Bidding set on street project (05/09/07)

FORT RECOVERY - Village officials will advertise for construction bids next week for the upcoming street reconstruction project on George Street and Hickory Circle.

Village employees are currently replacing the water line and making adjustments to the storm drains in these areas, Fort Village administrator Randy Diller said Tuesday about information he passed onto village council members at their Monday night meeting.

Council members will seek bids for reconstruction of the street including curbs and sidewalks, Diller said. Village employees will also install new street lights.

Council members are set to open bids on May 31 and award a contract in July.

In other business, council members voted to retain Jared Laux as the village's police chief. Laux recently completed his six month probationary period that is required by Ohio law. Following that period, council members must approve the police chief's employment, Diller said.

In related business, Cory Siegrist was approved as a part-time officer with the police department. Following completion of required tests, Siegrist will replace the department's current part-time officer Justin Schoen.

Also Monday, council members:

•Approved a first reading of an ordinance establishing a fiscal officer position. This position will be filled when current clerk treasurer Janet McCaim's term expires with her retirement on March 31, 2008.

•Heard Diller thank the more than 40 volunteers that attended the park work day on Saturday. He said that all of the projects planned for that day were completed.

•Approved the first reading of an ordinance prohibiting outdoor furnaces. These furnaces are used to heat water that heat homes by burning wood.

Diller said there are currently no village residents with an outdoor furnaces. He added that other area communities have had complaints from their residents due to the smoke the furnaces create and are talking about prohibiting them.

"We thought we would be proactive," Diller said.

•Heard Diller report that Comcast is taking over the village's current cable company Insight.

He added that no changes are expected to residents' service and village officials will likely be required to complete new paperwork with the company.[[In-content Ad]]