appointed and council approved
John Buskirk to replace Raker on the council. Also, Councilman Glen
Vance replaced Raker as president of council.
Turning to other issues, council heard
concerns about ongoing developments in town. Resident Kathy Snow
approached council with concerns on the various developments, including
the proposed Sherwood Crossing Development on Ohio 18. She presented
council with a list of concerns. "Here are just a few considerations I
hope are being looked at, if not, I hope they will be brought to light,"
she said.
Among the concerns Snow voiced was the
need for such a large-scale project based on the downward population
trend in Defiance County. According to U.s. Census figures in 2000 she
cited, the county had 39,500 people. She said that according to the
census bureau's population estimate program, the population was 39,054
in 2003. Snow also had concerns about environmental conditions such as
flood and water management as well as noise issues from commercial sites
being directly adjacent to existing home and new home sites. "We have an
awful lot being planned, but we have to address it (issues) now or
regret things later," she said.
Snow
also said the village should do a cost benefit analysis of the projects
and how the increase demand would impact the village for running new
lines, increased road maintenance, running new pipelines and workload
for officials. She also said there
needs to be a designation of responsibility for each area of concern
noted. "Growth and development are good for a community," she said. "But
background research and planning is essential. I think it's wonderful
Sherwood is growing, but I think we need to do it slowly and in a
specific process."
Council said they would look at Snow's
list of concerns and see what has been or needs to be addressed.
