Next phase set to begin

FORT RECOVERY — Paving work is nearing completion on some streets as crews prepare to start sewer work on others.
Village administrator Randy Diller told Fort Recovery Village Council on Monday paving on Wagoner, High and Railroad streets and Wabash Road is expected to be finished this week with sewer replacement on a section of Ohio 49 set to begin June 2.
The council also discussed plans for adding a parking lot at Community Park and improving the lagoons at the wastewater treatment plant.
The paving work that is being completed is part of the village’s sewer separation project that began in November and will continue through the summer. Work is complete or near complete on St. Clair, Broadway, First, Railroad, High and Wagoner streets and Wabash Road.
There have already been positive comments about Wabash Road, which is wider than it was previously and is doing a better job of controlling water, Diller said.
“We had a pretty good rain after that, and there was absolutely no water standing anywhere,” he added. “So that’s a big change. That’s good. That’s why we did it.”
The Ohio 49 portion is up next, with the stretch of road between Butler Street and Monument Park scheduled to be closed for seven weeks. Work will follow on two sections of Boundary Street stretching to the eastern edge of the village to complete the project.
“Schedule-wise, we’re good,” said Diller. “I think they’re still thinking that they’ll be pretty close to being done with all the digging by the end of July.”
He also told the board water line replacements are complete on High and Wagoner streets, with plans for a water line extension on Sharpsburg Road set for later this year. Most of that project will be completed with boring so digging will be limited.
Another project in the works is the creation of a new parking lot at Community Park.
The parking lot is the first step in the village’s long-term park plan, which includes the addition of two parking areas, a walking trail, new playground equipment, tennis courts, a storage building and a retention basin.
The first of the new lots, to be located north of the baseball diamonds and west of the current driveway, would add 58 parking spaces. Money for engineering for the project was included in this year’s budget, Diller noted, so he’s going to begin that process in order to be prepared to take bids. The cost of the parking lot is estimated at $150,000.
Diller told the council he met with a representative from the Environmental Protection Agency about plans to improve the village’s wastewater lagoons and received positive feedback. It is likely a third lagoon will need to be added in the future, he said.
In other business, the board:
•Learned village workers are preparing Ambassador Pool for the upcoming season. The pool is scheduled to open Monday.
•Approved on first reading an ordinance to set the maximum for blanket certificates at $50,000. The change was required by state law.
Also approved on second reading an ordinance that sets penalties for those who do not file or pay village income taxes. The ordinance calls for a fine of $50 for a first offense, $150 for a second offense and $250 and two days jail time for a third offense.
•Learned there is a zoning board design review meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday to consider the color choice for repainting of the Meinerding building at the southwest corner of Butler and Wayne streets.
•Heard the village will receive the deed Wednesday for the Second National Bank parking lot. The bank offered the lot to the village at no cost.
•Learned the village’s Memorial Day parade is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. A program will follow at Monument Park.

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