FR’s Thobe to end 34-year run

Fort Recovery Village Council learned Monday night that its president, Rod Thobe, will be resigning at the end of the year.
“I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve been on the board and the people I’ve been fortunate to work with,” Thobe wrote in a letter read by Mayor Roger Broerman. “It’s been a pleasure working with you all and I’m going to greatly miss it.”
Thobe has been on council since 1981. Two years remain in his term.
“You’ve got to make some decisions sometimes you don’t particularly want to make,” Thobe said.
“Rod’s in that same situation I am with the insurance,” Broerman explained.
The mayor told council Aug. 3 that he is not seeking another term because he can get a better retirement package by stopping now.
Before he retires, Broerman will appoint someone to finish Thobe’s term.
Interested Fort Recovery residents should submit their names to village administrator Randy Diller, who will pass them along to Broerman.
In other business, village council members Dave Bretz, Dave Garman, Dave Kaup, Al Post, Cliff Wendel and Thobe:
•Passed an ordinance stating what services will be provided to about 30.5 acres in Gibson Township if the property is annexed into the village. The village would provide water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, police service, curbside brush and leaf pickup, trash and recycling and access to the village’s utility aggregation program.
Mercer County Commissioners will hold a hearing about the annexation Dec. 3.
•Heard again from Dillan Schulze, who lives on Sharpsburg Road within the proposed annexation. He questioned why the village would favor annexation when it means he’ll have to move because of higher property taxes.
Broerman and Diller explained again that what the village does now sets a precedent, and they don’t want to set one that might encourage lots of unincorporated pockets of land as the village expands.
•Awarded a $111,161 contract to Beaverdam Contracting to extend sanitary sewer service about 738 feet south along Ohio 49. The line will now end at K&L Tractor Sales, 1737 Ohio 49.
•Learned from Diller that the intersection widening project at Butler (Ohio 119) and Elm streets (Ohio 49) should be done within two to three weeks.
•Heard from Diller that Reading Rock representatives are working to set up a meeting with him about the bricks the company supplied for Wayne Street. The bricks are more damaged then the village expected from normal wear and tear.