Grant for path approved

FORT?RECOVERY?— A $120,000 grant has been approved for a trail that will memorialize Paul Staugler.
Erin Minor, grants coordinator, told Fort Recovery Village Council on Monday night the money from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources had been approved.
A three-quarter mile trail intended for walking, biking and running will loop around Community Park, village administrator Randy Diller said. It will be named for Staugler, who was known as the “voice of the Indians” for announcing at Fort Recovery High School sporting events.
“We know how Paul loved this community and it’s certainly a fitting tribute to put his name on something that’ll be there for a long time,” Diller said.
The ODNR grant money from the Recreational Trails Program joins $50,000 contributed by the Staugler family.
Sidewalks down Wayne and Milligan streets lead to the park, Diller said. Once this trail is complete, the village hopes to connect it to a trail leading to Fort Recovery High School’s baseball field north of the park. From there, the village plans to add sidewalks leading back into the village.
Construction on the trail will start in the spring.
In other business, council:
•Had its second reading of a new income tax ordinance intended to bring the village’s code in line with new state requirements. Since the first reading, tax administrator Amanda Wyerick has added an option for businesses to remit withholdings twice a month. There would be two due dates for businesses that go that route. Remitting more frequently means if a business is late, the 50 percent penalty will be less.
Other updates were that no one can be refunded or credited more than they have paid, and Wyerick doesn’t have to allow credit if a taxpayer can’t provide sufficient proof that they should receive it.
The ordinance was passed on to the third reading.
•Passed a resolution creating the position of village solicitor/grants administrator, which Minor will fill. She was also appointed to represent Fort Recovery in proceedings related to the village’s attempt to annex property in Gibson Township.
•Approved on second reading, wage ordinances for employees and elected officials. The ordinance will need to be approved on third reading before going into effect. Elected officials received no raise. The mayor will receive $4,500, the council president $2,450 and other council members $2,250 in 2016.
Employees received a two percent raise. Hourly rates include $30.13 for the village administrator, $20.91 for the police chief, $19.25 for the village solicitor/grants administrator, $17.85 for the fiscal officer and $15.67 for the tax administrator.